Meeting roundup
Date: April 7
Action: Mayor and council approved a $25,452 change order and $56,787 payment to El Grande Industries for the Dunn Avenue sidewalk project. Widmer Engineering’s Sarah Boyce told council at the Monday agenda meeting that installation of the sidewalk is complete, with line painting and installation of a bike lane delineator to be done once the temperature rises. The project was funded with a DCED grant and city match.
Council approved an $18,895 payment to McElroy Paving for the Washington Park tennis court project, funded by the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant. Work will include installation of a new court surface, nets, poles, fencing, lighting and a walkway around the court. Boyce said demolition started March 21. Work is expected to be complete within four months.
A final reading of an ordinance allowing the placement of a stop sign at Burton and Highland avenues was approved. Several talks between council and community members have taken place regarding slowing traffic on those roads.
Next meeting: 1 p.m. May 5 in City Hall; the agenda meeting is at 1 p.m. May 2.
Date: March 21
Action: Directors appointed several coaches for the 2016 fall sports season, including: Mike Bosnic, head football coach; Mike Bosnic Sr. as first assistant football coach; Rich Barnes, Derek Bochna and Lance Vallee as varsity assistant football coaches; Kent James as head soccer coach; Gary Burtch as head tennis coach; Teresa Booker as head volleyball coach; and Jessica Ott as head cross country coach.
Directors approved the purchase of a replacement 10-passenger student van through the state’s CoStars program at a cost of $27,985.
Superintendent Roberta DiLorenzo was acknowledged for being named as a Producer of the Year by Dellicker Inc., Hybrid Learning Institute. The recognition is given to administrators who have displayed excellence in adopting a blended learning model and positively affecting their students. DiLorenzo acknowledged the efforts of Washington School District’s principals and teachers who have spent time learning, reviewing and revising the model to fit the instructional needs of students. Elementary teachers launched the hybrid delivery in grades 4, 5 and 6 in January 2015, and added third grade in January.
Next meeting: 6:30 p.m. April 11
Date: March 22
Action: The district was notified about an hour before its meeting that JaBo Enterprises of Aliquippa pulled out of the sales agreement to purchase the Atlas building at McKean Avenue and Second Street and the old high school football stadium at 200 Second St. JaBo did not give a reason for changing its mind, Superintendent Ed Zelich said.
The board approved the sale at last month’s board meeting for a price of $100,000. The deal came over objections from a representative of the Middle Monongahela Industrial Development Authority in Fallowfield Township, which was working to do an environmental study and develop the properties to serve the community.
A proposed grocery store and restaurant were to be constructed on the properties under the JaBo plan. The board approved a motion to put the two adjacent properties out to bid net as a joint property, with a minimum price of $100,000.
“We’re not in the real estate business,” Zelich said. He said the Atlas building has a hole in its roof, but is otherwise structurally sound.
Next meeting: 7 p.m. April 26
Washington County commissioners
Date: April 7
Action: To comply with Internal Revenue Service requirements, the board adopted a resolution approving notes to be issued by the Washington County Industrial Development Authority not to exceed $3.2 million for Tech Met Properties LLC to finance a manufacturing project to acquire 79 E. Eighth St., Donora, and renovate it for an 88,275-square-foot manufacturing facility for Tech Met Inc.
The commissioners also entered into a cooperative agreement for the Washington County Redevelopment Authority to provide staffing and administrative services to the newly established land bank at a cost of $150,000 per year.
Another matter originating within the redevelopment authority approved by the commissioners was the sale of 3.862 acres at the California Technology Park at a cost of $50,000 per acre to Caltech 7 Partners (Crossgates Inc.) to construct a 21,234-square-foot expansion of DreBo America that will be used for packaging and distributing carbide-tipped drill bits capable of penetrating stone and concrete.
At the request of the redevelopment authority, the board approved an additional $20,000 to the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement grant through the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency for the Washington City Mission.
The commissioners approved estimated travel expenses of $2,000 so Finance Director Roger Metcalfe can attend the Government Financial Officers Association conference in Toronto, Canada, next month.
The board acknowledged a federal grant of $2,535 to be used to purchase equipment for verification of information required under Megan’s Law governing registration of those determined to be sex offenders.
The commissioners approved the purchase of $23,429 worth of tables and chairs from PEM Co. of Bethel Park to be used in the recently renovated public meeting room of the Courthouse Square office building through a state contract that does not require bidding. Funds from the gas impact fee, known as Act 13, are the source.
Appointments: Lee Nickovich, planning commission; Jean Watson replaces Barry Stout on the board of the redevelopment authority.
Next meeting: 10 a.m. April 21 in the public meeting room of the Courthouse Square office building.