Charleroi to seek bids for borough building remodel
Renovations on the third floor of the Charleroi borough building are expected to begin soon.
Council Thursday approved a motion to advertise for bids. Council President Paul Pivovarnik said the third floor has endless possibilities. The third floor is slated to be used as a multi-purpose community room. Renovations include lowering the ceiling, drywall work, lighting and adding bathrooms, one multi-use and one accessible. The bathrooms are estimated to cost about $45,000.
Council also approved a reimbursement agreement with the Authority of Charleroi to have it reimburse the outstanding PennVest loan in the amount of $5,561,400.25, payable to the borough. The agreement will allow the authority to absorb the remaining loan balance for the 15-year-old combined sewer separation project, for which residents pay a $46 surcharge, and businesses pay $49.
In other news, the borough received a $975,000 TAP grant secured by MacMillan Engineering for the reconstruction of infrastructure, including the replacement of manholes and interceptors.
Council also approved a motion to hire Mackin Engineering as borough engineers, with no cost difference.
Council approved a four-year contract with street department workers who are members of Teamsters Local 585. Pivovarnik said the contract includes wage increases and no health-care contribution. The first year includes a 50-cent raise, followed by annual raises of 3 percent raise, 2.5 percent and 2.75 percent.
Council approved a $35,000 annual salary for the borough secretary. Council hired Stacy Lee as a part-time borough secretary at a rate of $10 an hour, not to exceed 24 hours a week.
Council approved a $1 hourly raise for the meter reader, bringing the rate to $14 an hour. The raise includes added duties for the meter reader, which include enforcement for additional parking violations and attending hearings at the district judge’s office.
Council also approved a motion to increase the paid fire truck driver’s hourly wage of $10.57 by 50 cents an hour.
Also approved was a motion to accept applications for a public works director. Applications will be accepted until Jan. 27. Pivovarnik said the new position will be a dual coverage for code enforcement officer and street department manager, taking care of schedules and payroll.