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Burgettstown council OK’s 2017 budget

BURGETTSTOWN — The borough council approved a 2017 budget of $416,651 during the December meeting Monday.

Solicitor Lane Turturice noted the Washington County reassessment was certified in November, and Council President Jim Reedy said that the borough will take in approximately the same amount of money it received in 2016, despite the difference in the tax assessment calculation. Secretary Debbie Resnick noted that she underestimated the amount of real estate tax the borough was expected to receive, as the full amount due is rarely collected.

Reedy proposed a 50 cent per hour across the board raise for borough employees, and Councilwoman Sammi Wank agreed that the road department and Resnick should receive a raise, but opposed giving a raise to the cleaning crew. Councilmen Robert Green and Kenneth McKinney said they would like to see Resnick receive a raise, but were opposed to anyone else receiving one.

Council voted 3-2 to approve a 50-cent raise for the road crew and Resnick. Reedy, Wank and Councilwoman Janet Castellino voted in favor of the motion, and Green and McKinney voted against.

Council also briefly discussed the increases in employee health insurance, noting few other places paid 100 percent of the costs anymore. Castellino noted the discussion came too late to make changes this year, while noting the council received the figures in October and could have discussed them at any point between receiving them and approving the budget. She proposed council revisit the matter next year, possibly scheduling a workshop after receiving the 2018 estimated insurance costs. Council members agreed to revisit the matter in 2017 and look at potentially having employees undertake part of their insurance costs.

Turturice then discussed the tax adjustment in light of the county reassessment, noting that the council would have to pass an ordinance setting the rate and could not do this by resolution, as it violates the borough code. Resnick was unsure if this could wait until the January meeting, because paperwork must be submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. Council members instructed Resnick to check the due date and authorized Turturice to draft an ordinance and advertise it and any special meeting that may need to be held.

In other financial news, council approved invoices submitted by McDonald Police Chief Mark Dorsey for investigative hours exceeding the contracted hours in relation to the recent bank robbery and homicide. McDonald Police Department has provided contracted police protection, with a specified number of hours weekly, since the borough dissolved its own department in 2010.

Reedy noted the borough needs to repair the truck bed in one of the road crew trucks, noting it had been damaged by salt.

“You can keep it clean, but the salt is going to damage it,” he said, noting there was some difficulty mounting the salt spreader to the truck because of the damage.

After a brief discussion, council members agreed to seek estimates for repair, noting the borough is still paying the loan on the department’s other vehicle and undertaking a second vehicle payment was unfeasible.

In other road department matters, Reedy noted the Christmas lights had been hung and would be on display throughout he holiday season.

Cubmaster Mary Oddi and Cub Scout Pack 1350 attended the meeting to inform council that ornaments the Cub Scouts were making to donate to those who receive Meals on Wheels had been stolen from the Burgettstown Kids Center. Oddi said the group began the ornaments Nov. 14, and when she checked to see if they were ready for completion Nov. 29, approximately 40 ornaments were missing.

Oddi said she would file a police report with Dorsey, but it was disappointing to have to explain to the Scouts that someone in the community had stolen their community service project, noting the pack raised the money for the project with their annual Boo in the Park.

“We were just living by our motto: ‘Do a good deed,'” Oddi said. “I had to explain to them that someone in their community purposefully did this to them, but we are going to continue to keep giving to the community.”

She also noted that, earlier in the year, Father’s Day gifts the pack had been preparing were vandalized at the kids center. Maryann Reedy proposed that a locked drawer or cabinet be provided for the Scouts’ feature projects to prevent further loss or damage, and Jim Reedy, center director, told Oddi the center would compensate the pack for the loss.

“I will have a check for you tomorrow,” he said.

Burgettstown Volunteer Fire Co. Chief Jerry McClain clarified an issue about medical calls for council, noting the fire department has paramedic and emergency medical technician members, so is available for medicals calls beyond a lift assist. He also explained that the fire department frequently response to accident calls in the borough to assist the McDonald Police Department, whether it be providing medical services, cleaning up hazardous materials or directing traffic.

McClain also asked for permission to erect a 25-foot Christmas tree at the garden spot at the intersection of Main Street and the John L. Brunner By-pass. The tree was donated by Iannetti’s Garden Center in Florence. Council gave permission, thanking the fire department and Iannetti’s for the tree.

Castellino also pointed out that Green and McKinney had worked to gain donations and volunteers to repair the Scout Hut, which is owned by the borough. She praised them for seeking help from the local community to see a new concrete apron laid, a new roof installed and the exterior painted.

“Thank you Bobby and Kenny,” she said.

Castellino also expressed disappointment in Mayor Anna Marie Quader in connection with the project, saying she had confronted volunteers and raised her voice. Quader does not attend council meetings.

“I want it to go on the record that the mayor was up there, yelling at the people working,” she said.

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