Borough seeking grants for sidewalk curb ramps

Council also rejects bids for park walking track upgrades

Westmoreland County plans to replace a collapsed Irwin officials have approved 200-foot portion of an application for terra cotta pipe that includes federal funding for more at least 10 catch basins than 100 new handialong Pennsylvania capped-accessible curb Avenue east of Cedar ramps. Street.

Council voted Aug. 9 to “There are traps in all authorize e n g i n e e r the catch basins,” Mr. Lucien Bove to apply to Bove said. Westmoreland County for “All should be removed. $112,036 in 2018 Community You can’t get to them, you Development Block can’t clean them and you Grant funds for 104 ramps can’t even get the camera north of Pennsylvania through.” Avenue and west of Chestnut The borough office soon Street. will be in transition because

Irwin manager Mary Ms. Benko is retiring Benko said a 15 percent after 31 years of service match would be required to the borough, 20 as from the borough. manager.

Mr. Bove said Irwin has Ms. Benko will continue 229 locations that need new in another capacity ramps, but an unwillingness after Valerie Morton succeeds by some residents to her as borough manager fill out income surveys prevented next month. the borough from Council hired Ms. qualifying for more than Benko to replace Zora the 104 included in the application. Javor, who is resigning as billing clerk. She will be

On another matter, the paid $18 an hour for up to Municipal Authority of 25 hours a week.

Council approved an exit audit as required by the state’s borough code after a manager retires. Zelenkofske Axelrod will conduct the audit for $5,750 — at least $2,000 less than its original suggested price, borough solicitor Zachary Kansler said.

Also at the Aug. 9 meeting, council:

• Rejected three bids submitted for improvements to the walking track at Irwin Park because of budget constraints, then authorized Mr. Bove to find alternative ways of doing the job, possibly in-house.

Mr. Bove told council he hoped for bids in the $45,000 range, but the lowest bid from John D. Caruso of West Homestead was for $72,727, including a charge of $142.50 per ton for the 200 tons of asphalt required.

Ligonier Construction of Laughlintown offered to provide asphalt at $105 per ton, but its overall bid was $87,160.

Holbein Inc. of Sarver offered $118 per ton as part of a $100,072 bid.

• Accepted a $ 3,830 quote from Reliant Systems of Irwin to replace three damaged security cameras and add three new cameras in Irwin Park.

Police Chief Roger Pivirotto said the cameras were damaged during recent storms when tree limbs and a pole fell onto a power cable.

• Rejected a motion to raise the borough permit fee for special events to $150 with an additional $100 for rental of items, including cones and barricades, but agreed to discuss the issue further.

For many events, the fee is $100, but Irwin Business and Professional Association pays a $50 fee for each of the 15 events it holds.

Those included this week’s Music in the Streets event.

They also include a Fall Car Cruise on Sept. 14, and Fall Craft Show and Karaoke on Sept. 16.