COMMENTS LIMITED IN WEST MIFFLIN AREA

Change puts board in line with council

The West Mifflin Area school board no longer will allow comment from residents during work sessions.

Board Vice President Anthony DiCenzo announced the change at a Jan. 10 meeting, which he said was the last time residents would be able to comment during those sessions.

Work sessions are held the second Thursday of the month. Residents still will be able to make public comment during voting meetings on the third Thursday of the month.

After the meeting, Mr. DiCenzo said the reason for the change was to be more in line with West Mifflin Council.

“The borough follows the same format,” not allowing public comment at caucus meetings, he said.

“It’s not a requirement,” to allow residents to comment at work sessions, Mr. DiCenzo said. He added permitting it was “kind of a luxury” that the board afforded residents.

Also at the meeting, Kyra Sarver and Richard Phelps of ABM Building Solutions LLC of Pittsburgh presented a summary of the progress of the district’s Guaranteed Energy Savings Act project.

The board selected ABM in September to implement a nearly $10 million energy savings project.

The savings from reduced energy costs is expected to offset the cost of the project. The board took out a bond to cover the costs.

So far, the district has converted 75 percent of its light fixtures to LED, with the remainder to be converted by the end of February.

Water conservation efforts, which include lowflow toilets, have been completed. Captive entrances in all buildings are scheduled to be finished by March, and security camera upgrades are to be completed by the end of May.

Ms. Sarver said efforts to seal what is called the “building envelope” at all buildings is about 10 percent completed now, but will be finished by the end of January. The building envelope is the physical barrier between the outside elements and the conditioned environment of the building.

“I’ve been very impressed with the way you guys have handled everything,” board member Erin O’Leary White said of ABM’s efforts. “It’s been nothing but positive.”