Committee formed to disperse coronavirus relief funds
Bethel Park is taking steps to prepare for when federal funding from the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill enacted by Congress in March will be distributed to the municipality.
Bethel Park Council President Tim Moury announced at Monday’s meeting that a subcommittee of council and the mayor called The American Rescue Plan Bethel Park will be formed to research and review information on the funds when it becomes available.
“While we have not received any official correspondence about when, where and what the municipality of Bethel Park will receive as part of the bill, council and the mayor discussed this at our last committee meeting and wanted to be prepared for if and when the funding becomes available,” Mr. Moury said.
Council Vice President Jim Hannan will chair the subcommittee, which will be rounded out by council members Todd Cenci, Timothy Campbell and Donald Harrison as well as Mayor Jack Allen.
Mr. Hannan said while there are “many components to the American Rescue Plan,” Bethel Park has received no direct information from the federal government as to how much money the municipality will receive or when it will be received. He added that Bethel Park also has not received any direction on how the funds can be used.
Some initial guidelines, however, have been established as to how potential funding may be used in Bethel Park. Those guidelines include not using the funding for groups or organizations that have already received any stimulus money from county, state or federal resources.
“We believe the funds should be used to help those who have fallen through the cracks,” Mr. Hannan said.
He added that based on preliminary research, the funds also cannot be used to lower taxes or pay directly into pension funds but may be used for capital projects.
Additionally, if a 501(c)(3) nonprofit was to apply for funds, Mr. Hannan said, the nonprofit must be registered and show it is in good standing with the state.
“Most importantly, anybody that does apply must be able to show lost revenue directly to COVID-19 in 2020,” Mr. Hannan said.
He stressed that the preliminary guidelines are subject to change.
“We will keep everybody updated as the committee learns more about the relief plan,” he said.
In other business, Police Chief Timothy O’Connor presented certificates to three members of the Bethel Park Police Department, who were voted on by their fellow officers as being exceptional and going above and beyond their duties in the department in 2020.
The members of the department, including K-9 Officer Andrew “Drew” Jacobs, Detective Joelle Dixon and Sgt. Colby Grubich, were each presented with a check and a framed certificate.