By Stacey Federoff

Published: Wednesday, March 13, 2013, 9:00 p.m.
Updated: Wednesday, March 13, 2013

West Newton council discussed asking for monthly activity reports from each of the community groups it helps fund.

The borough plans to request reports from the pool board, recreation board, library and fire department.

No vote was taken, but council discussed having reports available monthly for review at work sessions and would only request the presence of a board member if questions arose.

“We'd like to know what's going on,” said Council President George Molovich, adding that he didn't want to add any unnecessary work for those involved. “They're all volunteers, we don't want to tax them.”

Streets Department Supervisor Randy Shincovich asked about repairs to the library's handicapped-accessible ramp, which needs to be fixed in order to be safe and compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Council recommended that Shincovich make the repairs, but also wondered about usage of the West Newton Library since it's reopening in mid-February.

“They have to soon become self-sustaining,” Molovich said.

Mayor Mary Popovich, who is also a library board member, said raising money “was not going to happen overnight,” but future fundraisers are planned.

During committee reports, council member Adam Paterline, who is head of the public safety committee, asked if parking ordinances could be more strictly enforced to discourage parking on borough sidewalks.

“I'm not trying to be a stickler, but concrete costs money,” he said, adding that repeated parking could degrade some of the sidewalks faster than normal wear-and-tear.

Certain exceptions are in place, like loading and unloading for commercial businesses.

No vote was taken, but Popovich asked if parking should be more strictly enforced on both sides of a one-way street when church services or other events were under way.

Paterline said that has historically been allowed as an exception and was not related to blocking the sidewalks.

“We don't need any new laws, just enforce the current ones,” he said.

Shincovich also reported that chipping services will be available for tree branches and trimmings on the first four Mondays in April. Interested residents should contact the borough building with their address before or during those days.

The road crew will also use a street sweeper during the month of April and possibly later in the summer to gather debris from the winter, but Shincovich said exact dates haven't yet been determined.

In other business, council approved Burkheimer tax administrator to collect delinquent taxes and hold tax hearings.

The borough will advertise a resolution as approved by council to amend the non-uniform municipal pension plan, which would put it in line with revisions to state law.

Stacey Federoff is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at sfederoff@tribweb.com or 724-836-6660.

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