Growth, success of Monroeville senior center highlighted

Growth and success of the local senior center was highlighted at Monroeville council’s April meeting.

Council members heard about how Monroeville Senior Citizen Center has changed since opening June 22, 1980. It now serves more than 7,000 adults, age 50 or older, who live in Monroeville and surrounding communities.

Department head Tara Gresock said the center began by serving a few hundred people. Council approved updated by-laws, rules and regulations to help it move forward.

It’s also a popular site for the Silver Sneakers fitness program.

“The Monroeville Senior Center was just noted to be in the top 10% for Silver Sneakers visits in the entire state of Pennsylvania,” she said.

Mayor Nick Gresock lauded the center’s “very small staff and very dedicated volunteers” for their efforts.

In other business, council:

• Approved advertising an ordinance to amend ordinance 1435, to exempt non-union municipal administrative employees from the requirement that they live in the municipality throughout their employment.

• Approved a site plan for Chick-fil-A, 4040 William Penn Highway, to reconfigure the parking lot and travel lanes and to install underground stormwater detention tank.

• Heard a presentation by Ernie Groover, president of the Monroeville Foundation. He updated the council on several upcoming events. Community Day, which will include a car cruise again this year, will be June 8. Also planned are a Community Jazz Festival on Aug. 31 and a Great Pumpkin Race on Oct. 20.

• Approved a subdivision request by RCG-Monroeville for a property located at 3767 William Penn Highway (including Jared Jewelers).

• Appointed Susan Moser-Sekerchak to the Monroeville Finance Authority Board.

• Approved hiring Cohen Law Group, through the Turtle Creek Council of Governments, to assist in a franchise fee audit and cable franchise renewal negotiations with Verizon.

• Discussed the Jack Sedlak Memorial Clean Up Day set for 9-11 a.m. April 27. This annual community cleanup effort takes place in neighborhoods, along roads and at the Monroeville Community Park West. A free picnic with prizes and giveaways will be held after the cleanup.

Community members can sign up by April 22 on the Monroeville website, monroeville.pa.us.

Alex Graziani, municipal manager, said a lot of vendors and sponsors are helping to make the event a success.

“It’s such a big deal. I can’t believe what a special event this is,” he said after the meeting.