Penn Hills council considers forming citizen committee for covid grant money guidance

Penn Hills officials are considering forming a citizens committee to help decide how to spend the $18 million in covid relief grant money the municipality will receive this year and next.

The stimulus grant money was not on the agenda for Monday’s council meeting but Councilman Jim Getsy brought up the money as an item for consideration.

Getsy suggested council spend more time studying how to use the grant money.

“I think the issues that are involved are not issues we normally deal with,” he said.

Getsy recommended having monthly informational meetings about the grant to understand it in its entirety. He also suggested forming a citizens committee to hear from the community about how to allocate the grant.

Jerry Chiappinelli, planning commission chairman, said he proposed the idea of a bipartisan citizen commission to listen to residents about how to spend the money.

“Because we the people have to live with this money,” he said.

Council brainstormed with residents last month about how to use the money.

Penn Hills Manager Scott Andrejchak said federal officials gave only interim rules about the money. He said, once the rules are finalized, a presentation on how the money can be spent can be prepared for council.

Half of the grant money will come “soon” this year, and the second half will come next year, Andrejchak said.

“There’s a lot that we can do with the money,” he said, “It’s just there are certain things that it’s disallowing, but those things may change.”