Growing pains for the new Penn Hills Council have delayed a breakup between the municipality and its engineering firm of almost 20 years.
Gibson-Thomas Engineering is poised to replace The Gateway Engineers, with a council vote likely coming in February. Council has twice tabled a resolution to make Gibson-Thomas municipal engineer, once at the Jan. 2 reorganization meeting and again at the regularly scheduled Jan. 22 meeting.
Mayor Pauline Calabrese chalked up the delay to inexperience among new council members Shawn Kerestus and Alan Waldron. Neither responded to requests for comment.
Selecting an engineer is especially urgent as Old William Penn Highway awaits repairs, Calabrese added.
“I’m embarrassed by the delay,” Calabrese said. “I think we have an obligation to the taxpayers and every single person that drives on our roads to get this done.”
Penn Hills accepted two $800,000 federal grants in January to shore up Old William Penn Highway and better connect the Penn Hills Senior Center and a nearby bus stop with the rest of Rodi Road.
In December, council members Catherine Sapp and Joanne Fascio commended Gateway for its role in the budget process.
Now, the firm is on the outs.
The request for proposals, sent out in November, wasn’t necessarily a vote of no confidence, officials say.
Penn Hills must periodically seek engineering services for Community Development Block Grant projects, according to Manager Scott Andrejchak.
From 2024 to 2026, Penn Hills expects $700,000 in annual CDBG funds, which can be used for projects that benefit low- and moderate-income residents. Past projects include community center improvements, street reconstruction and storm sewer repairs.
This latest request notes that “the successful firm will also be strongly considered for appointment as the general municipal engineer.” The municipal search committee interviewed four candidates, among them Gateway. Both Gateway and Gibson-Thomas work primarily in Western Pennsylvania.
Despite Gateway’s past work, Gibson-Thomas has a “very impressive portfolio” and “lower price tag,” Calabrese said.
“With the American Rescue Funds having been completely allocated, we must watch not only every dollar but every penny,” Calabrese said. “As mayor, I feel compelled to choose watching the money of the taxpayers over the comfort of a long-term relationship,” Calabrese said.
Exact savings and other details of the proposal cannot be made public until an appointment is final, Andrejchak said.
Rick Minsterman, the Gateway project engineer who represented the firm at council meetings, did not respond to requests for comment.
Gibson-Thomas serves about 50 municipalities though general government as well as water and transportation authorities, according to Jason Paulovich, a principal engineer with the firm.
“We are obviously multifaceted, but we are municipal engineers by trade,” Paulovich said.
Council next meets at 7 p.m. Feb. 26.
