Plum stormwater task force approved, members not finalized

Plum officials unanimously approved forming a new stormwater management task force to address and prioritize flooding issues in the borough.

However, its members have not been selected.

Several residents at Wednesday night’s meeting, including Bill Chapla, implored council to allow more than just elected officials and administrators take part in the task force.

“There’s a lot of knowledge in Plum,” he said. “It’s about the safety of the residents.”

Councilman Michael Pastor said that the plan is to have between five and seven task force members, with two or three being from council. Other members would include borough Engineer Robert Mitall, another administrator and likely two or three residents.

Councilman Paul Dern said public participation would definitely play a role, but actual task force membership should be limited.

“The more people you have the less that gets accomplished,” Dern said. “We need to develop an agenda first. Once we have an agenda, then we can move forward. The public works guys are already out there doing things. This is going to be like a more personal touch and get information out to the public. There’s a lot of things to be discussed.”

An informational meeting about the task force is set for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22 at the borough building.

Participants will discuss what the borough has done about stormwater management in previous years as well as set goals for the group.

“We want the community to be represented,” Pastor said. “We’re going to get together. We’re going to listen to what people have to say and who they suggest be on the (task force).”

The task force idea was discussed at September’s workshop meeting as part of the borough’s response to heavy July storms.

Storms late July 21 and into the next morning decimated several borough neighborhoods as well as other Allegheny County municipalities. Disaster loans were made available through the U.S. Small Business Administration for those impacted by the storms.

The deadline for individuals to apply for the disaster loans was Oct. 7.

Deadline for businesses and charities to apply for economic injury loans is May 7, 2020.

More information on the program can be found on SBA’s website at bit.ly/1nLaQ6G.