Over the summer and at previous Murrysville Council meetings, Chief Administrator Jim Morrison noted that the municipality will need to identify new revenue sources to provide the same level of services residents now enjoy.

That extends to emergency services as well, and council on Wednesday discussed a proposed ordinance to establish a special tax levy dedicated to fire emergency equipment purchases and repairs.

“Historically, the municipality has always supported the purchase of emergency equipment,” Morrison said, having gone through previous ordinances dating back to the late 1960s. “We believe that it’s in the best interest of the community to establish a special tax levy for the capital planning to purchase this equipment, and for repairs to help it last.”

The special millage fund, Morrison said, would be used to establish accounts for purchasing fire equipment and repairing it.

In a fiscal analysis presented in July, finance Director Diane Heming said, while the municipality is showing a number of positive fiscal trends, all of its fund balances — general, debt and capital reserve — are projected to shrink slightly in each of the next four years, and the full economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic still is unknown.

Council did not discuss a millage amount for the special tax levy. No date has been set for a public hearing on the proposed ordinance.

In other business:

• Council voted unanimously to vacate several un-built streets in the Pedora housing plan off of Wilson Road in the White Valley neighborhood.

The unopened roads off the western end of Pennsylvania Street were part of the original 1912 plan for the development. The property is now owned by LuxCesare Investments. Attorney Charles Hergenroeder said the developer is proposing senior housing on the property.

• Council authorized municipal staff to apply for $26,000 in reimbursement via the federal CARES Act, which awarded relief funds to local governments with populations below 500,000. The money is channeled through Westmoreland County, and will reimburses the installation of portable toilets at public parks, testing for staff and other pandemic-related costs.

• Council will advertise a public hearing for the transfer of a liquor license to 5549 Old William Penn Highway LLC, which will operate the future Ginny’s Neighborhood Pizza Joint at that address.

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