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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOMM - Meeting Minutes - 100 - 12-27-1973 - COMMISSIONERMINUTE BOOK M 'BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA IMi MICHAEL R. FLYNN, FRANK JONES, JR., EDWARD M. RALUSO, COMMISSIONERS i C Minute No. #100 Office of the County Commissioners Washington, Pa., December 27, 1973 The Board of County Commissioners met in regular session with the following members being present: Commissioners Jones, Paluso and Flynn. Also present being: Chief Clerk and County Administrator Whalen; Administrative Assistant Crouse; Assistant County Solicitor Gilmore; Mr. John Merdian - WJPA Radio; Mrs. June Lilley of The Daily Notes; Mr. Bob Robertson of The Observer -Reporter; Mr. Earl Bugaile of WKEG Radio; and Ms. Helen Miller of The League of Women Voters. Meeting called to order by Chairman and roll call taken: Mr. Jones - Present; Mr. Paluso - Present; Mr. Flynn - Present. Chairman asked if there were any corrections, additions or omissions to Minute No. #99, each member having received a copy. as read. Moved by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Paluso, that Minute No. #99 be approved, Roll call vote taken: Mr. Jones - Yes; Mr. Paluso - Yes; Mr. Flynn -.Yes. I,+ Motion carried unanimo-isly. Reports - None Old Business: Chief Clerk informed the Board that the following names were submitted as can- didates for the Governor's Justice Commission's,,, -Regional Planning Council: Mr. David L. Gilmore, Esq. , Asst. Solicitor for Washington County (submitted by Commissioner Flynn). Mr. Alan A. Alvarez, Donora Councilman, Donora, Pa. - (submitted by Commis- sioner Jones). Mr. Fred C. Briggs, President - Charleroi Borough Council, Charleroi, Pa. - (submitted by Commissioner Paluso). (Awarding of bid) Moved by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Paluso, that the bid for the demolition of the barn located at the Washington County Home for Aged Men, 2198 N. Main Street, Wash- ington, Pennsylvania, be awarded to RAYMOND MAGGI, Maggi Construction, R. D. #1, Eighty Four, Pennsylvania, for the amount as set forth in his bid - $3500. 00 with the Con- tractor retaining all salvageable materials within thirty (30) days of contract award. Said bid being the lowest responsible bid received and in accordance with the specifications and based upon the recommendation of the Assistant County Solicitor. Roll call vote taken: Mr. Jones - Yes; Mr. Paluso - Yes; Mr. Flynn - Yes. Motion carried unanimously. i BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA MICHAEL R. FLYNN, FRANK JONES, JR., EDWARD M. PALUSO, COMMISSIONERS Correspondence: (checks) Chief Clerk informed the Board of the receipt of the following checks from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: (a) Commonwealth of Pennsylvania - $31, 787.58 - Community Action Corporation Months of November, 1973 to June 30, 1974 - preliminary payment. (b) Commonwealth of Pennsylvania - $269, 669. 57 - semi-annual allocation of Liquid Fuels Funds for Washington County. (c) Commonwealth of Pennsylvania - $81, 310. 09 - payments to counties for Child Welfare Services Program - fourth quarterly payment of State funds (October 1 to December 31, 1973) and Federal funds for the period of January 1, 1973, to June 30, 1973. Chief Clerk read correspondence from David H. Steighner, Marketing Consultant of Blue Cross of Western Pennsylvania, under date of December 18, 1973, directed to the County Commissioners, which requested a meeting with the Commissioners in order that a brief summary of the new Centerville Health Plan may be given. Chief Clerk read correspondence under date of December 14, 1973, directed to Secretary of the Borough of Houston George Wright, from the Department of Environmental Resources, which informed that said Department has conditionally approved a stream improve ment project for Plum Run in the Borough of Houston, Washington County, Pennsylvania, and gave a description of the proposed improvements. Chief Clerk noted that the Borough of Houston is to be the sponsor of said project. Chief Clerk informed the Board of Court Order No. #206 November Term signed by Honorable Richard DiSalle, Judge, in reference to the Opening of Ballot Box of the Boro of Ellsworth, which ordered the County Election Board to correct the return for the office of Mayor as follows: Stanley Brovey - 187 votes and James Lutes - 172 votes. Court Order ordered that the sum of $25. 00 be paid by the County of Washington to Salvatore F. Panepinto, Esq. , Chairman of the Recount Board; the sum of $12. 50 to Lorraine Warfield; and the sum of $12.50 to Grace DiDonato. Chief Clerk informed the Boardof Court Order No. #179 November Term, signed by Honorable Richard DiSalle, Judge, in reference to the Opening and Recounting Ballot Box in the Third Precinct of Mt. Pleasant Township, which ordered that appearing that Grace Rutz cannot serve on the Recount Board in said matter, that Mrs. Olga Ferralli is appointed in her place. Mr. Flynn: May I suggest that once we have received --the finalization of the municipalities - for example there is an outstanding one in West Finley Township we have no word of; the one in Charleroi Borough; and Mt. Pleasant Township - that we just hold! them in abeyance and make them a matter of record at the next Election Board meeting. Also - for the record and the benefit of the news media - The Board of Commissioners have certified the State elections, the County elections, and the two cities in Washington County. We have not finalized the MINUTE BOOK V 1' BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA MICHAEL R. FLYNN. FRANK JONES, JR., EDWARD M. PALUSO, COMMISSIONERS 1 11 boroughs and municipalities as of yet because we have not received the notice from the Courts. New Business: Mr. Flynn: At this time, I would like to place upon the record several points concerning the Controller's Office. These items are: (a) Keith Melenyzer of the Assessment Appeal Board has not received his pay since April 16, 1973; and has, as of several weeks ago has filed a suit against the County for his pay. (b) Mr. Elish overexpended his statutory allowable amount for the printing of last year's Controller's Report by the sum of $473, 00 and in addition there- for the current year. to, there is an outstanding bill in the amount of $750. 00 for the same iteml (c) Mr. Michael A. Hanna, Deputy Sheriff, has not received his pay since September 14, 1973. (d) Mr. Vance DeiCas, Consulting Engineer on the Chartiers Creek Flood Control Project, has received none of the authorized payments he is due under the Chartiers Creek contract. While I do not want to elaborate on the merits of any of these cases at this time, I think it only proper and indeed necessary that the County go on record advising the Controller's Bonding Company that they are not relieved of their obligation should the County in any manner be penalized on account of the actions of the Controller in regard to any of the above enumerated cases. It is my perso opinion that the Controller has acted in an arbitrar.* and illegal manner in withholding payment in several of the above enumerated cases and in incurring expenses over the statutory amount of $1500. 00 in the printing of the report. I believe it is my obligation as a County Commission to protect the taxpayers, and would therefore recommend that a motion be passed to so advise the Controller's Bonding Company and that all steps necessary be taken to insure that the County of Washington will be protected from any liabilities on account of the Controller. Moved by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Paluso, that the Washington County Board of Com- missioners to so advise the County Controller, Peter Elish, that the Commissionerepare on record to notify the Controller's Bonding Company that all necessary steps be taken to insure that the County of Washington will be protected from any liabilities on account of the Controller. Remarks: Mr. Paluso: Some of the above remarks I do not agree with but I do agree we should be on record in case of the newspaper bill or whatever. I'll second the motion as stated. Roll call vote taken: Mr. Jones - Yes; Mr. Paluso - Yes; Mr. Flynn - Yes. Motion carried unanimously. Moved by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Paluso, approving the action taken by Chief Clerk and County Administrator F. D. Whalen in transferring the sum of $275, 000. 00 from the Capital Reserve Account to the General Fund Account; and the sum of $107, 500. 00 from the Capital Reserve Account to the Commonwealth Conservation Account. Roll call vote taken: Mr. Jones - Yes; Mr. Paluso - Yes; Mr. Flynn - Yes. �'0 MINUTE BOOK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA MICHAEL R. FLYNN, FRANK JONES. JR., EDWARD M. PALUSO, COMMISSIONERS Motion carried unanimously. (Adoption of County Budget for 1974) Chief Clerk Whalen. read the following certification submitted by Mr. Merico S. Lignelli, Chief Assessor: December 7, 1973 F. D. Whalen, Chief Clerk and County Administrator Chief Clerk's Office Court House Washington, Pa. 15301 Dear Mr. Whalen: This is to certify that the total valuation of Real Estate, as received from Dayton, Ohio, for assessment purposes in the County of Washington for the tax year 1974 is $251, 043, 095. 00. Thank you. ML /kab -RESOLUTION- Very truly yours,, BOARD FOR, THE ASSESSMENT OF APPEALS Merico S. Lignelli Chief Assessor, WHEREAS, the 1974 Washington County Budget in part is based on tax revenues to be derived from the assessed valuation of real estate; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Washington County Commissioners do hereby establish and adopt the ratio of 30% of Market Value as the basis for levying of taxes for 1974, and that the assessed valuation be set at $251, 043, 095. 00 as certified to the Board of County Commissioners by Mr. Merico S. Lignelli, Chief Assessor, under date of December 7, 1973. Moved by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Flynn, that the Budget for the County of Washingto for the fiscal year 1974 be finally adopted by the County Commissioners, said Budget having been available for Public Inspection in the Office of the Chief Clerk to the County Commis- sioners from December 6, 1973, to this date, in accordance with the Provisions of the Act of Assembly of July 18, 1935, as amended. The Resolution as to the Tax Levy and the approp- riations of the County of Washington and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania fixing the tax rate for the year 1974 and appropriating specific sums estimated to be required for the specific purposes of the operations of County Government, hereinafter set forth, during the fiscal year. Be it resolved and enacted, by the Board of Commissioners of the County of Washingto Pennsylvania, that a tax be and the same is hereby levied on all property within the said Co subject to taxation for County purposes for the fiscal year 1974 as follows: Tax rate for gener 1 County purposes, the sum of 19 mills on each dollar of assessed valuation. This rate of taxation upon valuation of properties of the County of Washington is required for purposes of meeting the necessary general expenses for the year 1974. MINUTE BOOK 21 181 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON, COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA MICHAEL R. FLYNN, FRANK JONES, JR., EDWARD M. PALUSO, COMMISSIONERS Roll call vote taken: Mr. Jones - Yes; Mr. Paluso - No; Mr. Flynn - Yes. Motion carried. (Personal Property) Moved by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Paluso, that in accordance with the.provisio of the Act of Assembly, dated June 17, 1913, P. L. 507, as amended that a four (4) mills tax be levied upon all taxable items authorized in said Act, for General County purposes for the fiscal year 1974. Roll call vote taken: Mr. Jones - Yes; Mr. Paluso - Yes; Mr. Flynn - Yes. Motion carried unanimously. Chief Clerk Whalen read the following with respect to the Capital Reserve Account: Balance - January 1, 1974 -Receipts- Bond Issue Com. of Penna. -Chartiers Interest Total Balance & ]Receipts Expenditures: $ 117, 324. 26 $5, 000, 000. 00 $ 150, 000. 00 $ 200, 000. 00 $5, 350, 000. 00 Industrial Development $ 500, 000. 00 Chartiers Flood Control $ 500, 000. 00 Harmon Creek $ 50, 000. 00 Parks & Recreation $ 500, 000. 00 Commonwealth Conservation $ 250, 000. 00 Tax Reassessment $1, 000, 000. 00 Ct. Rooms, L. Lib. &Ct. hse. $ 100, 000. 00 Municipal Loan $1, 360, 000. 00 General Fund Capital $ 150, 000. 00 Records: Register; Recorder, and Prothonotary $ 100, 000. 00 Cross Creek Park $ 620, 000. 00 Ferry Commission $ 100, 000. 00 Unscheduled $ 237, 324. 26 $5, 467, 324. 26 $5, 467, 324. 26 Moved by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Paluso, that the Washington County Board of Commissioners authorize and enter into the issuance of a Bond Issue in the amount of $5, 000, 000. 00 to be amortized over a twenty-five (25) year period for Capital Improvements purposes. Roll call vote taken: Mr. Jones - Yes; Mr. Paluso - Yes; Mr. Flynn - Yes. Motion carried unanimously. Solicitor: Assistant County Solicitor informed the Board that Keith Melenyzer has filed suit against Washington County for his wages since April 16, 1973, in the amount of approximately over $3000.00. 212 MINUTE BOOK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA MICHAEL R. FLYNN, FRANK JONES, JR., EDWARD M. PALUSO, COMMISSIONERS Assistant County Solicitor referred to a recent ruling by Oliver N. Hormell as Per Minute No. #98 dated December 13, 1973, with respect to the rejecting of yearly dues in the amount of $5. 00 each for the Pennsylvania Association on Probation, Parole and Correction, for George Kubovcik, Chief Adult Probation Officer and six (6) other persons.' -Mr. 'Gilmore informed the Commissioners that he is reversing said ruling in that said Association is an authorized Association and that the Commissioners may allow whatever members they deem appropri6te from the Adult Probation and Domestic Relations Offices fox membership in said Association and the County to pay their dues. Chairman recommended that the Commissione permit the Director of the Adult Probation Office, the Director of the Domestic Relations Office, and their Deputy, and approve payment of their membership in said Association. Moved by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Paluso, that the Washington County Board of Commisq, oners authorize the payment of membership dues to the Pennsylvania Association, on Probation, Parole and Correction inthe amount of $5. 00 each for Mr. George Kubovcik - Chief Adult Probation Officer; Mr. Louis Wilson - Domestic Relations Officer; and Mrs. Evelyn Comstock - Assistant Chief Probation Officer, for the year 1974. Said action based upon the recommendation of Assistant County Solicitor Gilmore. Roll call vote taken: Mr. Jones - Yes; Mr. Paluso - Yes; Mr. Flynn - Yes. Motion carried unanimously. Moved by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Paluso, that the meeting adjourn. Meeting adjourned. THE FOREGOING MINUTE READ AND APPROVED: December 27 1973 ATTEST: CHIEF CLERK