HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOMM - Meeting Minutes - 49 - 12-21-1972 - COMMISSIONER416 MINUTE BOOK
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASH NGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
MICHAEL R. FLYNN, FRANK JONES, JR., EDWARD M. PALUSO, COMMISSIONERS
Roll call vote taken:
Mr. Paluso - Yes; Mr. Jones - Yes.
Motion carried unanimously.
Commissioner Paluso suggested that an inquiry be made as to whether anyone
would be interested in purchasing the glass that is being removed in connection with the
replacement of windows in the Court House.
Meeting adjourned.
THE FOREGOING MINUTE READ AND APPROVED:
ATTEST:
Minute No. 49
, 1972
CHIEF CLERK
Office of the County Commissioners
Washington, Pa., December 21, 1972
The Board of County Commissioners met in regular session with the following
members being present: Commissioners Jones, Paluso, and Flynn. Also present being:
Administrative Assistant, Whalen; Mrs. Helen Miller of the League of Women Voters; Reporter
Roule of the Monongahela Publishing Company; Reporter Robertson of The Observer -Reporter;
and Mr. Earl Bugaile of WKEG Radio.
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. 48, each Commissioner having received a copy.
as read.
Moved by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Paluso, that Minute No. 48 be approved,
Roll call vote taken:
Mr. Paluso - Yes; Mr. Jones - Yes; Mr. Flynn - Yes.
Motion carried unanimously.
Old Business: Mr. Whalen
Mr. Whalen submitted to the Board a request from the Washington County Planning
Commission to appoint a Washington County Planning Commission Historical Preservation
Sub -committee which will consist of the following people:
Mr. William Porter, Attorney
Mrs. Charlotte K. Lane, Wash. -Greene T. P. A.
Dr. Phil Jack, California State College Mr. Lee Adamson
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MINUTE BOOK 417
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
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MICHAEL R. FLYNN, FRANK JONES, JR., EDWARD M. PALUSO, COMMISSIONERS
Mr. A. B. Kenney, West Penn Power Co. Dr, Raymond Bell, W & J College
Dr. Ronald Michaels, California College
Mr. Albert Miller, Meadowcroft. Village
Mr. Keery McAmbley, Industrial Dev. Agency
Moved by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Paluso, that the foregoing names as sub-
mitted by the Washington County Planning Commission to serve on the Historical Preservation
Sub -committee be approved.
Roll call vote taken:
Mr. Jones - Yes; Mr. Paluso - Yes; Mr. Flynn - Yes.
Motion carried unanimously.
Washington -Fayette County Ferry System
Mr. Whalen informed the Board that in regard to the Mass Transit Grant for the
Washington -Fayette County Ferry System, he discussed the matter with Mr. Grant McCoy of
the Mass Transit Division of Penn -DOT who informed him that there are no plans or any indica-
tion that this proposed grant would be terminated. Mr. McCoy stated that it will be available
until such a time as the Washington -Fayette County Commissioners come to a decision in the
matter.
Correspondence - Mr. Whalen
Mr. Whalen informed the Board of the receipt of the following checks:
(1) ck. #50-630026 in the amount of $14, 094.75 for Day Care Contract #1317,
Mon Valley United Health Services for the month of August, 1972.
(2) ck. #50-630027 in the amount of $13, 096. 03 for Day Care Contract #1317,
Mon Valley United Health Services for the month of September, 1972.
(3) ck. #50-630028 in the amount of $13, 998. 50 for Day Care Contract #1317,
Mon Valley United Health Services for the month of October, 1972.
(4) ck. #51-629864 in the amount of $1, 222.78 for Foster Care Payment for
the month of September, 1972,
(5) ck. #51-629714 in the amount of $4, 908. 29 for Child Welfare Services
Invoice for the Month of September, 1972.
Mr. Whalen read correspondence under date of December 13, 1972, from Mr. Ke.ery
McAmbley, Director, Washington County Industrial Development Agency directed to Mr. William
M. Fronczek, Jr., M. D. , Chairman of the Museum Development Committee, Pa. Railway
Museum Association, Inc. Correspondence stated that the Industrial. Development, Agency has
authorized a mapping firm to prepare a five foot contour map of the Men's Home site at Arden
which includes the parking lot adjacent to the Fair Ground. On receipt of the map, Mr. McAm-
bley informed Mr. Fronczek that a copy will be forwarded to him in order that he can sketch
in what he wants and it will then be turned over to a site planner who will be laying out how the
home area and parking lot could be developed for industrial use if the County Home is demolisher.
This will show how the area could be served by rail if it is feasible. The above is ixi connection
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASH NGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
MICHAEL R. FLYNN, FRANK JONES, JR., EDWARD M. PALUSO, COMMISSIONERS
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with a request by the Pennsylvania Railway Museum Association, Inc., for a long-term lease,
for some County properties at Arden. The matter was tabled until a report on land use in the
above -mentioned area being prepared by the Agency is received.
Mr. Whalen read correspondence under date of December 15, 1972, from Mrs.
Charlotte K. Lane, Executive Director, Washington -Greene County Tourist Promotion Agency
requesting their first quarterly allocation for the year 1973.
Mr. Whalen read correspondence under date of December 18, 1972, from Mr. R.
E. Larson of the University Park Campus of The Pennsylvania State University thanking the
Commissioners for their continued support of the Cooperative Extension Service program in
Washington County. Mr. Larson stated that thanks to the Commissioners continued support,
they look forward to building a stronger educational program in Washington County.
Bill:
Moved by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Paluso, that the following bill be approved
for payment:
William C. Porter - $87.00 - Re: Evans, Foster et al.
Mingo Creek County Park.
Roll call vote taken:
Mr. Jones - Yes; Mr. Paluso - Yes; Mr. Flynn - Yes.
Motion carried unanimously.
Federal Revenue -Sharing
Mr. Whalen: Under Federal Revenue Sharing, the first entitlement in the amount of $595, 365. 00)
has been deposited in the First National Bank and Trust Company and they are in the process of
investing the major portion of this in United States Government Short -Term Notes for the bene-
fit of this fund.
Mr, Flynn: I want the record to show that we have invested $575, 000. 00 in 90 day treasury
notes.
Mr. Whalen: We have an inquiry from the Corps of Army Engineers concerning Chartiers Flood
Control Protection Project - Canonsburg -Houston Reach and they were awaiting information frorn
Mr. DeiCas on,the legal location of the access road upstream and downstream of the Jefferson -
Avenue Bridge. Location of the roads is needed in order that we can evaluate the effect of
narrowing the improved channel to retain these roads on the overall project flood protection
plan. I got in touch with Mr. DeiCas and as of Friday of last week this information went forth
to the Army Corps of Engineers. That has been completed.
Solicitor: Mr. Hormell
(Landfill)
Mr. Hormell: The first thing- we have concerns a landfill known as Cooks Landfill located in
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MINUTE BOOK 419
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BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
MICHAEL R. FLYNN, FRANK JONES, JR., EDWARD M. PALUSO, COMMISSIONERS
Robinson Township. On May 14, the Commissioners by Resolution approved this site along with
4 others with an interim approval. The Planning Commission has since received a request from
the State asking for final approval. Acting in accordance with your instructions, I checked into
the records on the matter and I found that your approval, not only being an interim approval,
was also subject to five conditions to be met. We checked this out with the Planning Commis-
sion and some of these conditions we do not presently have certification for. They will certify
them to us. I would therefore recommend that the motion be adopted authorizing final approval
subject to receiving the notification from the Planning Commission that all of these conditions
have been met and subject to including them and then it will be an administrative matter. I
would ask for a motion to that effect. A brief discussion was held and Mr. Hormell stated that
the County Commissioners have no jurisdiction over sanitary landfills, the jurisdiction is within
the State but in this particular type of situation, in addition to other requirements normally
required where you have an abandoned strip mine being used in addition to all other requirement;,
the Commissioners must also approve it.
Moved by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Paluso, authorizing final approval for the
site known as Cooks Landfill subject to the five conditions as set forth by the Commis sioners
in a Resolution under date of May 14, 1972, and certification by the Washington County Planning
Commission that the said conditions have been met.
Roll call vote taken:
Mr. Jones - Yes; Mr. Paluso - Yes; Mr. Flynn - Yes.
Motion carried unanimously.
Cole, Layer & Trumble
Mr. Hormell presented to the Board an Amendment to the Mapping Contract between
Cole, Layer & Trumble and the County of Washington which provides for further research and
plotting of approximately 12, 000 mapping discrepancies that need to be corrected, Cole, Layer
& Trumble will furnish all personnel and will maintain all maps in its possession and return
them to the Commissioners within 45 days of completion and delivery of this work. All maps
and related records will be delivered on or before June 15, 1973, with a minimum fee of
$36, 000. 00 and not exceeding $42, 000. 00.
Moved by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Paluso, approving the above Amendment to
the Mapping Contract between Cole, Layer & Trumble and the County of Washington.
Remarks:
Mr. Flynn: I would like to say this for the benefit of the taxpayers. There has been consider-
able sums of money spent in the Tax Assessment Office over the past 4 or 5 years. Now we
have streamlined our operation and it is beginning to bear fruit and that is proven by the fact
that we did have the tax duplicates ready in November and once we adopt bur budget we hope to
420 MINUTE BOOK
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASH NGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
MICHAEL R. FLYNN, FRANK JONES, JR., EDWARD M. PALUSO, COMMISSIONERS
be able to send out our tax notices shortly after the first of the year, the first time in the his-
tory of this County and the overall operation of the department itself will of necessity - in view
of the fact that we modernize after the first of the year - we will have to re -vamp the whole
operation.
Roll call vote taken:
Mr. Jones - Yes; Mr. Paluso - Yes; Mr. Flynn - Yes.
Motion carried unanimously.
Demolition
Moved by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Paluso, authorizing the demolishing of a
house located on Lot 35-018A in Cecil Township formerly owned by Thomas G. & Ruth A. Bell
and now owned by the Washington County Tax Claim Bureau at the expense and responsibility
of Cecil Township with the County having no responsibility of the same.
Roll call vote taken:
Mr. Jones - Yes; Mr. Paluso - Yes; Mr. Flynn - Yes.
Motion carried unanimously.
Bond Forfeiture
Moved by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Paluso, authorizing Assistant County Solici-
tor Hormell to take the legal steps necessary to collect on a bond in the case of the Common-
wealth vs. Allen S. Osborne. Said action is pursuant to the order of Judge Sweet.
Roll call vote taken:
Mr. Jones - Yes; Mr. Paluso - Yes; Mr. Flynn - Yes.
Motion carried unanimously.
Yorkin Lease
Mr. Hormell: The next item involves a matter which has been before the Board a couple of
times and this is the Yorkini Lease for the Mental Health and Retardation i Services. You will
recall we got into a hangup on this matter because you Commissioners directed that I put pro-
visions into the agreement which would protect the County in the event that funding was termi-
nated or in the effect that funding was reduced. We have done this and we have succeeded in
doing this so that in the event that funding for the project -fails altogether, we will have the
right to terminate the lease immediately. In the event that funding is reduced, I have agreed
with the attorney for Mr. Yorkin that I would recommend to this Board that if the funding were
reduced, the rental on the lease would be reduced in the same proportion as the funding was
reduced down to but no less than 50%. What that means is this, if you lose 10% on your funds
then you cut this lease 10%, if you lose 20% then you cut this lease 2010 down to a level of 59%.
The reason the level of 50% was left there is because in order to make this building habital for
county purposes, it was necessary for this man to expend some money and the amount of money-,
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MINUTE :■■
421
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
MICHAEL R. FLYNN, FRANK JONES, JR., EDWARD M. PALUSO, COMMISSIONERS
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in order to be paid back to him for these improvements, in order to amortize this would take
approximately 50% of the lease and the result then would be if it were reduced below 50% 'I
think it would be unconscionable because the man wouldn't be getting any rental and he would
actually be paying for improvements that we were being unjustly enriched by. I have the
approval of Mr. Goldfarb for this arrangement, I would suggest that you also arrange it and
if you will I would ask that you authorize the execution of the lease with those provisions which
we will have done, and then it will be merely an administrative matter. This went back to
November but I took the position that the County should not be responsible until the lease were
actually executed and therefore the effective date would be January 1, 1973.
Moved by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. 'Paluso, authorizing the execution of the least
between the County of Washington and Mr. Yorkin in connection with the Mental Health and
Retardation Services with the provisions as stated by Solicitor Hormell.
Roll call vote taken:
Mr. Jones - Yes; Mr. Palus o - Yes; Mr. Flynn - Yes.
Motion carried unanimously.
(Tax Refunds)
Assistant County Solicitor Hormell presented two (2) Tax Refunds to the, Board for
their, consideration and approval.
Moved by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Paluso, that the Tax Assessment Office be
authorized to prepare the following Tax Refunds due to either duplication or overpayment of
real estate tax:
1. RE: Beeghly. Blaine A. & Wilma
Washington 3rd Ward
Request for refund has been made in re the above -captioned tax account.
Attached find Xerox copy of tax receipts showing either duplication or
over -payment of county tax.
Kindly issue check in the amount of $827. 38 to BEEGHLY, BLAINE A. &
WILMA, 241 Hawthorne Road, Washington, Pa. 15301.
2. RE: Vrtar, Frank & Frances
Union
Request for refund has been made in re the above -captioned tax account.
Attached find Xerox copy of tax receipts showing either duplication or,
over -payment of county tax.
Kindly issue check in the amount of $26.73 to VRTAR, FRANK & FRANCES,
R. D. 2, Finleyville, Pa. 15332.
Roll call vote taken:
Mr. Jones - Yes; Mr. Paluso - Yes; Mr. Flynn - Yes.
Motion carried unanimously.
(Resolution)