Indiana Gazette from Indiana, Pennsylvania • 12

Region Page 12 Tuesday, November 4, 2003 officer returns Carl By CHAUNCEY ROSS mm Gazette Staff Writer tVOlOgie GRACETON Ray Maz2afer- ro's return as the code-enforcement officer for Center Township on Monday was nearly as inlor-inal as his departure from the job four weeks earlier. -I want to come back to work," Mazzaferro told the township board of supervisors at their monthly meeting last nighL Supervisors Robert Nymick. Robert Pozik and Edward Solo replied with a round of "OKs" that Nymick, the chairman, declared to be their vote on an unspoken motion to rehire Mazzaferro. It was during the October hoard meeting when Mazzaferro walked out during a debate over the township's cade-enforcement policy, saying, "I think it's lime to leave." township will tap its reserve fund to make ends meet, according to Nymick. The township will continue to levy real estate (axes at six mills for general purposes and one mill for fire protection.

"We're dipping deep into our rainy-day funds and die main problem we're having is with health-care insurance," Nymick said. "Every township in Indiana County is struggling. We're receiving 36, 37 percent increases in health-care coverage. Somebody has ta stop this; it's putting us out of business." Nymick suggested to state Rep. David Reed, a spectator at the supervisors' meeting, that "the state or somebody needs to step in" to hall rising Insurance costs.

"You can talk aboul doing it ai the state level but probably the best solution is at the federal level," said Reed, the representative of the 62nd Reed blamed the increases in medical-insurance premiums and healthcare costs in general on the escalating amounts of money awarded by juries in malpractice trials. "To be done at the state level, it would probably be at least four or five years" to enact caps on non-economic damages, Reed said. "It's much easier at the federal level. As the supervisors unanimously voted to advertise the budget and take public comment until the December 'meeting, Nymick also prodded Reed to pursue reforms in taxing powers for municipalities as well as for school districts. Because of the opening of antlered-deer-huniing season on Dec.

1, the supervisors voted to meel on Dec. 8. Center Township part about selective enforcement," Mazzaferro said. "1 think everybody will be happy when everybody's treated die same." As the township's code-enforcement officer. Mazzaferro is paid $10 an hour to investigate such complaints as people burning trash when not permitted, letting their grass grow too tall or keeping junked cars on their properly.

Mazzaferro, who has been a code-enforcer In several municipalities, has worked for Center Township since January 2001. In oilier action, the supervisors gave tentative approval to a proposed budget for 20U4. The budget lists $912,000 in revenues and $1.05 million in expenses. Instead of raising taxes, the SPECTACULAR SUNSET Council discusses rescinds parking By STEPHANIE BE NAT Gazette Staff Writer SALTSBURG Saltsburg Borough Council expects to pass tentative 2004 budgets next month that call for no increase in taxes and a 3-percent increase in all borough employees' wages. The preliminary budgets are: General budget: total revenue, S234.620; total expenditures.

Miscellaneous income amounting to S50 should leave the general budget with aS4.51 net income. Sewage budget: revenue. S162.300; expenditures, S161, 800. Roads: revenue. expenditures $25,000.

Community center revenue, expenditures, $7,982.40. Projects funded by die Urban Development Action Grant: revenue. S74.00O; expenditures, S52.0D0. In unrelated business, borough council rescinded a S10 parking ticket issued to Dan Rose on Oct. 9 for parking in front of a no-parking sign.

Council took the action following a brief field trip that involved council members walking to the site where the ticket was issued. Saltsburg Police Sgt. Marshal Seltzer agreed with the ticket's issuance, so Rose appealed to Mayor Ron Wagner St. to have council rescind it. The mayor said he understood "We're satisfied with the job you're doing and we didn't want to see you go," Nymick told Mazzaferro upon his return.

"Welcome back." Mazzaferro said townslup residents convinced him to cliange his mind. "A lot of people called me and wanted me to come back," Mazzaferro said following the meeting. "They said I was doing a good job. The residents were satisfied." The supervisors said they would rethink the township's policy of allowing Mazzaferro only to investigate code violations when someone files a complaint. Some residents last month criticized Mazzaferro for turning a blind eye to code infractions that he had not been instructed to check.

"They're going to look into that Saltsburg Borough Rose's complaint and made the recommendation to council in Rose's favor. "We dont know it was legitimate to put that sign up," the mayor said. Council President Jim Bowers called the action a "courtesy to Mr. Rose" and dianked him for bringing in light a question about the legality of the no-parking sign, which is located close to a right-of-way on Market Street behind the borough building. In other business, council: Approved a change to the borough ordinance listing the locations of all borough stop signs to include two new signs located at the intersection of Walnut and High streets one will face north and one south.

Approved a S500 donation to the Saltsburg Volunteer Fire Department for its fund raiser to erect a vinyl fence behind River Hall on Route 286. along the line that divides the department's property and the cemetery just behind the hall. The estimated cost of the fence is the department has already raised about $3,462. Approved with a 4-3 tic-breaking vote by the mayor a measure that involves a question to be included in borough residents' next sewage bill asking the community for agreement or pects to file the petition with the court this week and the council should have approval of Ecken-rode's appointment by its December meeting. In the meantime, Kablack recommended Hckenrode abstain from all votes.

Council agreed, and Hanna said until then, Eckenrode will continue to participate in all committee meetings and counc.il work sessions, hut will abstain from all votes until the court's approval. Mitsko's secondary complaint was that the council violated the est ambulance, regardless of what station it originates from. "I have been very supportive of this." Killen said. "We're going to have a very strong station." Also during Monday's regular meeting, the supervisors: Authorized ihe Indiana County Sewage Enforcement Agency to study the feasibility of bringing sewage treatment to the areas of Charles, Cramer, Robindale Heights and Routes 56 and 711. The action stems from a complaint filed recently by Thomas Hoover regarding a raw-sewage discharge in ditches along Third Street in Charles.

After Hooverbrought the problem to the attention of the sewage agency, the agency told the supervisors the problem is Gazette photographer Teri Enciso recently photographed this sunset From the Route 422 area near the Indiana West Shopping Center, along Philadelphia Street in White budget, ticket disagreement with Saltsburg resident Bill Greenacre's proposed Patriot Act resolution. If passed, the resolution simply would mean the borough does not agree with the U.S. Patriot Act, which was passed in October 2001 and broadens the federal government's tools in investi- gations of terrorist activity. Similar resolutions have been passed in three slates and 150 communities throughout the country. Officially terminated the boroughs tax-collection contract with Pennsylvania Municipal Service Co.

in favor of the Central Tax Bureau of Grecnsburg (Cen-tax), effective Ian. 1. Council approved the change on condition that the borough will not be locked into a four-year contract as proposed by Ccn tax, which will receive a collection fee of 2.5 percent on net taxes collected. The council made the decision to change agencies in May but had to wait to terminate the longstanding Pennsylvania Municipal contract to sign with Cen-tax. Prior to this move, Centax had bceti collecting only the borough's school district taxes.

Heard from Bill Asay of Mockenhaupt Benefits Group of Pittsburgh and Shannon Rum-melt of First Commonwealth Bank about possible changes to the borough's investment and pension plans. state Sunshine Act, which says that deliberations and official actions by a board or council must be done at a public meeting. He said he believes council's decision to appoint a replacement at last month's meeting was done in an executive session. Bowers said the purpose of the executive session was merely to discuss die candidates, while the actual decision-making was done in front of the community. Today's votes could result in major changes in the makeup of borough council.

the township's responsibility because the ditches are in the township's right of way. But it would be years before sewage treatment could become a reality in the area, according to Umholtz. In the short term, the supervisors agreed at a meeting last month to temporarily fix the problem by installing pipes to channel the sewage runoff. Authorized a check for $60.94 to pay for a filing fee for a $350,000 package loan from the Department of Community and Economic Development. The loan, which has been authorized by DCED, will help pay for the property and buildings the township plans to move into along Route 56.

The purchase is S425.000. Voting for your friend Was it Mark Twain who said: "You change politicians every so often just like you change diapers and for the same Regardless of the reason, registered voters in Indiana County today must decide who will manage their affairs at the grass roots level. This is certainly one of die most important elections when it comes to making a choice where a friend or neighbor is on the ballot and the voter is faced with a decision pitting loyalty against the most qualified candidate. Local school boards and several municipalities have seats up for grabs today and you are asked to put the fate of your respective school directors and borough councils in the hands of someone you have determined will "do the best job" and not because he or she is a "nice guy or gal.H And yet, as important as diis election; is to the local scene, the political pundits are predicting only a 30 percent turnout throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. And the weather will be no excuse as the tern-peram'res are expected to soar near the 80-dcgrce mark today.

It's the same old story, if you didn't take the time to vote, don't complain about the outcome. Indiana High School Just completed what will probably be its final season in the ranks of Class AAAA in the WP1AI. and what a year the Lil' Indians enjoyed. Fans in Indiana had become accustomed to winning during the glory years under the reign of coach Bernie McQuown. Then they hit the skids, and there were more losses than wins at the end of the season.

Although the Lil' Indians made the Class AAA playoffs twice in the late 1980s, when they moved up to Quad-A. the wins were few and far between. Mark Zilinskas took over as head coach last year, and it only took him two years to produce a winner, something not achieved in the 14 years that Indiana was a member of the Quad-A ranks. How did he do it? First he pur together a great staff of assistants who were as dedicated as he was, and then he taught the team how to win and instilled a positive attitude in each and every player. It paid off with not only a winning season, but a berth in the WP1AL playoffs.

Regardless of the fact that it was defeated by an outstanding Upper Sl Clair team in the first round, Indiana achieved something no titer Indiana team had in the past 14 years and at the same time disproved the theory that Indiana could not play with the big boys in theWPIAL. Indiana finished with a respectable 6-4 record. This season not only brought hack the fans, who filled Fifth Street Stadium for almost every home game, but created a different atmosphere at school, where the team regained the respect of the student body. Winning is contagious and has a way of putting a positive outlook on what was once a program in disarray. Credit this to Zilinskas, his staff and the members of the 2003 Indiana High School football squad.

Next season, the Lil' Indians will probably drop into the Class AAA ranks due to the dwindling enrollment figures at the Indiana Area School District. Did you ever hear of crosscountry golff It's been played on several courses in the area and on Sunday a nine-hole event was played (attempted) at the Apollo Elks Country- Club near Spring Church. Four- and five-man teams were selected, according to handicap and ability to hit the ball through trees, around lakes and in heavy rough. A scorecard was given to each team listing the tee it started from and the target green. For example, a team might lee off from No.

1 but play the third green. They could take any route to get to the designated green. Of course, it was a scramble format and the winning team turned in a nine-hole score of 30. Our team turned in a 31 so we got a share of the prizes. This event is held every year at this time and last year "long Johns'' were the order of the day.

Court to decide appointment legality Council hires three full-time police officers Continued from page 1 Had a vacancy board been established at the Oct 6 meeting. Dikun said, it is likely he would have been eligible by the time the board convened lo conduct the appointment. Council Vice President John Hanna made a motion to petition the Court of Common Pleas for approval of Eckcnrode's appointment "for no other reason than I want to legitimize Mr. Eck-enrode's position on council." Council approved die motion and borough solicitor Wayne Kablack of Indiana said he ex Continued from page 1 In a move to encourage cooperation fur regional planning, the council approved a donation of up to $500 toward the costs of a regional planning conference on community and economic development to be held from 8:30 a m. to 4 p.m.

Dec 17 at the Pie Cucina restaurant in the borough. The conference is being held in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Association of Councils of Government in Har-rishurg and will feature Bill Fonlana, executive director of Pennsylvania Downtown Center, as the instructor. Linda Gwinn, president of the Blairsville Improvement Group, Reminisce With Saturdays Citizens' director endorses move said representatives from Homer City and Burrell, Blacklick and Center townships are being invited to attend the conference, which will provide information that could help with the preparation of a comprehensive plan for ihe five municipalities. Police Chief Hess said the public is invited to a meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday in the municipal building to discuss the formation of a Neighborhood Crime Watch program.

Hess said committees will be established to develop public-awareness programs on such things as drugs and alcohol, self-defense and Firearms and child safety. Those Old Photos, and Sundays KtlmUiltatanitl thK. MtdNC Iramt femt PDIWWIKttridlDIailoini fm An Fit Drpariyiai' ffwnvV fit DctirtMflt tMSitlfDnii-RCMttr SITU SmrtkLt SLknrittCfew tUtefcCkRi but: faartaln WlbrtSaanaftr Continued from page 1 "I'm getting a lot of people who aren't happy about this," Umholtz said. 'I'm afraid that they're spreading themselves too thin." But the number of additional calls is deceiving because they are calls that Citizens' already responds to, Killen said. Currendy, the Armagh station provides standhy for hundreds of Tri-Community's calls.

Absorbing the added calls will mean the Armagh station will be the primary res ponder, and the standby calls will fall to the Indiana and Blairsville stations. Killen said the response time will not drastically change because, unlike in other counties in western Pennsylvania, Indiana County 911 dispatches the clos ICCAPS Board of Direcmrs. Management and Staff would like ro say THANK YOU to everyone who contributed food and financial support to ICCAP's "Care and Share Day 2003" With your support, 1CCAP collected more than nine tons of food and more than $5,700. The following supporters helped us reach that goal: WStmtElB fecklUrrthprtMri ttanvAt fit ItiriMMt Irak UtT lit tmM GM4SimitaiHtuK GwdCWMmtjCkn iMfrCrfyFfftkfHrtmMt IMwm4 bntnuM Lt(nn nmCitiUi tas'StoktSuHouK First Commonwealth comes to financial aid of Indiana library to Stat WaifntU twfeUWiiMi UataliH kfaKlUXimbitekn kaath tab Dan (ted MtaadlU 1 Snu tiUllimi Mb Ltftbtmtt brary could come up with a donation of $2,500, it would be able to staff the children's center on Saturdays. With First Commonwealth's decision to help out, Mikula's hopes for restored Saturday service have been fulfilled.

Now she and O'Dell have hopes that others will follow First Commonwealth's lead and give to save additional library services. "Wc would like this contribution to stimulate others," O'Dell said. Mikula said the board would consider keeping the children's room open for some evening hours if enough contributions came in. Continued from page 1 closing of the children's room on Saturday and weekday evenings. The closings were set to begin Jan.

1. The children's room is located in the basement of the library building; the reference and circulation desks are on the first floor. For security reasons, Mikula and Rafoth said that it is library policy to keep one staff member on duty in the children's room at all times. With the funding cuts, the library could not afford to pay personnel to work downstairs. But Mikula had held out the hope that, if the 11- Qm CbvM In liurtMt Special thanks to evertone who placed flyers into bags, placet, bags into newspapers, made financial contributions, donated pood.

staffed collection srtes, loadedunloaded trucks, and sorted food. A SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO WCCS 1 160 AND JaCK BENEDICT. Our deep appreciation to the Indiana Gazette, with whom "Cake fir Share Day" wouit) not flc possible. Thanks for "Caring Sharing!" $8.