Dunbar council proposes closure of alley
DUNBAR – Council Monday directed solicitor Doug Sepic to check into closing a paper alley. Councilman Ron Gross asked that Wall Street Alley, between Memorial and Independence streets be closed. Gross said council refused the same request a number of years ago because of ongoing sewer projects.
“The alley has never been opened,” said Gross. “We have it on paper but no one has ever used it. That’s why we want to see it closed.”
Gross said he and his neighbor, Walter Lewandowski, would like to split the property. According to Gross the property is a 50-foot alley that narrows into a 15-foot alley.
Sepic said he would check into the matter and have more information for the Aug. 20 meeting. Councilman William Watson said his only concern with the plan is that a lot of residents might want to do the same.
“We have the same problem all over the borough,” said Watson. “I’m sure there are other people who are going to want us to do the same thing for them.”
Sepic said if other residents come forward with the same request then council could address them all at the same time.
In other unrelated matters, council accepted the resignation of part-time police officer Ed Stroko. Council President John Maddas said Stroko has worked for the borough for about a year.
In his letter to council, Stroko said he resigned because of scheduling conflicts.
In a related matter, councilman Ben Beal asked council to consider raising part-time police officers hourly wage by 50 cents. Beal said the borough has had a problem keeping part-time officers because they pay a lower wage than surrounding communities.
Beal said the part-timers receive $7 an hour, however, they all have to work at other jobs to keep their families. Mayor Herman Izzo said keeping and working part-time police officers has become a real problem for the borough.
“We understand that many other small communities are having the same problem with getting men to work on a part-time basis,” said Izzo. “We need to do something so we can keep these men once we get them.”
Izzo said the borough was unprotected this past Sunday because all three of the part-time officers were busy at their other jobs or had family obligations.
Council also discussed buying magnets saying “Dunbar Borough Police” to be placed on the side of a car. Beal said that way Police Chief Mike Garlowich could have a chase car and a regular police car for traffic control.
“If Mike has a traffic set up somewhere as soon as people pass him they speed up because they know where he is sitting,” said councilman Frank Zadell. “This way he can have another car sitting further down the road and we can catch those people who will not obey the law.”
Council also agreed to change three signs on Connellsville Street in front of the borough building. Watson said two “No Parking” signs will be taken down and a “Police Parking” sign will be erected and a “Police Official” sign will be taken down and a “Borough Officials” sign will be put up.