Jul 17, 2002 By Jackie Beranek 2 min read

VANDERBILT – Councilman Joseph Ambrose raised complaints Tuesday about two issues in the borough, directing them at Mayor John Addis Jr. Ambrose blamed Addis for a number of things, including the painting of a yellow line on the curb in front of the post office. Ambrose told Addis that he does not have the authority to have something like that done in the borough without council’s permission.

“Don’t you think we (council) should have made that decision?” Ambrose asked. “Something like that has to be done by ordinance, not on your say.”

Ambrose made a motion that the yellow line be painted white in order to allow elderly residents of the borough 15 minutes of parking in front of the post office. His motion failed on a 3-2 vote.

Those voting in favor were Ambrose and Duane King.

Those voting against the measure were council President Thomas Sankovich, Sam Guariglia and Dennis Lowe.

In an unrelated matter, Ambrose blamed Addis for hiring a worker from the Fayette County Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program without council’s knowledge.

The ARD program is for non-violent offenders, who, in many cases, must perform community service.

“We never agreed to hire this man,” said Ambrose. “I think we should have known what this man did before he was put to work in the borough.”

Sankovich told Ambrose that council agreed to hire an ARD worker at the regular April meeting, but Ambrose said council made no final decision as to who the worker would be.

Council also conducted the following business:

– Agreed to hire Noah’s Arc of Fayette County for animal control.

– Agreed to have secretary Mary Jane Winterhalter check into the purchase of Christmas lights for the town. Ambrose said council received a $10,000 from the Miller Fund. Miller left $1 million in trust for the beautification of the borough.

– Accepted a cable franchise proposal from Rex A. Buettgenbach, general manager, of Armstrong Cable.

Winterhalter said the proposal would be forwarded to solicitor Michael Macko for him to review before council votes on it. The borough’s franchise agreement with the cable company runs out in April 2003. The town has 185 cable subscribers, according to Buettgenbach.

– Addis asked council to consider doing $100,000 worth of roadwork in the borough after the sewage lines are put into the ground.

He said the borough must begin saving money for the project.