Jun 12, 2002 By Steve Ostrosky 3 min read

MASONTOWN – Plans are continuing to take shape for the borough’s Fourth of July Street Fair, and borough council’s president asked Tuesday for as much community involvement as possible to make the event a success. Carole Daniels, council president and fair chairperson, announced that a committee meeting will be held this Friday at 6 p.m. in the borough building to further discuss plans for the event, which will be held along Main Street. She encouraged anyone willing to help or to throw out ideas to attend and make their voice heard.

The event is being organized with Frank McLaughlin as co-chairman and assistance from Mayor Walter Scarton and the rest of the borough council, Daniels said.

Council decided earlier this year to revive the tradition of hosting a July 4th celebration as a way of commemorating the holiday and to build more relationships in the community. In prior years, festivities had been held at German-Masontown Park.

During Tuesday’s meeting, councilman Tom Loukota inquired about the borough’s animal control after learning that the Fayette County Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) is reopening next week. He said the council voted to approve and sign a contract with Noah’s Ark last month and wondered what effect that will have if SPCA returns to the county in earnest.

“SPCA left us hanging and we went with Noah’s Ark, but how do we know how long the SPCA is going to be around?” he said.

Daniels said that the contract with Noah’s Ark is valid and was signed, so that agency will handle animal control for the borough until that pact expires.

In another matter, Scarton encouraged people not to blow grass clippings into the streets when they are mowing their lawn and also alerted council to several properties in the borough whose owners have not properly attended to their yards. He even took a minute to warn council of several borough-owned properties that are in need of upkeep.

“I am sending letters to other people to cut their grass, and I don’t want to send the borough one,” he said.

Before adjourning, council also:

– Approved the purchase of an air compressor at the water/sewage plant.

– Announced that hydrants will be flushed starting June 19 and alerted residents that some may experience low water pressure or dirty-colored water as a result.

-Approved zoning permits for Thomas and Kathy Colebank on North Main Street and Bernard Brain of North Main Street for a pool and a fence, respectively.

Council’s next meeting is scheduled for June 25.