Connellsville Council honors former city clerk
CONNELLSVILLE – A former city clerk will have his name inscribed at East Park in honor of his work to have the community facility refurbished. Although the initiative to have the park picnic site designated as the William E. Hughes Pavilion was defeated last year, council unanimously approved the re-introduced proposal when Councilwoman Judy Keller presented it to the panel last week.
“Why did we wait so long to do this?” asked Councilman Bruce Jaynes. “This should have passed the last time. (The defeat of the measure) was a slap in the face to Mr. Hughes and made this city look bad.”
Keller, Mayor Judy Reed and Councilman John Whalen abstained from voting when Councilwoman Chris Wagner initially presented the matter in October 2002, a week after a plaque to honor Hughes was placed in the pavilion at a ceremony to mark the $500,000 upgrade.
Keller explained that she did not favor approving measures retroactively, but had reconsidered her stance in the interim and wanted to request that Hughes get the recognition he deserved.
Hughes, a Connellsville native, served more than two years as city clerk before departing in October 2000 for a township manager’s position in a community near Altoona. He died in May 2002.
Prior to his departure, Hughes secured for the city a $225,000 state grant that served as a benchmark for other contributions to complete the renovation work at the park.
Before Wagner could have the plaque removed from the park pavilion and given to the Hughes family after the defeat of her resolution, the sign was stolen from the pavilion. Police have not recovered the wooden sign or located the person who removed it. Wagner said she was pleased with Keller’s reintroduction of the resolution.
“It was very kind of Judy (Keller) to do this,” she said, adding that parliamentary procedure did not permit her to bring the matter back to the panel. “I’m sure the Hughes family will appreciate the gesture.”
Keller said the Hughes plaque, along with signs designating pavilions in honor of former city recreation board members Fred Snell and Pete Salatino will be placed in the spring.
In other matters, council also took the following action:
Hired William Noel, Jonathan Keefer and Clint Richter as lifeguards for the winter swim program that begins Jan. 7 and continues each Wednesday at the Connellsville Area High School until March 10. The program will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. The cost is $2 per person.
Approved a payment of $3,862.50 to the law firm of Waggoner and Ferens for legal fees associated with a lawsuit filed against the city by Randy Strickler. The matter was initiated after council removed Strickler from the city planning commission. A Fayette County judge ruled that Strickler was to remain seated on the panel.