Uniontown council names new fire chief
Myron P. Nypaver was named Uniontown’s fire chief Tuesday and added code enforcement duties to his new position, even though neither job is new to him. City council appointed Nypaver chief at a salary of $34,000 per year. Council added code enforcement to the chief’s job.
Nypaver had serving in both positions.
He was the assistant fire chief, but was named acting chief after former chief James Wood retired in October.
He was also the city’s part-time code enforcement officer, but his part-time salary of $5,795.92 per year was eliminated. Trained firefighters will assist Nypaver with code enforcement.
Charles Coldren was appointed assistant fire chief. He was the captain, but was not given a pay raise with his new position.
Councilman Gary Crozier, who is Nypaver’s father-in-law and abstained from voting in the matter, commended Nypaver and Coldren.
He said both men are so experienced, it was like the city has two fire chiefs.
Nypaver’s first act as chief was to thank firefighters for their efforts in battling a fire in the Heritage Apartments building on West Peter Street early Sunday morning.
He said firefighters responded in two minutes, but flames were already coming from the third floor and residents had already started leaving the building.
All 34 residents of senior citizen apartments were evacuated and only two suffered smoke inhalation.
Mayor Jim Sileo commended the fire and police departments for evacuating the residents.
In other business, council approved the first reading of an ordinance that allows the city to seek reimbursement from insurance companies for cost of materials and services in emergency rescues.
Council also exonerated two property owners from garbage collection bills due on properties they bought last year at a sheriff’s sale.
City solicitor Daniel Webster explained the city did not have liens on the properties for the bills, but the liens would have been exonerated in the sheriff’s sale anyway.
Councilman Bob Cerjanec said the city started placing liens on properties with delinquent garbage bills last year.