Board to vote on resolutions to help along demolition plan
The Fayette County Housing Authority board of directors will vote Friday on three resolutions that help set in motion a plan to demolish 255 public housing units. But Executive Director Thomas L. Harkless said Tuesday that because of the intricate nature of the process, he doesn’t expect actual demolition to begin until November or December.
Friday’s agenda contains votes on three groundwork items: asbestos testing and analysis on 38 buildings, a “supportive services” contract with Community Action Agency of Fayette County, and a contract for physically moving residents dislocated by the demolition plan.
Harkless said that federal law requires the authority to offer “supportive services” to tenants relocated as part of the demolition. He said the authority, for example, must provide those tenants with a resource for such things as getting children registered in a new school or getting utility bills switched to a new location.
“The housing authority must supply them with all the information,” said Harkless. “Community Action is who we’re going to go with (for that purpose).”
The other two agenda items – asbestos testing and hiring a mover – are self-explanatory.
But a larger piece of the demolition puzzle should fall into place at the board’s February meeting, according to Harkless, who hopes the board can approve a formal agreement with redevelopment partner Falbo-Pennrose.
Harkless said it’s likely that the authority’s deal with Falbo-Pennrose will include engineering and/or architecture work needed to demolish units in Bierer Wood Acres, Lemon Wood Acres, Dunlap Creek Village and Snowden Terrace.
“We could assign them that task of going out and procuring the architects and engineers. That would probably speed the whole process up,” said Harkless. He said the authority hopes to have specific demolition plans in hand by late summer.
“I would hope that we would be awarding demolition contracts, singular or plural, by late fall, and would start demolition by November or December,” said Harkless.
Internally, Harkless said the authority’s Technical Services Department is already identifying potential environmental problems, such as removal of any lead-based paint in the affected units.
Although actual demolition is nearly a year away, Harkless noted of the plan, “It’s coming together right now.”
Friday’s board meeting will also be the first for new board member James V. Bitonti, the mayor of Belle Vernon who is replacing the Rev. Howard E. Dantzler Sr. Dantzler will be awarded a certificate of recognition at the meeting.
Friday will also be the first meeting of a second five-year term for board member Angela M. Zimmerlink, who was reappointed Dec. 27 by county Commissioners Sean M. Cavanagh and Vincent A. Vicites. Commissioner Ronald M. Nehls voted against her reappointment.
The other three incumbent board members are: Chairman Kenneth L. Johnson, Beverly Beal and Nancy Sutton.