Connellsville council widdles CDBG allocation down
CONNELLSVILLE – Public safety entities, cultural projects and community buildings will be upgraded, according to a tentative allocation plan the city council set Tuesday. The attending council members pared the initial 13 requests submitted for consideration for a portion of the city’s 2003 state Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocation down to six, with public safety being a top priority.
According to Ralph Wombacker, executive director of the city’s redevelopment authority, the city is expected to receive about $420,000, with $360,000 available for projects.
While council has yet to approve the spending plan, it appears the city fire department will receive $70,000 toward the purchase of a pumper truck.
The equipment, according to Councilman John Whalen, who serves as director of public health and safety, is needed to replace an inoperable 1972 model that cannot be repaired.
While the city department does have a 1992 pumper, Whalen said a backup is needed in case of emergency.
“I think this is very important,” said Whalen.
Councilman Bruce Jaynes, who supported the three-phase purchase plan, questioned the need for two trucks when the city’s volunteer company, New Haven Hose, has a second truck.
Noting that the four-man paid department uses only one truck when transporting its crews to the scene of a fire, as well as the availability of the New Haven equipment, Jaynes asked if it was financially feasible to purchase the truck.
Councilwoman Judy Keller indicated that the 1992 truck could be sold if there was no need for the multiple pieces of equipment.
The volunteer department, meanwhile, will receive its annual financial installment, which it will use to purchase a combination aerial and pumper truck, in the next few weeks.
Council earmarked $75,000 for 2003, increasing the amount by $25,000 over last year as a way to supplement the overall city allocation. The company received no funding in the city’s 2003 budget.
Also slated to receive a portion of the state funding is the Carnegie Free Library.
Through its trustee board president, John Malone, the library requested that the city set aside $30,000 for the library to install a power source to operate an elevator it plans to install.
The community center will garner $42,000 from the CDBG funds to begin upgrading the auditorium, while the third and final phase of a storm sewerage project along Church Place will receive $105,000.
The remaining funds, estimated to total $30,000, will be used to repair the stone wall at Cameron Court.
“Mr. (Teddy) Alisantrino has been asking that this be done for years, and I think we need to do it,” said Keller in recommending the inclusion of the project.
Wombacker said, after receiving input from absent members Mayor Judy Reed and Councilwoman Chris Wagner about the proposed project list, he would proceed with finalizing the application for council approval at its February meeting.