Mar 12, 2003 By Steve Ostrosky 4 min read

MASONTOWN – Gov. Edward G. Rendell’s 2003-04 budget proposal could end up costing residents another 50 cents a month on their sewage bill, the borough’s engineer told the borough council Tuesday. Russ Mechling of Fayette Engineering said Rendell has proposed eliminating Act 339 funding, which is a two percent subsidy that municipalities receive for new plant construction. He said the borough receives $9,795 annually for their sewage plant and keeping the funding is important, or the borough residents will have to pick up the additional cost.

He said if the money were taken from the budget, the effect would be an approximate 50 cents per month increase in sewage rates to make up the difference.

“$9,795 is not that much, but it makes a 50-cent per customer difference in Masontown,” he said. “The only source to replace it is in the monthly service charge.”

Mechling encouraged council members to write or contact their state representatives to lobby them to ensure the funding remains intact. He said former Gov. Tom Ridge attempted to get rid of the funding several years back, but the funds were included in the Growing Greener program.

Council voted to have borough administrator Donna Weimer and Mechling draft a letter, which will be sent urging state officials to reconsider the proposed funding cut before the spending plan is approved.

In other business, council voted to begin negotiations with the Fayette County Housing Authority on a new contract with the borough police for patrols in Fort Mason Village. Councilman Tom Loukota said the borough is not getting a dollar-for-dollar match based on the amount of services the police are providing.

He said a committee should be formed to discuss the issues with the authority before the contract expires May 30. Since the police officers received a raise at the start of the year, Loukota said the authority’s reimbursement to the borough has not matched that increased amount.

“When we made the deal, we should break even,” he said. “We should negotiate to do just that, because we are not receiving a fair exchange.”

Council also discussed the new badges that all borough employees and council members are wearing as an added security measure for the public. Loukota said, given the recent news of home invasions throughout southwestern Pennsylvania, the identification tags will be a way to ensure people that anyone from the borough is visiting their home on borough business.

“People should ask to see the tag and if they have any questions about the person at the door, they should call the borough office,” he said. “If they claim they are from the borough and they aren’t wearing a tag, call 911.”

Loukota credited Council President Joe Volansky with coming up with the idea, which he said was suggested by the borough’s insurance carrier. Loukota said borough officials and employees have been wearing the tags for about two weeks.

Among the other business Tuesday:

– Council adopted a Realty Transfer Tax ordinance that allows half of the one percent tax assessed on any property sold in the borough to be earmarked for the borough. The other half of the tax money will go to the Albert Gallatin Area School District.

– Members approved the sending of a letter to the state asking that District Justice Brenda Cavalcante keep her position after her term expires in 2006 and not to have the office closed. Cavalcante was one of four district justices in Fayette County whose position will be vacated after her term has expired to increase caseload among the remaining magistrates to keep the caseload more in line with state averages.

– Council voted to appoint Robin Moore to the vacant seat on the borough recreation board. Moore was the only applicant for the slot.

The borough council will next meet on March 25.