Feb 2, 2005 By Paul Sunyak 3 min read

The Fayette County Redevelopment Authority voted to hire Raymond C. Polaski as a special projects coordinator Tuesday, commending the agency’s retired executive director for much progress during six years of leadership. Polaski, who retired from his full-time position the same day he was hired as a contract employee, will be paid $15.38 per hour up to an annual salary of $12,000. For the time being, he will continue overseeing development of the Fayette County Business Park and the authority’s efforts to assist Brownsville Borough with code enforcement.

Board Chairman Kenneth Finney, who presented Polaski with a plaque on behalf of the full board, praised Polaski for a job well done – a sentiment expressed by other board members as well.

“It makes sense to have Ray stay on,” said board member Paul Bortz Jr.

Longtime board member Ross F. DiMarco added, “It’s nice to have his expertise. That’s the main thing.”

Andrew French, who served as assistant executive director under Polaski but has now been elevated to interim executive director, said the hourly rate would permit the authority to efficiently use Polaski.

French said his former boss might work two days one week, four the next, and none in the week following that. French said the goal is for Polaski to work an average of two days or 15 hours per week, which was his wish.

“We wanted to keep it flexible enough” so that Polaski can effectively work on any new projects that may crop up, noted French. He added that with the hourly rate, “This way we can pay according to the actual work performed.”

At least in the foreseeable future, the board will not have an assistant executive director. But the board discussed that possible need further down the road. Polaksi said much would depend on the authority’s direction, which might require making further personnel changes to match up with demands current projects are completed and new ones crop up.

“My six years (here) have been more to my liking as a professional than anywhere else I’ve ever worked,” said Polaski. He noted that in his other jobs he dealt primarily with concepts and planning, whereas at the FCRA he could literally get in his car and drive out to see what had happened in terms of development.

The board also awarded the following contracts:

? $121,107 to A.C. Moyer Co. Inc. of Lemon Furnace for a road reconstruction project in the Club Sofia area of German Township, which French said would benefit 21 households.

? $145,415 to Victor Paving & Construction Inc. of Monongahela for a road reconstruction project in the Spruce Hollow Road area of Bullskin Township, which French said would benefit 41 households.

? $104,815 to A.C. Moyer for a road reconstruction project in the Burgess Field Road area of Georges Township, which French described as a main road that would indirectly benefit 4,000 residents.

? $42,736 to Seiler Excavating of Hopwood for a waterline extension project in the Hustosky Road area of Dunbar Township. French said it involves 2,000 linear feet of line and would benefit seven households.

? $50,660 to Ritenour & Sons Construction Co. Inc. of Connellsville for a storm sewer system improvement project in the DeWitt Avenue area of Dunbar Township