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Connellsville Twp. supervisors agree to purchase office

By Patty Yauger 3 min read

CONNELLSVILLE TWP. – After decades of having its secretary conduct business and maintain records in her home, township officials agreed Thursday to purchase an office for the municipality. In a 2-1 vote, supervisors Don Hann and Sally Stoots agreed to expend $1,900 for a 16- by 24-foot mobile home from Jack Hann and transfer it to township-owned property along McCoy Hollow Road.

“We need to do this,” said Stoots, who has long advocated a business office for the township. “It makes sense.”

Leah Brothers, current township secretary, like her predecessors, is paid a rental fee for maintaining an office within her home. Brother’s current monthly rate is $100.

The officials, said Brothers, were encouraged by state police to establish a separate office following the July conviction of former secretary Tammy Mader for stealing more than $60,000 from the township.

Mader was sentenced to five years of probation and was required to make restitution to the township. The $62,933 has been repaid to the municipality.

“The records will always be in your possession,” said Richard Bower, township solicitor. “You will know if something is missing.”

Brothers said that she is seeking outside grant money to make any needed repairs to the facility to keep costs at a minimum.

“(With a township office) it will give the public more access to the records,” she said.

Stoots noted that monthly township meetings would continue to be held at the Connellsville Township Volunteer Fire Co. social hall.

Supervisor Charles Basinger declined to support the measure, noting that there was no estimate given as to added costs for transporting the mobile home or repairs.

Turning to other matters, supervisors tabled taking any action to re-open the long-closed Spring Alley until Bower has the opportunity to research related documents.

While the majority of property owners along the roadway support the opening, resident Jean Schomer told the panel to do so would create a safety hazard.

“I have a grandchild and great-grandchildren (who play in the now-shuttered area) and they are going to get killed,” she said.

Resident Paul Soltis presented a petition from other homeowners advocating for the alley to be accessible to vehicular travel.

“We just want the convenience,” he said, adding that his deed indicates a township alley lies to the rear of his property. “It is an alley.”

Bower said that he would review the site and advise supervisors as to their options in the matter.

In other action, the supervisors also conducted the following business:

– Learned that the township had received a $1,000 grant from its insurance carrier to purchase cabinets to store flammable liquids.

– Tabled action on awarding a contract for roof repairs at the township shed. Three contractors, including Basinger Construction, Calvin Brooks Construction and Guth Construction, all of Connellsville, provided bids for the project, ranging from $8,325 to $14,100, but did not include all necessary documentation. The supervisors directed Brothers to contact the three bidders and request the information be forwarded to her for review.

– Accepted the resignation of Jeff Stepanic as the township sewage enforcement officer and named James Rabatin as his replacement.

– Agreed to hold an Aug. 22 special meeting to award a contract for the roofing project and to review quoted amounts for the removal of trees from the township’s McCoy Hollow Road property.

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