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City council approves contribution to street program

By Steve Ferris 4 min read

Uniontown City Council approved on Monday a $30,000 contribution toward a required $90,000 match for an application for the state’s Main Street Program. Council unanimously agreed to contribute $7,500 a year for four years to serve as part of the local match for the program, which would provide a $175,000 grant spread over five years and require the hiring of a full-time Main Street manager.

The Uniontown Downtown Business District Authority is applying for the grant and will manage the Main Street Program, while the Uniontown Redevelopment Authority will administer the money the DBDA receives for the program.

The application is due in to the Department of Community and Economic Development by the end of this month.

Maintaining and improving the downtown area, and retaining and attracting businesses are the goals of the program.

According to the resolution council passed, the city’s first $7,500 payment is due by Nov. 15.

Main Street Program regulations prohibit one entity from contributing more than a third of the $90,000 match.

DBDA President Steve Neubauer previously said the DBDA would try to raise $30,000 toward the match, possibly through a membership drive.

He said the DBDA might ask foundations, businesses and local banks for the remaining $30,000 of the match.

If the city’s application is approved, the DBDA will receive $5,000 in the first year of the program, $50,000 in the second year, $45,000 in the third, $40,000 in the fourth and $35,000 in the fifth.

None of the match is needed in the first year of the program, but $15,000 is due in the second year, $20,000 in the third, $25,000 in the fourth and $30,000 in the fifth.

In other business concerning the DBDA, council approved the first of two-required readings of a proposed ordinance that would increase the number of board members from seven, the existing number, to 13.

The ordinance would amend the DBDA’s articles of incorporation and bylaws. Proposed ordinances must pass two readings to be enacted.

The first reading of another ordinance that would vacate the city’s ownership of Thompson Avenue and an intersecting alley also passed.

Uniontown Hospital requested the move to make room for a planned construction project that involves expanding the emergency department and building a 28-bed unit.

Thompson Avenue from Route 21 to Delaware Avenue would be vacated along with an alley that intersects Thompson Avenue and connects to Easy Street, according to the proposed ordinance.

It also calls for the city to remove five parking meters adjacent to the Medical Arts Building on Delaware Avenue and three meters adjacent to the visitor parking lot.

A resolution from the hospital’s board of directors says the hospital intends to finance the expansion through the issuance of bonds this year, philanthropic efforts and hospital operating income reserves.

It says the hospital will return ownership of the alleys to the city of the expansion plan does not proceed.

In unrelated business, council rejected and did not open both bids submitted to design an install a fire protection system for the Union Trust Building and State Theatre Center for the Arts.

Council’s resolution said the project has not undergone a building code review and the review might result in changes to the bid specifications.

Fire chief and code enforcement officer Myron Nypaver said he received the plans Friday and has not yet completed the review.

The un-opened bids will be returned, city officials said.

Money for the sprinkler system will come from a $365,000 state grant.

In fire-related business, council hired Brian VanSickle and Robert Leiberger as temporary, substitute firemen at $9 an hour for no more than 90 days from Aug. 2 because of a manpower shortage.

Councilman Bob Cerjanec said one fireman in off work because of an injury and another because of a pending retirement.

In other business, Mayor James Sileo said he is planning to walk through different areas of the city every Monday looking for properties with uncut grass and weeds, and litter.

Sileo said he would note the addresses where he sees the problems and give them to the health officer, who will issue citations.

He said he is fed up with property owners who neglect their property.

“I think its past time we do something about it and I’m going to do it,” Sileo said.

He said he also is developing a program in which property owners would be recognized for beautifying their properties.

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