May 10, 2006 By Amanda Clegg 2 min read

CENTERVILLE – Council agreed to participate in a countywide plan developed to fly if the bird flu poses a threat in the United States. President Patsy Ricciuti asked Vice President Fred Roberts and Mayor Frank Stanko to complete any paperwork needed to join the proposed Washington County All-Hazard Mitigation Plan.

“The emergency management teams has a huge project for this borough,” Ricciuti said. “Our team is going to have to step it up a notch and get involved with the community. We need to be prepared on a local level.”

In other matters, council voted to hire Danny Gaso as a part-time police officer with hours not to exceed 39 a week, and his employment, with a 6-month probationary period, to begin after receiving certification.

Council concluded the meeting after holding a brief executive session to discuss a lawsuit involving former full-time borough police officer Mark Costello, and a lawsuit with Elite Homes. Solicitor Brian Teslovich said both lawsuits were still pending and he could not comment on the cases.

Council also conducted the following business:

– Adopted a tenant ordinance, requiring landlords to track residents in order to provide information to service providers such as waste management.

– Adopted a reimbursement of costs ordinance to defray money spent to pay police officers when filing charges.

– Announced a public meeting to be held Thursday, May 11 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the municipal building with a representative from the office of Congressman John Murtha (D-Johnstown).