Oct 5, 2006 By Steve Ferris 3 min read

Uniontown City Council tabled action Wednesday on vacating an alley that the Uniontown Area School District needs for a high school renovation project because the district owes the city about $3,000 for building code and engineering reviews of the construction plans. Council members unanimously voted to table consideration of an ordinance that would have vacated the city’s ownership of Rutters Alley and any alley that intersects Rutters Alley.

Councilman Blair R. Jones Sr. said the district or its architect owes the city a little more than $3,000 to pay for the code and engineering reviews of the district’s construction plans.

He said council will reconsider the ordinance after the money is paid.

The motion to table the matter passed 4-0. Councilman Bob Cerjanec was absent.

In unrelated business, council unanimously approved advertising the sale of Albright Park, located off Lincoln Street.

“Albright’s nothing but trouble for us,” Councilman Joseph Giachetti said.

The park has been closed since its playground equipment was destroyed in an arson last year.

Council used the $37,000 in insurance proceeds from the fire to purchase playground equipment that was installed at Grant Street Park.

Giachetti said Albright Park is in an isolated area and vandalism was a problem there. Mayor James Sileo said council has the option to reject all the bids, but he would like to see homes built on the property.

Councilman Gary Crozier suggested depositing the proceeds of the sale into the parks department account.

Fire Chief Myron Nypaver said the fire department will be conducting fire drills at schools and apartment buildings next week, which is National Fire Prevention Week.

He said it is also a good time for residents to change the batteries in their smoke detectors.

City residents who don’t have a smoke detector can get them for free at the fire station and firefighters will install them for free, Nypaver said, noting that detectors increase a person’s chance of surviving a fire by 50 percent.

Jones said council received a petition from Stockton Avenue residents asking the city to pave the street.

He said there are a few holes in the street and he would place it on the list of streets to be considered for resurfacing next year. However, the city can afford to pave about five streets a year and the ones in the worst condition are paved first.

In other business, council:

– Appointed Kimberly A. Clay as the city clerk at an annual salary of $29,500. The job will include her previous duties as a computer analyst for accounts and finance.

– Approved Sileo’s proclamation that Oct. 15-21 is National Business Women’s Week.

– Approved another mayoral proclamation that October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Sileo said men who strike women should seek help. “I’m saying to any man, if you need help its out there. And remember, a positive attitude produces positive results,” Sileo said.