Sep 27, 2006 By Rebekah Sungala 3 min read

MASONTOWN – Borough council voted Tuesday to purchase a new drive-up window for the borough building. The window is used by residents who wish to drop off their water bill at the borough office instead of mailing it.

Council said the new window will open and close electronically and will be easier for borough employees and residents to use. The building currently has a push-drawer window that council said is cumbersome and in need of repairs.

Councilman Frank McLaughlin said it will cost about $9,500 to purchase and install a new window. McLaughlin said it would cost the borough more than $6,000 to fix the push-drawer window that is currently in place.

Harry Lee, council president, said the push-drawer window has been a problem over the years and that he felt a new window needed to be purchased.

After several minutes of discussion, council voted six to one to purchase the new drive-up window. Councilman Thomas J. Salonick voted against the purchase. Councilman Joe Volansky was absent from the meeting.

Council considered purchasing a new drive-up window about five years but decided against the purchase, voting the matter down. McLaughlin said the borough would have saved about $4,500 if they had purchased the window five years ago, being that prices have doubled since then.

As for other matters, council gave McLaughlin approval to purchase parts needed to repair the borough’s street sweeper.

McLaughlin estimated the parts would cost about $550.

Council also gave Mayor Thomas Loukota authority to request temporary street closure permits from the state Department of Transportation for two upcoming parades.

The borough will have a Halloween Parade Oct. 23 and a Veteran’s Day Parade Nov. 11.

The Halloween Parade will begin at noon at the Masontown Volunteer Fire Department parking lot and will proceed down Main Street, disbanding at the Parkvale Bank. Line up is scheduled for 11 a.m. in the fire department parking lot.

In an unrelated matter, council reminded landlords they must notify the borough when tenants either vacate or move into an apartment.

McLaughlin said the borough requires landlords to fill out a form so that water bills can properly be sent out. Any landlords who need to fill out the form or have questions should call the borough office at 724-583-7731, McLaughlin said, noting that the borough may impose fines and penalties if landlords do not follow borough procedures and give proper notification.

As for other business, council announced water will be shut off Oct. 3 to any residences that have outstanding and delinquent water bills.

The next regular meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 10 in the borough building.