Jun 3, 2009 5 min read

Uniontown City Council went on a bit of a hiring spree Tuesday, recalling three workers who were laid off last year and hiring a police officer, parks and recreation director, building and grounds supervisor and summer help for the parks and recreation department. Council unanimously approved recalling street department employees Mark Nypaver and Rodney Franks and sewage department employee Allen David Jr., who were among the 31 employees council laid off in October. It was the first of two rounds of layoffs council approved after Mayor Ed Fike reported soon after taking office in January 2008 that the city inherited a $1.3 million debt from the prior administration. Council raised the property tax rate for this year and laid off 10 employees in February this year.

Since then, council has recalled 14 laid off employees, including seven fire fighters, and restored one employee to full-time status.

With Tuesday’s recalls, which took effect Monday, most of the street and sewage department employees who were on the payroll before the layoffs began have been called back to work, but some employees laid off from other departments remain laid off.

In addition to the employee recalls, council hired Travis P. Shandor as a patrolman for the police department. He will start June 7 under a 16-month probationary period with a biweekly salary of $1,224.

“I just want to thank you for the opportunity. I’ll do my best here,” Shandor said.

Police Chief Jason Cox said the additional officer is needed because the department is short staffed due to injuries and potential retirements.

Robert “B.J.” Plavi Jr., who has been working at the city parks without pay, was hired as the parks and recreation director with a salary of $7,500. The previous director was laid off in February.

Councilman Francis “Joby” Palumbo said Plavi was the only person who expressed interest in the position and he has already done a lot of work at the parks.

“We have Bailey Park looking outstanding right now,” Plavi said.

He said he has been soliciting donations, cutting grass and trying to arrange activities for children.

“I’m willing to work 16 hours a day,” Plavi said, adding that he also cut the grass at Marshall Park.

He said he trying to have a baseball and softball league and the Uniontown High School baseball team play at Bailey Park in the future.

To maintain the parks, council hired Eugene Barchetti, Michael Dzurnak and Cody Nypaver as summer help at the minimum wage.

Mike Sokol was hired as the building and grounds supervisor on an as-needed basis at $12 an hour.

Councilman Gary Crozier submitted a resolution asking council to re-appoint assistant fire chief Myron Nypaver as the code and zoning enforcement officer, schedule him to work daylight shifts and schedule Fire Chief Charles to work regular shifts.

Council voted 4-1 against the resolution. Crozier cast the only affirmative vote.

Crozier said Nypaver does code and zoning enforcement work only during the various shifts he works and he could accomplish more if he worked during the day.

Fike said he didn’t think council should micromanage the fire department.

Councilman Curtis Sproul said the city is getting caught up on issuing building permits and other code and zoning work, and Coldren should remain on the day shift.

Council demoted Nypaver from chief to assistant chief and removed him from the code and zoning position in January after city officials reported he received $10,000 in additional salary in 2006 and 2007, but could not find documented approval for the extra pay from council.

In a separate matter, council agreed to pay all of former councilman Philip Michael’s legal expenses stemming from his appointment to council.

Democratic council candidate Gary Gearing sued Michael claiming he was not qualified to hold the office and arguing that council exceeded its authority by appointing him to serve the remainder of an unexpired term.

Michael was appointed on March 18 to serve the remainder of former councilman Marlin Sprouts’ term through 2011.

Michael resigned on April 14; about two weeks after Gearing filed the suit.

Council then appointed Sproul, a Republican candidate, to the seat until the municipal election in November.

In unrelated business, the city could receive $301.094 from Xspand for the purchase of delinquent property taxes.

Council agreed in February to allow Xspand to pay the city the amount of the delinquent property taxes in a lump sum and the Fayette County tax claim bureau would forward the taxes it collects on those properties to Xspand.

Council did not close the purchase.

In other business, council:

– Directed solicitor Charles Gentile to prepare an ordinance raising the parking meter fee from 25 cents for a half hour to 50 cents.

– Directed Gentile to prepare and ordinance banning smoking at Uniontown Hospital.

– Authorized city officials to sign a contract for about $26,000 for police services with Crossgates Management for Pershing Court.

– Authorized Crozier to buy lawn tractors and other equipment to maintain the parks.

– Agreed to advertise for street paving bids.

– Introduced a proposed ordinance requiring a permit for excavating under streets and making pavement cuts and requiring restoration and inspections. Council will vote on the ordinance at its July 7 meeting.