Jun 11, 2009 3 min read

WEST BROWNSVILLE – Borough council accepted the resignation of former police officer Travis Shandor, who took a full-time job elsewhere. Shandor’s resignation is effective June 6. Mayor Martin Brockman asked council if he could advertise that the borough is seeking applicants for possibly two part-time officers. Brockman stated that he does not have enough officers to see that all calls and concerns are addressed within the community. Council unanimously approved his request.

Also at Tuesday’s borough council meeting, to help move developmental plans forward to bring Wal-Mart to the area, council will send a letter of interest to the Mid Mon Valley Transit Authority, located in Charleroi, on the possibility of supplying transit service to the residents of the borough in the future that could possibly connect to California or maybe have its own connecting route to Wal-Mart.

In other news, representatives from Dale Property Services Penn approached council about the possibility of setting up a town hall meeting with its residents on the leasing of oil and gas rights in the community. Dale Property Services Penn, which is based in the city of Washington, serves Allegheny, Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties and handles all leasing in this area for Chesapeake Energy, the largest independent natural gas producer in the United States and the largest leaseholder in the Marcellus Shale, who will conduct all the operations.

Council instructed the representatives to set up a date and time with borough secretary Maryann Kubacki so the public could be informed. Dale Property Services Penn is offering competitive sign-on bonuses and royalty payments for leases, according to a company representative.

Council also awarded a demolition bid to Slusarczyk Excavating of West Brownsville for a property on 303 Jefferson Ave. that is owned by the borough. Slusarczyk Excavating came in at the lowest bid of $4,500. The company now has 15 days as of the opening of the sealed bids to complete the job, with the contingency that they provide proof of insurance to borough officials by June 12. Otherwise, council will revisit the bids and offer the job to the next lowest bidder, providing they have the necessary documentation as well.

Brockman recognized Primo Graphics of Leechburg, which designed and donated two small billboards to the borough that read “Welcome to West Brownsville” and “Welcome to Blainesburg.” Primo Graphics is operated by brothers Raymond Zekir, a former West Brownsville resident, and Mike Zekir, who currently resides in the borough.

The next borough council meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. July 14 at the borough office.