Connellsville council addresses heating issue at community center
CONNELLSVILLE — Connellsville City Council is reallocating part of its Community Development Block Grant money to install a new heating system at the Connellsville Community Center.
Council voted 4-0 Wednesday for the Connellsville Redevelopment Authority to file the necessary documents with the state Department of Community and Economic Development as the initial step. A public hearing on the matter was held Thursday.
“There is a heating problem and a serious heating problem, but the old system is in place and still being used,” said Mayor Charles Matthews.
The heating problem stems from a broken boiler that Matthews said has been patched.
Council agreed to take block grant money from a 2007 and 2008 armory line item and a 2009 and 2010 sidewalk activity line item for the new heating system, along with adding new safety doors to the Connellsville Senior Citizens Center.
Matthews said he received a call from Conn Area Catholic School officials concerned that ticket sales would be affected for the performance of “Forever Plaid” it is hosting Nov. 12 at the Edwin Porter Theater housed in the community center.
Matthews added the theater has its own heating system, while the halls of the community center would be heated.
However, Matthews, said the system would not be installed before the play.
In an unrelated matter, council agreed to promote police officers Ryan Reese to sergeant and William Jacen Huss to corporal effective Nov. 1.
Council also conducted the following business:
n Accepted the resignation of Barry Noel from the city’s zoning board.
n Announced New Haven Hose Company’s Halloween parade is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday and trick-or-treating from 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 30
n Agreed to close certain streets pending review for the Veterans Day parade on Nov. 11 starting at 10:45 a.m. on the city’s West Side.
n Announced the Greater Connellsville Chamber of Commerce will hold Christmas in the Park from noon to 4 p.m. Nov. 19 at Yough Park, with light-up night at 7 p.m.
n Retained Ritenour and Son Inc. of Connellsville to immediately demolish a building at 106 W. Crawford Ave. at a cost of $68,200 as the low bidder. Matthews said the building is deteriorated and in danger of collapsing.
n Entered into a three-year garbage service contract with Veolia for $62,522, with recycling to be picked up once a month. Councilwoman Marilyn Weaver noted the city is looking into paper collection.
n Announced that leaf pickup will run from today through Dec. 16.