Masontown focused on bridge demolition
MASONTOWN — The impending doom of the old Masontown Bridge was the main topic of Tuesday’s borough council meeting.
Brayman Construction is in charge of the demolition of the metal superstructure that is slated for destruction Saturday.
Council President Harry Lee said the company met recently with the borough fire department to inform the borough and others of safety measures that will be in place before, during and after demolition.
“They are pretty confident everything will go well,” Lee said.
The state Department of Transportation said the demolition will take place between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday.
Route 21 and affected roads will be restricted to traffic.
Councilwoman Kay Rendina said the public will not be able to see the bridge come down because the company has taken measures to block roads and more to prevent someone from seeing the event in person. She said the company is taking these precautions for safety reasons.
Borough police will assist with traffic control.
Lee said the company plans to video the bridge’s demolition for broadcast via the Internet after the job is done.
In other matters, council:
n Approved a one-year extension of the borough’s trash contract with Advance Waste Disposal.
n Approved a ban on door-to-door trick or treating in the borough. In the past, a parade and more has been held to fill the festive gap where kids get the sweets they crave. Masontown Matters will be hosting the parade that week.
n To achieve Eagle Scout rank in the Boy Scouts, Drew Colebank planted all the shrubs, painting and more involved with improving the planter outside the borough building. Colebank will be having a thank-you event 5 p.m. today at the borough building.
n In recent months, McClure and Wolf CPA of Uniontown released a standard audit of the borough’s finances from 2012. Because of extra work involved in drafting this audit, the company charged the borough additional fees of $3,093. Councilman Frank McLaughlin said the company signed a contract to do the work, so he didn’t think it deserved more money to do the job it was hired to do. Council approved the additional expenditure.
n Approved the disposal of five sets of public records — bank records — that date back to 2006 and earlier.
n John Stoffa of Masontown Matters asked council to approve a sign ordinance that would get old signs taken down from places that are no longer in business. Lee said council would look into the matter.
n Announced that anyone who has not paid their water bill owed to the borough will have their water shut off on Oct. 3.