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P-O solicitor addresses Chester Hill concerns
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
By Tyler Kolesar Staff Writer
CHESTER HILL - Solicitor Winifred Jones-Wenger told the Philipsburg-Osceola School Board of concerns Chester Hill Borough has over the school district's building project at last night's board meeting.
Jones-Wenger said when looking at building projects, the municipality (which in this instance is Chester Hill Borough) can review plans themselves or delegate that job to the county. She said many smaller municipalities like Chester Hill tend to delegate that job, since it's a way of saving money. However, she said although Chester Hill delegates the process, there's a clause that states the borough must have the plans submitted to them so they know what's going on.
Jones-Wenger then said the first she had heard of the borough's objection to the project was at the May meeting in which Chester Hill Council member Jim Lefort was in attendance.
Jones-Wenger said a letter was sent to the county from Chester Hill stating their concerns. She said some of the concerns were the lack of a traffic study and they have a firm belief that there's undermining around the location, making it unsuitable for land development.
Jones-Wenger also said Chester Hill had concerns that no one from the district came to talk to them about the project. She said this "works both ways," as Chester Hill representatives could have come to the school board to voice their concerns before Lefort did in May.
Jones-Wenger said the final thing Chester Hill would like to see is the building project delayed. She said if Chester Hill carries out their plans to delay the project, the district would have the potential to lose in excess of $3 million.
President Steven Switala asked how much has been spent on the project so far, to which he was told was roughly $1.7 million. Switala said if they were to delay the project or outright stop it, this would be money they would lose.
In other news:
• board member Jim Verbeck stated he feels there needs to be better communication between board members and the administration, specifically with Superintendent Dr. Steven Benson. Verbeck also said he would not vote to hire specific teachers if he does not know anything about them, or if he has not sat in on the interview. A lengthy discussion then took place on what exact information Verbeck wants from the district before making his decision on new hires.
• board meetings will now take place at the Osceola Mills Elementary gymnasium until further notice due to the renovations scheduled to start at North Lincoln Hill.
• the board heard from Walt Tack as he gave an update on the building project, as well as a highly detailed timeline of the process up until the present. Tack said they hope to start construction by July 16.
• Business Manager Michael Conte said the Wallaceton School was recently appraised at $545,000. Conte also said he hopes to have the board pass the 2012-13 budget at the next board meeting.
The next regular meeting will take place on June 25 at 7 p.m.
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