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Coalport Borough ponders future of mayor
Tuesday, October 02, 2012
By Terry Whetstone Staff Writer
COALPORT - Last month Coalport Borough Council had to make a decision on what to do about Mayor Margaret "Peg" Maddelena, as she had been on sick leave for more than two years.
President Joe Nevling had contacted the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs prior to last month's meeting and asked Shelly Hauck what council's options were.
Hauck suggested council send Maddelena a letter to explain the situation and ask her to resign.
Last night Maddelena attended the meeting, stating she was back home and planned to stay there. She said she had a double transplant and was not allowed to travel too far from a hospital in the event of an emergency. She was cleared to return home and back to her normal duties.
She told council she had just received the letter Friday and she would really like to keep her position as mayor.
Nevling told her to take her seat at the end of the table, as she is still the mayor. Council gave her a round of applause and welcomed her back.
Maddelena said she really appreciates all the cards and letters she has received from council members and appreciates the concern they showed her.
She has one more minor surgery, but she is ready to get back to serving as mayor.
In a related matter, her first duty will be to contact Magisterial District Judge Jim Hawkins to see what needs to be done to allow council member Bill Washell to issue tickets to those parking illegally.
Washell volunteered to do the job, stating he has extra time on his hands.
Council voted unanimously to have Washell begin writing the tickets once Maddelena gets him certified through Hawkins.
Council heard from Mike Delfosse who has been trying to get a permit for several months to dig into Main Street to repair a drainage line from his home. Council contacted the state Department of Transportation and made the request for him, and while the request has been granted, Delfosse would like to have a copy of the permit so he will know exactly what it says and if there are any stipulations by which he needs to abide.
Council will have secretary Donna Peterson contact PennDOT to see where the paperwork is and then she will let Delfosse know what she finds out.
Board member Joe Adam reported an employee asked about compensatory time being accumulated and Adam said the way it was agreed upon by council is employees may only accumulate 12 hours of comp time and it has to be used within that calendar year.
He also noted that time can only be accumulated for plowing and emergencies throughout the borough. Adam said firing the furnace in the evenings or on weekends is not an emergency and should be accounted for during the week.
He further noted the employees should take time during the day to take care of the furnace.
Council said the inmates from the State Correctional Institution at Houtzdale will be in the borough next week and a list of projects has been compiled, including rainy day projects.
Employee Walter Hoey said he was planning to work part of the day while the other employee would work the other half of the day.
Vice president Jack Rupp said that is also clean-up day with Beccaria Township and Irvona and Glen Hope boroughs and one employee must be there all day while the other employee must be with the inmates.
Council members said there are a number of streets that need attention, including Wood and Oak streets, the dirt portions of those streets and several streets need cold patch. Hoey said there are only so many hours in a day and they cannot get to everything.
Nevling suggested the work director set up a list of priorities for the employees to follow.
Adam said the weed eater was initially taken to Washell for repairs but it was a bigger project than he was comfortable with so Adam took the machine to a dealer who worked on it and only charged the borough $15. Adam said the weed eater must be operated on 89 or higher octane gas to run properly.
Council member Jon Gallaher said he was in contact with Sajak's Tree Service about trimming and or removing trees around the community building. He said Sajak would remove five trees and trim the rest and remove the stumps for $1,500. Council agreed that was a good deal.
Council member Kathy Oshall said she heard something about a flood grant, but was not sure of the specifics and if it was true or not, so she will have Peterson look into it and let council know the findings.
In other business, council: - set trick-or-treat night as Oct. 27 from 2-5 p.m. The Halloween parade will begin at 1:30 p.m. Those with treats to give out should turn on their porch lights.
- will look into purchasing new "work area ahead" signs.
- heard the speed limit and weight limit signs now adorn both sides of the Blain Run Bridge.
- will contact Mike Mulholland to see if he is interested in doing the code enforcement duties in the borough.
- advised employees to make sure the equipment is ready for winter.
- will address a water leak at the park next spring. The water has been turned off for the winter.
- reminds residents there is no parking on Main Street between Nov. 15 and April 15 from 2-6 a.m.
- will contact Beccaria Township about getting help to put the Christmas lights up before Thanksgiving.
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