Municipal News
- Last Updated on Monday, 01 April 2013 00:51
By Charlotte Hopkins
All members were in attendance for the West Elizabeth town council meeting in March. There was a special meeting held before the council meeting, led by Larry McClain, Manager of Post Office Operations. McClain was there to explain to residents the changes being made and to answer any questions and concerns.
All members were in attendance for the West Elizabeth town council meeting in March. There was a special meeting held before the council meeting, led by Larry McClain, Manager of Post Office Operations. McClain was there to explain to residents the changes being made and to answer any questions and concerns.
 This dilapidated home in West Elizabeth is becoming a concern to residents.
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He first explained that the reason they do not deliver is because the cost is too high and they would have to close the post office to afford that.
The West Elizabeth post office will be cutting back on their hours. However, Elizabeth and Clairton, will remain open for 8 hours a day. They will still deliver parcels on Saturday and possibly Sunday. Residents asked McClain if they would consider leaving the lobby open 24 hours a day, either 2 or 3 days a week, for residents who work in the evening. He stated that he would take their request back to his department and see what he can do.
When McClain announced that a new permanent post master was hired, there was an uproar from everyone in attendance over the possibility of replacing Jodi Jubeck. She is a staple in the West Elizabeth community and residents are hopeful that she remains. Since Jubeck knows each of the residents, she can quickly pick up on and correct any errors in missing or wrong box numbers used. Jubeck was also endorsed by Council president Louise Biddle.
In Other News:
• Biddle informed members that they were invited to participate in the Elizabeth Borough Memorial parade. Anyone interested needs to sign up.
• There are holes on 6th street and a large one at the top of Grant street that need to be filled in.
• Resident, Birdie Magill, stressed concern over a large number of geese (approximately 55) that are flocking in the baseball field. Their droppings are inches thick and it needs to be cleaned up before the start of the summer lunch program.
• Birdie Magill also asked why they do not get reports from COG meetings. Biddle stressed that they could start showing notes from the meetings. No one had shown interest in seeing them prior.
• Resident, Scott Magill, asked what was happening to an abandoned house that is becoming a nuisance and a danger to his family. The home, which is owned by a council member, has been falling apart and is littered with raccoons, opossums and rats, which are beginning to migrate into his yard and even onto his porch. The taxes have not been paid on the dilapidated house, which is now on the demo list. The council is waiting for the grant money needed to tear down the home. Emergency Coordinator, Bill Wolfgang, explained that they "can only do one a year because we don't get a lot of money." Concerned about his children getting sick, he was not happy with response from the council and stated that he will call the news if necessary.
Scott Pearson questioned the reasoning behind why the task of tearing down the home has become the responsibility of the community. He asked, if he allows his home to fall apart to the point that it needs to be demolished, can he too simply walk away and be relieved of all responsibilities. "Where does the homeowner's responsibility end and it becomes the community's responsibility?" Pearson asked.
• Resident Ken Kubler, attended to thank the town council for everything that they do. He stated, "This is one resident that appreciates the sacrifice that you make." He said the residents are kind and respectful and he again thanked council members for their service.
• Resident and former council member, Sylvia Pearsal, stated that she remembers when Bethel Metals was given a time limit to erect a fence around their property. It has been several years and she asked Wolfgang, "Is 5 years long enough?" "It's disgusting, I want something done about it," stated Pearsal.
• Residents asked what was being done about the drivers from Bethel Metals tearing about the riverbank when they slide over it and hitting fences as they drive around the bends on Water street. One resident witnessed the drivers and wrote down their license plate numbers. Wolfgang stated that it still wasn't enough proof to confront the problem. However, the owners of Bethel metals admitted that it is his trucks causing the damage. Residents believe that Bethel Metals should pay for the damage.
• Larry Duvall, of the Elizabeth Borough Town Council, was in attendance to stress the desire of the Elizabeth Borough Town Council to strengthen communication with the West Elizabeth Town Council regarding any concerns of the police department. They want to have an open and continued dialogue with the council so that they can be made aware immediately of any problems to keep them from festering. In the future there will be an Elizabeth Borough council member at each of the West Elizabeth town council meetings to resolve any issues that arise.
• The Elizabeth Borough police answered 32 calls in February and performed 168 hours of routine patrol.
The West Elizabeth post office will be cutting back on their hours. However, Elizabeth and Clairton, will remain open for 8 hours a day. They will still deliver parcels on Saturday and possibly Sunday. Residents asked McClain if they would consider leaving the lobby open 24 hours a day, either 2 or 3 days a week, for residents who work in the evening. He stated that he would take their request back to his department and see what he can do.
When McClain announced that a new permanent post master was hired, there was an uproar from everyone in attendance over the possibility of replacing Jodi Jubeck. She is a staple in the West Elizabeth community and residents are hopeful that she remains. Since Jubeck knows each of the residents, she can quickly pick up on and correct any errors in missing or wrong box numbers used. Jubeck was also endorsed by Council president Louise Biddle.
In Other News:
• Biddle informed members that they were invited to participate in the Elizabeth Borough Memorial parade. Anyone interested needs to sign up.
• There are holes on 6th street and a large one at the top of Grant street that need to be filled in.
• Resident, Birdie Magill, stressed concern over a large number of geese (approximately 55) that are flocking in the baseball field. Their droppings are inches thick and it needs to be cleaned up before the start of the summer lunch program.
• Birdie Magill also asked why they do not get reports from COG meetings. Biddle stressed that they could start showing notes from the meetings. No one had shown interest in seeing them prior.
• Resident, Scott Magill, asked what was happening to an abandoned house that is becoming a nuisance and a danger to his family. The home, which is owned by a council member, has been falling apart and is littered with raccoons, opossums and rats, which are beginning to migrate into his yard and even onto his porch. The taxes have not been paid on the dilapidated house, which is now on the demo list. The council is waiting for the grant money needed to tear down the home. Emergency Coordinator, Bill Wolfgang, explained that they "can only do one a year because we don't get a lot of money." Concerned about his children getting sick, he was not happy with response from the council and stated that he will call the news if necessary.
Scott Pearson questioned the reasoning behind why the task of tearing down the home has become the responsibility of the community. He asked, if he allows his home to fall apart to the point that it needs to be demolished, can he too simply walk away and be relieved of all responsibilities. "Where does the homeowner's responsibility end and it becomes the community's responsibility?" Pearson asked.
• Resident Ken Kubler, attended to thank the town council for everything that they do. He stated, "This is one resident that appreciates the sacrifice that you make." He said the residents are kind and respectful and he again thanked council members for their service.
• Resident and former council member, Sylvia Pearsal, stated that she remembers when Bethel Metals was given a time limit to erect a fence around their property. It has been several years and she asked Wolfgang, "Is 5 years long enough?" "It's disgusting, I want something done about it," stated Pearsal.
• Residents asked what was being done about the drivers from Bethel Metals tearing about the riverbank when they slide over it and hitting fences as they drive around the bends on Water street. One resident witnessed the drivers and wrote down their license plate numbers. Wolfgang stated that it still wasn't enough proof to confront the problem. However, the owners of Bethel metals admitted that it is his trucks causing the damage. Residents believe that Bethel Metals should pay for the damage.
• Larry Duvall, of the Elizabeth Borough Town Council, was in attendance to stress the desire of the Elizabeth Borough Town Council to strengthen communication with the West Elizabeth Town Council regarding any concerns of the police department. They want to have an open and continued dialogue with the council so that they can be made aware immediately of any problems to keep them from festering. In the future there will be an Elizabeth Borough council member at each of the West Elizabeth town council meetings to resolve any issues that arise.
• The Elizabeth Borough police answered 32 calls in February and performed 168 hours of routine patrol.
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