Northgate personnel
The Northgate School Board made two personnel decisions at its regular meeting on Monday.

The board ratified the hiring of Brittany Armstrong as a part-time special education teacher assistant.

Brandon Hogle was hired as a full-time secondary social studies teacher at the middle/high school. He replaces Kevin McKiernan, who accepted a position as assistant principal in the West Allegheny School District.

Board member David Natale was absent.

ACORD appointment
Ben Avon council unanimously approved the appointment of Lori Berry to fill a position on the ACORD executive committee that had been vacant since Ephraim Zimmerman resigned this past summer. Berry already is a member of the ACORD advisory council.

Council members Lloyd Corder and Dan Herchenroether were absent.

Police departments recognized
Two area police departments have been recognized by AAA for their community traffic safety efforts, according to officials at AAA East Central.

The awards were given for a department's safety efforts and enforcement activities geared towards making communities safer. To be eligible for the awards, a community must conduct traffic safety promotions and educate the public on safety topics.

The Bellevue Police Department received a Silver award, while the Avalon Police Department received a Bronze award.

Bonds renewed
The Northgate School Board authorized renewing two bonds and purchasing another at its regular meeting on Monday.

The district's employees’ faithful performance blanket bond from Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland will cost $1,770. The bond covers all district employees.

A four-year real estate tax collector bond also was renewed, at a cost of $5,080 for the Avalon collector and $6,898 for the Bellevue collector.

A treasurer's bond was purchased by the board at a cost of $100.

No parking
Avalon Council voted Tuesday to deny a request for a handicapped parking space on Clive Street.

Officials said that the short street already had two handicapped parking spots, and parking was already at a premium.

Council voted 8-1 to deny the request to place another reserved spot near 940 Clive. Vicki Donnelly had the sole vote in favor.

Use of facilities
The North Boroughs' YMCA has been given permission to use the Avalon Elementary School gym.

At the Nov. 16 meeting, the school board approved use of the gym for a youth basketball program on Saturdays, Nov. 14-Dec. 19, except for Nov. 28, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The board also approved the YMCA's request for the gym for a youth hockey program on Saturdays, Jan. 23 to March 20, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Both approvals are contingent on the gym’s availability and proper insurance coverage.

The district will be reimbursed for any custodial costs.

Board member David Natale was absent.

New Web design
Avalon Borough will be getting a new Web site.

Council voted unanimously Tuesday to hire Holly Ridge Web Design to put together the new site, at a cost of about $300.

Accident insurance
The Northgate School Board renewed the district’s volunteer accident insurance policy at its regular meeting on Nov. 16.

There is no change in the price of the policy, which is $675.

Delegates named
Avalon has named its delegates to the Allegheny County Boroughs Association for 2010.

Vicki Donnelly will be the primary delegate, with Ed Repp as the alternate.
T
he appointments were approved unanimously at council's meeting on Tuesday.

Conference
A Northgate School District official will be attending the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials (PASBO) conference.

The school board, at its regular meeting on Nov. 16, authorized director of finance Marilynn Berner to attend the conference, which will be held at Hershey Lodge and Convention Center in Hershey, March 9-12.