Content about Paul Getz

01.07.12

The new year provides us with the perfect opportunity to clean house, so to speak, in all aspects of life. The new year coinciding with the installation of new government officials just reinforces our learned tendency to make the new year a time of dramatic change.

We need to be careful, however, that the "junk" we're throwing out isn't the critical piece of an important item, or a rare collectible that will enrich us all.

02.11.12

One more call

Emsworth will potentially add another step to the snow removal crew call-out procedure after a lengthy discussion by council at its regular meeting on Wednesday.

Although the borough’s street crew takes care of the plowing and salting during the day, a group of eight people are employed for nighttime call-outs. Currently, Ohio Township Police determine when the streets need treatment, and notify the Allegheny County emergency dispatch center to contact the crew.

01.08.12

Emsworth picks new council president

Emsworth Council members chose experience over politics in electing a new president last Monday evening.

Although Paul Getz is the only Republican on council, he has considerably more experience in borough affairs than any of his colleagues, which include three brand new council members sworn in that night along with incumbent Alex Nalevanko.

Taking the oath of office along with Nalevanko were Kevin Yurkovich, Tom Maletick and Brian Fashian.

12.16.11

Emsworth says no to raises

Emsworth now has a resolution setting a pay scale for public works employees, but that doesn’t mean either of the borough’s two part-time DPW workers will be getting a raise right away.

The resolution adopted by council at its meeting Wednesday sets a pay range for the DPW, from $15 to $24 per hour. It also allows the employees to be reimbursed by the borough for up to $200 per month for health insurance they purchase themselves, and up to $300 per year for clothing.

08.12.11

Emsworth rescinds 1-Call deal

One month after approving a contract with an elected official to respond to Pennsylvania One-Call situations, Emsworth Council voted Wednesday to rescind that agreement.

The PA One-Call system requires anyone opening streets or other property to check first to see if there are any underground structures that have to be taken into consideration -- such as sewers, water lines, gas lines, etc. When a municipality is notified of a potential excavation, it generally has three days to mark the area in question. In an emergency, that time frame shrinks to one hour.

06.10.11

Energy savings

Emsworth Council has approved the borough’s participation in a county program that is expected to result in energy cost savings in future years.

06.10.11

Fire district

A proposed consolidation of fire services in several Avonworth communities got an official nudge forward from Emsworth Council Wednesday evening.

Council unanimously approved a motion to file a letter of intent to form a “fire district” for the purposes of consolidating buildings and equipment. According to Emsworth Council member Paul Getz, filing the letter of intent allows the municipalities involved to obtain additional state assistance with the consolidation process at no charge to any of the communities.

04.15.11

Emsworth plugs park gas plan

A unanimous vote by Emsworth Council Wednesday evening put an end to a firestorm -- literally, in some residents’ opinions -- that erupted one week before when the Avonworth Community Park executive board approved a lease that would allow drilling beneath park property for natural gas, part of the lucrative Marcellus Shale reservoir.

03.11.11

Collection

Emsworth Borough has collected more than half of what was owed the municipality in delinquent sewage charges.

Council member Paul Getz reported at Wednesday’s meeting that some $50,000 was owed by the owners of 84 properties, all of which were posted and scheduled for water service termination.

Getz said the notices prompted payment from all but eight of the properties, for a total of $33,000.

01.14.11

Energy audit

Energy efficiency and help with grant applications are expected to result from Emsworth Borough participating in the Allegheny County Energy Program.

Council member Paul Getz reported at Wednesday's council meeting that experts would review energy use at borough facilities and make recommendations for how both energy and money could be saved. They then would advise officials on what grants might be available. Getz said that he hoped Emsworth could obtain a grant to retrofit the heating system in the borough building.

11.13.10

Bridge “emergency”

Emsworth Council voted Wednes-day to declare an official “emergency” with regard to the Herron Avenue Bridge, which was closed recently after an inspection showed structural deficiencies that made it unsafe for vehicles to cross.

Council member Paul Getz said that an emergency declaration could help expedite the process of getting a temporary bridge in place. Officials have been meeting with representatives of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) not only to get the temporary span built, but to move the completion date of the new, two-lane bridge from 2012 to 2011.

11.13.10

New council member

A Courtney Street resident will take over the seat on Emsworth Council left vacant by last month’s resignation of David Heflin.

Thomas J. Madey was chosen from among three people who applied for the position, according to council member Alex Nalevanko.

Madey is a cement mason who has served on the Avonworth Community Park board and been very active in park projects, according to council member Paul Getz. He was sworn in by Mayor Dee Quinn at Wednesday’s council meeting after members voted 5-1 in favor of his appointment. Council member Dan Lenz cast the dissenting vote.

10.08.10

Herron bridge closes

Emsworth officials were informed Wednesday that the Herron Avenue Bridge has deteriorated to the point that it must be closed immediately.

The bridge crosses Lowries Run from Western Avenue to what is primarily a commercial/industrial area that includes Schaffner Manufacturing, and carries heavy truck traffic.

A recent inspection by engineers for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) revealed that support beams had rusted through, according to Emsworth Council member Paul Getz.

09.10.10

No investigation

There will be no further investigation into allegations that an Emsworth Council member violated state ethics laws.

08.13.10

Emsworth street repair

Emsworth Council voted Wednesday to award contracts for the paving and repair of two of the three streets officials hoped to fix this year.

El Grande Industries will repair Pennsylvania Avenue for $181,483.50. Council member Paul Getz said that the work will include removing bricks, constructing a sub-base, paving the street and putting in up to 200 linear feet of concrete curbing. The work will be done on Pennsylvania between Center Avenue and Route 65.

Cliff Street will get an overlay coat only, also from El Grande, at a cost of $17,355.

07.16.10

Brake study

After receiving a letter from a resident about the noise created by truckers using jake brakes, Emsworth Council has agreed to have the state conduct a traffic study to see if outlawing the use of the engine-assisted brakes on Ohio River Boulevard is possible.

Council member Paul Getz reported at Wednesday's meeting that other communities along Route 65 have prohibited the use of the brakes, but that the first step had to be a study by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT).

Council authorized the study in a 6-1 vote with Ken Kroen opposed.

07.16.10

Street paving on hold

Emsworth officials will take another look at the street project planned for this summer after bids for the work came in "substantially higher" than estimated.

The borough hoped to repave Pennsylvania, Eicher and Cliff this year. Council member Paul Getz said at Wednesday's council meeting that officials will review the bids in an effort to "bring the costs into line."

06.11.10

Traffic study requested

At the request of borough residents, Emsworth Council has agreed to ask the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) to do a traffic study to determine if left turns from Locust Street onto Ohio River Boulevard are feasible.

Council member Paul Getz reported at Wednesday's council meeting that residents of several streets in the vicinity of the borough hall are effectively "trapped" due to one-way streets and other restrictions that keep them from reaching the southbound lanes of Route 65 with any ease.

05.14.10

Emsworth to rejoin QVCOG

With a garbage collection contract nearing its end, Emsworth Council has voted to have the borough rejoin the Quaker Valley Council of Governments (QVCOG)

The QVCOG, comprised of municipalities along the Ohio River in this area, performs a number of functions, primary among them the negotiation of joint contracts for municipal services and administration of federal grants. Emsworth opted not to join the COG last year, saying that the borough did not utilize its services.

Emsworth's dues for a year total $1,600, according to borough secretary Cathy Jones.

04.16.10

Utility work to precede street project

Both Columbia Gas and West View Water Authority will replace lines on Pennsylvania Avenue in Emsworth before the street is repaved by the borough this summer.

Emsworth Council member Paul Getz said that the borough had offered to waive street opening fees if the utilities performed line replacement or repairs prior to the street resurfacing.

02.19.10

Emsworth to start first capital fund

Emsworth will create the borough's first capital fund after Mayor Dee Quinn broke a tie vote at the Feb. 10 council meeting.

Council member Paul Getz said that Emsworth has never had such a fund, and recommended that funds currently in certificates of deposits and money market accounts, totaling around $218,000, be designated for a capital projects fund. The fund would help pay for possible future expenses related to the construction, replacement or repair of any borough property, he said.

Council member Amy Adams questioned why the borough should tie up available monies.

02.19.10

Official named

An Emsworth official has been named to a committee of the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs (PSAB).

Council member Paul Getz said at council's regular meeting on Feb. 10 that he had been named to the executive board of PSAB’s western region.

Getz said in a later interview that he will be working directly with officials in other municipalities in the region and taking any issues they may have back to the executive board.

Getz said that he was nominated for the position by a council member from Baden.

02.19.10

Officials question bonuses

With the hope that other municipalities will follow suit, Emsworth Council voted last Wednesday to withhold approval of the 2010 Avonworth Community Park budget because of questions about payments that included some $5,000 in year-end employee bonuses

01.22.10

News Briefs

Chief search A police officer who lives in Avalon told borough officials Tuesday not to look too far from home for a new police chief.

With current Chief Robert Howie set to retire this year, council hired a consultant to conduct a search and recommend candidates for his replacement.

01.22.10

Officials disagree over payments to councilman member

An Emsworth Council member is threatening to take action unless more than $5,000 is repaid to the borough by a fellow member of council.

Council member Paul Getz was paid $5,260 between April and August of 2009, representing salary for working on various projects in the borough. The number excludes his monthly $100 stipend for serving on council. None of the payments were preauthorized by council, according to council member David Heflin.