Government officials usually are criticized for giving jobs to their relatives, but it was the lack of nepotism involved in summer hiring that resulted in an explosion at Bellevue' s pre-council meeting on Tuesday.

Before storming out of the meeting in a rage because his son was not selected to be a public works laborer this summer, Mayor George Doscher disparaged members of council, told one to shut up, and refused to cede the floor and stop yelling when council president Linda Woshner called him out of order.

Kilbuck officials will have until June to amend the township’s zoning ordinance to comply with the new state law regarding zoning as it affects Marcellus Shale gas drilling.

“The change in the law is considerable,” said solicitor Chuck Means at Tuesday’s supervisors meeting.

Catherine E. Desso Catherine E. (Cass) Desso, 91 of Leeper, PA, formerly of Bellevue died January 26, 2011. She was preceded in death by Paul, her husband of 52 years. She retired from Suburban General Hospital after 18 years as a pediatric supervisor. She was a Girl Scout leader for many years and a charter member of the Christian Mothers Guild at Assumption Church.

Earl Blankenship Earl August "Pat" Blankenship, 85, of Springfield, MO died Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2010.

Richard McKiernan Richard J. "Dick" McKiernan, 89, of Sherwood Oaks, Cranberry, formerly of Bellevue and husband of the late Barbara Hamilton McKiernan, died Monday, Sept. 6, 2010. Mr. McKiernan was a World War II, U.S. Navy veteran stationed aboard the U.S.S. Whale submarine. He was retired from Duquesne Light Co., where he was a supervisor.

Bellevue and Avalon officials who like to talk about joint efforts will have their words put to the test in dealing with a sewer repair project that threatens to cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The problem with the West Bellevue Road sanitary sewer is not a new one. A year ago, both boroughs were ordered by the Allegheny County Health Department to make emergency repairs to a broken line that was sending raw sewage above ground. The boroughs then were supposed to submit a long term plan for addressing the decaying sewer line.

After being rejected by Bellevue Council’s public works committee earlier this year, the idea of extending street sweeping -- and parking restrictions -- year ‘round is being proposed by council’s safety committee.

Committee chairman David Gillingham Jr., Mayor George Doscher and public works supervisor Tony Barbarino told council at its work session Tuesday that extending the parking restrictions would allow snow plows easier access to streets, and allow the public works department to perform street repairs and snow removal.

It was all about filling vacancies when the Kilbuck Township Supervisors held a special meeting Tuesday.

With new supervisor Tom Tomaro participating by phone from Greensboro, NC, the board voted to fill a vacant supervisor's seat, as well as the position of tax collector for the township.

Chairman John Fader said that two "very qualified" people had applied for the supervisor's position left vacant when Susan Merckner resigned in December. Both had agreed to accept other positions in township government if not appointed supervisor, Fader said.

Growing tension among the Kilbuck Township Supervisors ended Tuesday evening with the resignation of Susan Merkner. Merkner, who was elected to office two years ago as part of protest of the prior administration, said that she no longer could perform her duties as supervisor because she was being excluded from decision-making and information by what she termed a “Good Olde Boy’s Club.”

She had announced in October that she was considering resigning and possibly taking legal action against fellow supervisors Russ Hardiman and John Fader.

Emsworth quits COG

Emsworth officials have decided to cancel the borough's membership in the Quaker Valley Council of Governments as a cost-cutting measure, but the savings may not last long.

Borough council member David Heflin said that 2010 dues would run $1,600-$1,900, a sum council member Amy Adams said could be better put toward balancing next year's budget because the borough does not use any of the services that come from being a QVCOG member.

No one is sure yet who owns the final 260 feet of Semple Avenue, but Kilbuck Township will pay to have the street paved.

Kilbuck was offered the opportunity last month to take advantage of the per-unit price for paving obtained by Avalon for its massive street rehabilitation program. Questions arose, however, as to whether the portion intersecting New Brighton Road in Kilbuck Township had, at some point, been turned over to Avalon, which owns the rest of the street.