Content about mayor

05.27.11

Into the woods

I wanted to update you all on a new project that is close to my heart, the Bellevue Dog Woods.

Before I even had a dog, I wanted to see a dog park in the North Boroughs. Everywhere you look around here, people are out walking dogs. I thought of all those poor dogs on leashes pulling around those poor people and thought, "Wouldn't it be great if all these dogs had a place to just run around and play with other dogs?"

01.14.12

Overrides veto

Bellevue Council voted unanimously to override Mayor George Doscher’s veto of the salary ordinance adopted by council in December.

Doscher said that he disagreed with a provision of the ordinance that required non-contract employees to contribute 10 percent of the cost of their health insurance. A recent contract reached with the firefighters union set their contribution rate at only 5 percent. Members of the police and public works unions currently contribute nothing.

01.08.12

Avalon swears in new officials

Five newly-elected members of Avalon Council -- including two who won their seats through write-in votes -- were sworn in at Monday’s reorganization of the borough’s government.

Incumbents Ralph Cortese, Vicki Donnelly and Patrick Narcisi were administered the oath of office by Mayor David Haslett. Joining them were the winners of write-in votes in November, Joshua Klicker and John Vetterly.

Ed Repp and Narcisi were returned to their positions as council president and vice president, respectively.

01.08.12

Ben Avon Council reorganizes

Three newly-elected members of Ben Avon Council were sworn in by Mayor Bob Jones Monday evening before council voted to return Lloyd Corder to the president’s chair and committee appointments were announced.

Pictured here from left are Corder, newly-elected council members Earl Bohn, Suzanne Weiss and Michael Bett, and Jones.

Corder was re-elected president of council in a unanimous vote, as was Weiss as vice president.

Corder was prepared to make committee assignments for the coming year, and also named council members to handle special projects.

01.07.12

Reorganization problems in Bellevue

The post-election reorganization of Bellevue Council Monday night was not without incident -- several of them in fact. The meeting began with one council member-elect omitted from the swearing-in, and ended with questions about the legitimacy of the entire process. In between, a new regime took charge of council, and perhaps set the tone for the coming year.

11.05.11

Emsworth, Ben Avon voters to choose

Voters in Emsworth and Ben Avon will have the only real local government choices to make in the Nov. 8 general election.

In Emsworth, four candidates are seeking election to three four-year seats on the borough council, while Ben Avon voters will fill three council seats from among five candidates.

10.22.11

Artober profit?

While Bellevue's director of administrative services thinks the Artober Fest benefit raised about $6,500 to benefit a proposed skate plaza in Bayne Park, officials have some serious questions about the unauthorized expenditure of almost that much to put on the event.

DAS Doug Sample told council members last week that the event grossed about $12,500, apparently including a $5,000 matching grant from Allegheny General Hospital. Sample said about $6,000 was spent on the event.

10.22.11

Obituaries 10-21-11

Alma Fleming Alma Eleanor Oestreicher Fleming, 97, of Wadsworth, OH, formerly of Kilbuck Township and wife of the late James D. Fleming, died Monday, Oct. 10, 2011. She is survived by her daughter, Patricia Livingston and her husband Paul; three grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; three nephews; and a niece. She was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Nellie Oestreicher; and her brother, Charles Oestreicher and his wife Helene. Friends were received at O'Brien Funeral Home, North Side, until the time of services on Friday. Burial was in Rosedale Cemetery.

John Koch Jr.

10.14.11

Clerk hiring challenges council

Although it appeared that few people on Bellevue Council actually wanted to pay a new part-time office clerk $15 per hour, a resolution doing just that was approved by officials at Tuesday’s work session.

Miscues, misinformation, lack of preparation, bad acoustics and outright distrust factored into a series of events that ended with the hiring of a temporary office clerk at the same salary paid to the former assistant director of administrative services.

DAS Doug Sample defended the higher hourly pay rate, arguing that job would entail more than just clerical work.

09.16.11

Parking wars, the sequel

When it comes to parking in Bellevue, this week’s council work session produced some good news, some more good news, and some news that may get mixed reactions.

An idea proposed by council member Jane Braunlich will go into effect Oct. 1 by order of the mayor, and will offer free parking in borough lots every weekend for 30 days.

Parking will be free in the lots on Saturdays and Sundays for the trial period, and then officials will check with businesses to determine if it has had a positive impact.

08.26.11

Premature fining

Anyone who has gotten a street sweeping ticket in Bellevue this year probably has paid more than the borough had any authority to charge.

Bellevue Council voted Tuesday to approve the third and final reading of an ordinance that increases the fine from $10 to $15 for people who park in prohibited areas on street sweeping days, but pay the fine within 10 days. The ticket cost increases after the 10-day period.

Mayor George Doscher questioned the ordinance at Tuesday’s council meeting, stating that the police department had been handing out tickets at the increased rate since spring.

07.15.11

Beer in Bayne becomes liquor on Lincoln

With support from a number of people who attended Bellevue Council's work session Tuesday evening, council approved a fund-raising art festival that will include the sale of alcohol.

07.02.11

Bellevue burps over beer in Bayne

Barely a month after voters rejected allowing liquor licenses in Bellevue, the borough is dealing with a proposal to sell beer in Bayne Park -- a proposal from the borough's own employees.

The idea for a "beer corral" in the park developed from plans to hold an arts festival to raise money for the borough's matching share of a grant to build a skate plaza in Bayne Park.

05.20.11

Emsworth voters choose

Write-in votes by Republicans also could help change the face of the council election in Emsworth next fall. Until then, Democrats chose three from among five candidates to appear on the general election ballot.

Appointed incumbent Alex Nalevanko led the ticket with 163 votes, followed by Kevin Yurkovich with 135 votes, and former mayor George Rossi with 117. Excluded by the Democrats were appointed incumbent Tom Madey, who received 95 votes, and Brian Fashian, who received 101.

05.13.11

Promoted

Bellevue Police Officer Mike Hudson was promoted to the position of sergeant and sworn in Tuesday by Mayor George Doscher.

04.29.11

Letters to the Editor 4-29-11

MAYOR RESPONDS Editor:

This letter is in response to the letter to the editor dated 4/22/11.

04.22.11

Bellevue park “going to the dogs”

Before long, local dogs now restricted to short-leash walks down concrete sidewalks or brief jaunts into small backyards could find themselves running full-speed in a wide grassy area, or roaming through the woods.

All within minutes of home.

04.22.11

Letters to the Editor

Editor:

I have read Mayor Doscher’s recent letter to the local residents regarding his opinion about the alcohol referendum for Bellevue, and it leaves me wondering what he wants for this town.

As the mayor, his job is to represent the people, and hopefully make decisions and be an activist for the businesses that keep this town afloat.

03.11.11

Dress code

At the request of Mayor Dee Quinn, Emsworth Council has approved a dress code for elected officials when they attend meetings.

Quinn said that officials should appear in “business attire,” which means no flip flops, tank tops, shorts and t-shirts, among other things.

Council member Alex Nalevanko questioned whether officials could wear items supporting local professional sports teams such as the Steelers. Quinn said Steeler apparel should be limited to anytime when the team is in the playoffs.

03.04.11

Letters to the Editor

BAD BEHAVIOR

Editor:

Reading the article “Officials get free lunch,” I was a little disturbed (as a Ben Avon resident) by how my council members were behaving.

What was disturbing was the pettiness of the whole situation. Granted, Mayor Jones’ lunch was a business expense, and while I agree that his expenses should be covered, it’s surprising how Mayor Jones handled the situation. As mayor, shouldn’t you know what the rules and regulations are regarding such expenditures?

02.25.11

Bellevue surcharge lowered

Bellevue property owners may pay a bit more this year in sewer surcharges, but it won't be as much as it could have been. With two members absent, a hotly divided Bellevue Council voted Tuesday to set a usage based surcharge at $2.25 per 1,000 gallons of water used at a property.

An ordinance adopted in December had set the fee at $3 per 1,000 gallons of water used, but that ordinance was vetoed by Mayor George Doscher shortly after it was approved. Doscher argued that it would be more "compassionate" to increase the fee in stages over a two-year period.

02.18.11

Officials get free lunch

By Lois Thomson

Ben Avon Mayor Bob Jones' lunch with Ben Avon Heights officials caused a bit of a stir at the borough's council meeting Tuesday.

Joined by Ben Avon Council President Lloyd Corder, Jones picked up the tab for a business luncheon with Ben Avon Heights Mayor Scott Dismukes and council president Mark Davis, at a cost of $59.07.

When Jones asked council for reimbursement, finance chair Judy Konitsney said the borough has never paid for a business luncheon, and added, "We have a borough hall if you want to hold a meeting."

02.11.11

Letters to the Editor 2-11-11

DELINQUENT TAXPAYERS

Editor:

02.11.11

Mayor 1-for-3 on vetoes

By VICKI MORTIMER

At its work session on Tuesday, Bellevue Council voted to override two of three vetoes handed down by Mayor George Doscher at the end of 2010. The user-based sewer surcharge will not go into effect just yet, this year’s pay increase will be limited to one employee, and the borough already has hired an assistant director of administrative services (DAS).

01.14.11

Veto vote delayed

Bellevue Council will have to wait until Jan. 25 to see if it can muster enough votes to override Mayor George Doscher’s veto of several key budget-related ordinances.

Council’s work session scheduled for this past Tuesday was canceled due to inclement weather.

That cancellation concerned some members of council, because at least two members -- Jim and Susan Viscusi -- will not be present at the Jan. 25 meeting. The concern arose from a mistaken belief that the override vote could be affected by the number of council members present.