Export firefighters are hoping to find a new home in the near future, and while borough officials are happy to support them in pursuit of a state grant to help fund it, they want to know exactly what that support entails.
Council was asked to serve as a sponsor to the fire department in its application for a Pennsylvania Local Share Account grant to cover the acquisition of property and the work needed to create a new fire station.
“We have parking problems, we have an older building and we want something that can be a little bit safer,” Export fire Chief and Councilman Dave Silvis said.
Mayor Joe Zaccagnini and fire officials were notified that the former Tin Shoppe property, next to the Italian American Club on Kennedy Avenue, will be for sale and spoke with the owner about using the grant to acquire it and build a new firehouse.
“To apply for the grant, we need a certified appraisal of the property,” Zaccagnini said. “And I want to make sure we get all the numbers and estimates as accurate as possible, because if the fire company is awarded this grant, the project has to be completed.”
Councilwoman Melanie Litz asked whether the borough’s “sponsorship” would put it on the hook financially if the project’s cost outpaces the grant.
“I don’t know what ‘sponsorship’ means and I don’t want the borough to end up in a perilous position,” she said. “I support the idea in theory, but we can’t sign off on it without all the information.”
Zaccagnini said he would find out more about what borough sponsorship entails, and asked to place the grant application back on council’s August agenda.
The grant period does not open until July 31, Zaccagnini said.
The state’s Local Share Account grants have a specific program for counties such as Westmoreland, Berks, York and Cumberland, which contain Category 4 gaming facilities, otherwise known as mini-casinos.
Public works staff
Council voted unanimously to require public works employees to punch in and out in order to be properly paid, and for the department to create a full description of its duties.
Zaccagnini said borough officials have had issues lately with public works employees not punching on the borough’s time clock, but rather recording hours by hand.
“We’ve talked about this before,” he said. “You have to punch in and punch out.”
Litz agreed.
“That’s the way it works at my job,” she said. “If I don’t punch in, I don’t get paid. If it’s not happening, it puts us at risk and opens us up to all kinds of problems.”
Councilman Stephen Opsitnick, who is also leads the borough’s public works department, was not present at council’s meeting Tuesday night.
Summer festival
Export’s annual Ethnic Food & Music Festival will take place Aug. 16 throughout the Washington Avenue corridor.
The afternoon will include food, music, games, vendor and craft booths, children’s activities and more.