Municipal News
- Last Updated on Saturday, 20 June 2015 22:25
By J.R. Brower
Following some neighbors' complaints to the mayor's office, Canonsburg Borough Council will set up a committee to look more closely at a local concrete company's hours of operation. A motion to deviate from the borough code on the hours of operation (7 a.m. – 6 p.m.) was considered and set aside for further study at the Canonsburg Borough Council meeting on June 8.
An attorney representing Donaldson Supply Company, 40 Murdock St., addressed Council, saying that the company, also known as simply Donaldson Concrete, is the city's leading concrete supplier. He said that as a result of a high volume of local business, it would be both difficult and impractical to change the company's hours of operation.
He added that it has been common practice for the company to start as early as 5 a.m. for quite some time as well as even operate later than 6 p.m. on some occasions, and the borough has never before seemed to take issue with it. The attorney emphasized that it would be "cumbersome" for that type of business to have their hours of operations regulated.
Donaldson Supply Company's website states their hours of operation as Monday – Friday, 6 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Acting Borough President Rich Russo said that he was sympathetic with the concerns of the company in regards to more controlled hours of operation, and he recommended tabling further discussion by the council.
"We will definitely need to take a closer look at all the aspects of this, and we will begin to set up a formal committee to gather more information and study the situation," Russo said.
He noted the importance of the company to Canonsburg's economy, and said he was hopeful that council and Donaldson Concrete could come to an amicable agreement on the question of their hours of operation.
In other business, Canonsburg Borough Council:
• Heard a report from a representative of the Canonsburg Houston Joint Sewer Authority on the recently signed joint agreement between both boroughs to treat sewage. Recent improvements include a new hydraulic overloader to process wastewater and control overflows. Also addressed were proposals to install better smell controls. Last month officials voted to make the joint operating sewer authority completely independent of both Canonsburg and Houston Boroughs by next year.
• Discussed information presented by Mayor David Rhome in regards to a fundraising event planned for later this summer by the Canonsburg Armory. The mayor said that they plan to block off a street section, possibly part of South Central Ave., for a nationally recognized motocross display feature motorcyclists doing all types of stunts. Russo suggested that the armory should probably apply for a permit through the state for the event.
• Approved a proposal from the police department to hire Dennis Lamar Cole as a part-time police officer. Also mentioned was that officer Wayne Deluca is retiring from the force.
• Discussed a proposal to make the 400 block of Duquesne Ave. between 1st to 2nd Streets a one-way street. Currently, residents of Duquesne are undergoing a 90-day trial period to test out one-sided street parking one a section of that street. Russo said that the trial period for the one-sided parking will end on July 19. Then, based upon the response of the residents, council will have to decide to make the changes permanent.
• Was informed by Rhome that residents of the 400 to 500 blocks of Franklin Ave. will soon be notified of the borough's intentions to conduct a 90-day trial period to test one-sided parking on their street.
• Passed a motion to formally switch one-sided parking on a section of Giffen Ave. from the north side of the street to the south side in order to free up more parking spaces.