Politics & Government

Deer Population, Vacant Home and More (June 1 Borough of Whitehall Meeting Notes)

Also, an Economic Development South update.

Actuary Services

The Council of the Borough of Whitehall engaged in a long discussion on Wednesday night, started by council member Kathleen N. DePuy, over whether or not it would be worth it for Whitehall to investigate more options for its actuary services. An actuary is a person who calculates the financial implications of risk and uncertainty, usually for insurance purposes.

DePuy suggested the research as a way for the Whitehall Council to constantly be on the lookout for better options for the borough. The majority of the council, as well as Borough Manager James E. Leventry, was satisfied with the borough's current actuary services and agreed that finding a better option would be difficult given the general nature of actuary services, i.e. being a specialty service.

Find out what's happening in Baldwin-Whitehallwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"How would you judge one (actuary) against the other?" council member Glenn Nagy asked.

"That would be a study within itself," council member Robert McKown said.

Find out what's happening in Baldwin-Whitehallwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Leventry said that the borough spends approximately $7,500 per year on actuary services.

"I don't see a compelling reason to change unless you are going to save a significant amount of money," Leventry said, "and we just don't pay that much. I just don't think it's going to make a big difference."

Swimming Pool Preparation Kudos

The Whitehall Council, at the prompting of Nagy, congratulated the borough's employees, particularly those of its public-works department, for having the ready to open on Memorial Day, this year, despite much rainy weather in the days and weeks prior.

Farmer's Market, Movie Under the Stars

Council Vice President William J. Veith promoted a few upcoming borough activities, including the first event of the year on Monday, June 6. The event will run there every Monday through Oct. 24 from 3 to 7 p.m.

Veith also reminded those interested in the borough's event that its date has been switched to June 11. Whitehall will show the movie Tangled on a 30-foot screen at Caste Village at 8:30 that night.

Economic Development South Update

Nagy said that he has learned that  will serve as grand marshal of Brentwood Borough's Fourth of July parade this year.

Nagy said that EDS Director Greg Jones has been quite busy working in both Brentwood and Whitehall, including preparations for an between the two boroughs along the Route 51 corridor.

Borough engineer Ruthann L. Omer said that Whitehall's application for a $40,000 grant available in conjunction with that overlay district should be completed this week. Omer is optimistic that Whitehall could indeed earn the grant.

GasLand

Whitehall Mayor James F. Nowalk said that the borough will be showing the 2010 movie GasLand in the Community Room of the on June 14 at 7 p.m. due to popular demand to rent the movie from the .

GasLand is a documentary about Marcellus Shale drilling.

4673 Echo Glen Drive a Problem

Resident Glenn Proie, of Echo Glen Drive, informed the council that 4673 Echo Glen—a vacant property—has not been taken care of (lawn maintenance, et al.) by its owner for many years. Proie said that he and other neighbors of 4673 have been tending to the property but that they wish that the property's owner, which Leventry said is Deutsche Bank, would do that job instead.

The council agreed to investigate the matter.

The Allegheny County Assessment website shows that the owner failed to pay tax on that property for 2010.

Deer Population

Veith told fellow council members that he had a conversation with Bethel Park Mayor Clifford Morton recently about how to control the area's deer population. Veith said that Bethel Park has been using a company known as Whitetail Club (trained archers) to hunt deer in an orderly and efficient manner and suggested that Whitehall at least consider a similar service.


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