March 8 Baldwin Township Meeting Notes

Just hours after Gov. Tom Corbett announced his on Tuesday, March 8, the Baldwin Township Board of Commissioners had to face its own issues with cutbacks, costs and side effects of the ongoing budget crisis and general bad economy.

"Monday, March 28, will be the last day the [Port Authority] shuttle will run through the township," Lights and Transportation Chair John Paravati said in his report. "[This is] due to the Port Authority's cutbacks. That could change, but I doubt it."

Engineer Glenn Jonnet gave preliminary estimates for work on the area's Saw Mill Run basin as part of Baldwin Township's Wet Weather report.

"They are focusing the cost-determination on a deep tunnel [20 feet in diameter], which runs from the river all the way up to McNeilly [Road]," Jonnet said, based on information gathered from last week's Basic Planning Committee meeting held in the .

However, this is only one of five alternatives currently being considered. Jonnet stressed that cost estimates, ranging from $5.9 to $7.5 million, are only preliminary at this time.

"The 'E[,' or fifth] alternative is to separate Baldwin [Township] out of all the PWSA [Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority] lines and any Dormont or Mount Lebanon flows," Jonnet said. "Doing that would cost $800 [thousand] to $1.1 million."

Jonnet explained that while Baldwin Township currently only makes use of less than 10 percent of the junction in question, the township still "ha[s] an interest in that line."

Public Works Chair Nick Pellegrino questioned the repercussions of "isolating ourselves" from the PWSA.

Jonnet explained that it would be "way down the road" before final costs were known since figures also are contingent on a tunnel that the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN) is digging.

"ALCOSAN needs to have [alternatives from the involved municipalities], so that they can put together their package and sit down with regulators as well as with us," Jonnet said. "All alternatives are due by April 3."

In other business, Board President Eileen Frisoli shared that, at a recent meeting that she attended, a volunteer fire chief from nearby Green Tree Borough was asking for municipalities and officials to get involved with the chief's fire company.

"Some of our fire companies are hurting as far as volunteers go," Frisoli said. "They are having problems and shortages."

Providing a report for Parks and Recreation, Frisoli announced that two Baldwin Township residents have volunteered to run "A Touch of Old England" bus trip to Ohio on June 7, this year.

A flier to be posted by April 1 on the township's website will detail both that bus trip and the township's upcoming Easter activities, which will be held at its on Sunday, April 17, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Later in the meeting, Paravati announced a fundraiser for the Castle Shannon Volunteer Fire Department scheduled for April 3. Tickets for that fundraising event, known as the Sportsmen's Ca$h Ba$h, are available for purchase at the fire station at 3600 Library Road. Interested goers are encouraged to call 412-884-7913 before going to the station to buy tickets.

The Castle Shannon Volunteer Fire Department services Baldwin Township.

Baldwin Township's February Public Safety Report was also issued at the meeting. (See chart below.)

For more information on this or other Baldwin Township meetings, call 412-341-9597.

The township's next regular meeting will be Tuesday, April 5, in the municipal building at 7:30 p.m., though a pre-agenda meeting will be held in the building on Monday, March 28, at 7 p.m.

Automobile Accidents - 2
Service Calls - 15
Arrests (Adult) - 4
Disorderly Persons - 2
(1 Disturbing the Peace, 1 Animal Running at Large)
Domestic Disturbance - 1
Hospital Trips (handled by MRTSA) - 6
Intrusion Alarms - 6
Larceny - 1
Motor-Vehicle Violations - 53
Police Assists - 13
Miscellaneous/Unclassified - 4
Local Ordinance - 2
Miles Put on Vehicles - 3,322
Officer Sick Days - 2