Politics & Government

No Decision Yet: Baldwin Cats Situation a Layered Issue

And other Baldwin Township notes from a July 3 commissioners meeting.

No Decision on Baldwin Cats

The Baldwin Township Board of Commissioners discussed many items during a regular meeting on Tuesday night, but stray cats—a —did not get a mention.

Representatives of Animals Against The Odds (AATO) Rescue and Rehab attended the meeting with hopes that the commissioners would accept a plan sponsored by the AATO that allows for stray cats in Baldwin Township to be trapped, spayed or neutered, and then released. But the plan, known as trap-neuter-return, or TNR, did not make the meeting's agenda, and there were no public comments regarding the matter.

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The TNR program would involve volunteers placing feeding stations around the township to trap loose cats, and that aspect of the program is what concerns township officials, Commissioner Bob Downey said in an interview after the meeting.

Downey said that the prime space for stray cats in Baldwin Township is a wooded area at the end of Donaldson Drive, but that area is actually in Mt. Lebanon. And anyone wishing to place a feeding station in Mt. Lebanon cannot get permission to do so from Baldwin officials.

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Furthermore, Downey said, township officials cannot prevent property owners from placing feeding stations on their private properties, so permission from the commissioners would not mean anything in that regard.

"That's their business," Downey said. "We have no ordinance that would preclude them from doing it."

Lorie Martch, who said that she is willing to volunteer for AATO when it comes to placing feeding stations, said after the meeting that she intends to approach property owners next.

However, Martch said that some property controlled by township officials—such as and —could serve as TNR locations, as well.

"There's cats here (at the municipal grounds)," March said. "They (officials) don't want to admit it, but they're here."

One cat was spotted running near the municipal building as Tuesday's meeting concluded.

Castle Shannon Fire Carnival Promoted

Commissioner John Paravati reminded meeting attendants that the annual Castle Shannon Volunteer Fire Department Carnival is scheduled this year for Monday, July 30, through Saturday, Aug. 4.

The carnival takes place on the grounds of the Castle Shannon Fire Hall along Route 88. The Castle Shannon VFD services Baldwin Township.

Click here for more information regarding this year's carnival.

Got Your MRTSA Subscription?

Downey recommended to township residents that they purchase annual subscriptions to Medical Rescue Team South Authority (MRTSA) service for $55 each.

Downey said that subscriptions are worth the money to residents in case ambulances must come to their homes.

If a resident has a subscription, Downey said, MRTSA will accept his or her health insurance.

"If not, whatever your insurance doesn't pay, they will come back and bill you for," he said.

Armstrong Park and Municipal Upgrades

New ramps, grills, benches, railings and a gazebo roof have been installed at Armstrong Park.

Also, park equipment has recently been painted and cleaned, and new railings are coming to the areas around the adjacent municipal building.

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