Triangle Pet Contract Ended, New Delinquent Tax Collector and Many More Baldwin Boro Notes

Triangle Pet Control Services Contract Ended

By a unanimous vote on Tuesday night, the Baldwin Council officially ended Baldwin Borough's contract with Triangle Pet Control Services, which was shut down by officials from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture on Oct. 1 after it allegedly defrauded the state by getting paid for services that it didn't perform.

Baldwin Borough has been without animal control services throughout October as a result of the shutdown. On Oct. 2, borough Manager John Barrett said that Baldwin officials will "have to figure something out" in order to replace Triangle Pet.

Borough Will Soon Stop Paying for Trash Collection at Apartments

By another unanimous vote, the Baldwin Council agreed to have representatives of the South Hills Area Council of Governments (SHACOG) pursue a joint bid for solid waste collection in Baldwin and in other SHACOG communities.

The existing solid waste collection contract in Baldwin is good through 2013, but the new joint SHACOG contract will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2014, and will not include trash pickup for owners of Baldwin Borough properties that have at least three housing units, such as apartments buildings.

Until then, the cost to cover trash pickup at Baldwin apartments buildings will continue to come from borough funds.

New Delinquent Tax Collector

The council also unanimously approved an agreement with Jordan Tax Service that authorizes Jordan Tax to collect delinquent property taxes in Baldwin Borough for three years, starting on Jan. 1, 2013.

Jordan will replace current provider Keystone Collections Group.

Given that Jordan also collects earned income tax and sewage fees in the borough, Councilman Michael Stelmasczyk praised Tuesday's action, calling Jordan a "one-stop shop now" in Baldwin.

Stelmasczyk has been pushing for about a month for a new delinquent property tax collector for Baldwin in an effort to generate more borough revenue. The borough collects around 93.5 percent of its property taxes, so it is hoped that a switch in delinquent tax collectors will increase that percentage.

'Remembering World War II'

The council also unanimously approved an event to be held on Saturday, Nov. 17, from 1 to 3:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the borough municipal building along Churchview Avenue.

The annual event is named and there is no cost to attend. The event will include appearances by military veterans, memorabilia from that era and a screening of A Testament to Freedom.

Here are some photos from this past year's event.

Too Dark on Blossom Drive?

Blossom Drive resident Sandra Beyer has appeared in front of the Baldwin Council before to complain about a lack of light on her street, particularly in its 600 block. On Tuesday, Beyer returned to face the council again.

Beyer claimed in June that the removal of streetlights on Blossom has put bus riders and other nightly commuters in danger and that the lack of light makes a nearby fire hydrant difficult to find.

On Tuesday, her concerns moved to how visible trick-or-treaters will be—or won't be—on Blossom on Halloween night.

"One half of our street is completely dark at night," Beyer said while asking the council to at least approve temporary lighting on Blossom on Halloween. (Trick-or-treating in Baldwin Borough will be from 6 to 8 that night.)

No council members responded to Beyer's request on Tuesday, but they are not required to.

Bond Issue Approved

As expected, the council unanimously approved on Tuesday a  for borough projects.

Most of that money will go toward paying for a large water basin project near Colewood Park that includes the installation of a long stretch of pipeline that would run from roughly Hollowhaven Drive to the railway that crosses Horning Road.

Police Officers Will Attend Council Meetings

Baldwin Borough police Chief Michael Scott said that at least one fellow police officer will accompany him to Baldwin Council meetings from now on.

Scott said that the meetings will be beneficial for the police force.

"It is exposes our officers so that they can see everything that's going on in the borough," Scott said. "They'll have an idea of who the elected officials are, who the representatives are that work for the borough. And they'll see what the problems are as they listen to the public.

"They'll have a better total picture."

More Civil Service Controversy in Baldwin Borough

Read here.

Click here for more Baldwin Borough news.

 ---

Follow the Baldwin-Whitehall Patch on Facebook and Twitter.

Sign up for the daily Baldwin-Whitehall newsletter.