Whitehall Boro Bldg. Also an Art Gallery

Beautiful works line the halls of the borough's municipal complex.

$25K Lobby Improvements Coming to Whitehall Library

Also, an Economic Development South update and other notes from a Feb. 15 Whitehall Borough meeting.

Has Gas-Drilling Company Been at South Hills C.C.? Read here. Whitehall Library Upgrades The Whitehall Public Library is known for its top-notch appearance, among other features, but the library will nevertheless receive more upgrades soon in the form of changes to its lobby area. Paula Kelly, the director of the library, spoke at a Whitehall Borough Council meeting on Wednesday night and introduced Virginia Weida, of Virginia Weida Designs, who has been contracted to alter the entranceway of the library (with the permission of the council). Weida said that she intends to replace the tiles in the entranceway which currently bear names of library donors. "Unfortunately, time and age has really made the names illegible," Weida said, "and the…

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William Veith Fills President Slot for Whitehall Borough Council

And a few other notes from a borough meeting on Tuesday night.

Council Reorganization Linda J. Book passed the gavel to new Whitehall Borough Council President William J. Veith on Tuesday night during the borough's reorganizing session, where three re-elected officials were sworn in and new committee appointments were finalized. Re-elected to four-year terms in November were Philip Lahr, Harold Berkoben and Robert McKown. Lahr and Berkoben have both sat on the Whitehall Council for 12 years. McKown has served since 1993 with the exception of two years. In addition to the swearing-in of those re-elected officials by Magisterial District Judge David J. Barton, a new council president and vice president were chosen. Instead of voting on the positions, Whitehall officials fill the slots on an annual, …

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Whitehall Council Passes 2012 Budget, and Other Notes

Borough appointments, Whitehall Fire Company updates and more from Wednesday night's council meeting.

No Property Tax Increase The Whitehall Borough Council unanimously approved an $8.9-million budget on Wednesday evening that holds the line on property taxes at 5.5 mills for an eighth consecutive year, or $550 per year for those with a home valued at $100,000. Click here to calculate your individual taxes. As previously reported, the borough did increase its Local Services Tax, though, from $15 per year to $52. The tax, formerly known as the Emergency and Municipal Service Tax, affects only those who work in Whitehall. The increase is expected to generate an additional $74,000 in revenue to offset other municipal costs. Workers earning less than $12,000 per year are exempt from the tax, which will be collected throughout the year rather …

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Whitehall Council Increases One Tax, Holds Line on Another in Budget Proposal

Whitehall officials approved a $52 local services tax on Wednesday after presenting a budget proposal that doesn't increase property taxes.

At its regular meeting on Wednesday evening, the Whitehall Borough Council held a public hearing on its proposed 2012 budget and unanimously approved a tax increase for people working in Whitehall. If the borough's $8.9-million budget is approved, residents would see their eighth consecutive year without a property tax increase. The balancing act was helped in part by a Local Services Tax increase, which will pull $52 from people working in the borough and is expected to generate an additional $74,000 in revenue. Workers earning less than $12,000 yearly are exempt from the tax, which will be collected throughout the year rather than in a lump sum. Previously, the tax was $15 per year. Councilman Robert McKown, who presented the proposed …

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Whitehall Council Incumbents React to Re-Election

Democrats Lahr and Berkoben happy to have Republican McKown back, as well.

Incumbents Philip Lahr, Harold Berkoben and Robert McKown defeated three challengers on Tuesday to remain as Whitehall Borough councilmen. Lahr and Berkoben ran together as Democrats on Election Day and made it clear that McKown, a Republican, was their choice for the third person to be elected over Republicans James A. DeGrazia and Chris A. Mooney and even fellow Democrat Helen Del Sardo. "Bob and Harold and I would, seriously, like to thank the residents that came out and voted and voted especially for us," Lahr said on Wednesday, "so that we can keep the community sound and strong as we have for the last 12 years. "We appreciate that, and that's the message that we wanted to get out to them (Whitehall residents). And they came, and they…

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2011 Election Results for Baldwin-Whitehall

Check out the local results for the Baldwin-Whitehall area.

With 100 percent of Baldwin-Whitehall's precincts reporting, the Baldwin-Whitehall Patch presents the results of our area's Nov. 8 general elections. These results are unofficial until certified by the Allegheny County Division of Elections. (SCROLL DOWN TO SEE.)     Whitehall Home Rule Charter Amendment (Read about it here.)  --- Follow the Baldwin-Whitehall Patch on Facebook and Twitter.

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Some Savings, Some Expenditures Discussed at Oct. 19 Whitehall Borough Meeting

Also, Heinen/Shadowlawn footbridge, ALCOSAN meeting, Veman Avenue work and other major topics.

Paperwork in Process to Save Borough Around $178,000 Per Year Harold Berkoben informed fellow Whitehall Borough Council members and council meeting attendants on Wednesday night that the completion of paperwork is in progress that “will save the borough about $178,000 (per year)” in health insurance costs. On Oct. 5, the council approved a new five-year contract with its public works employees that will start on Jan. 1, 2012, and will provide those employees with a 3-percent raise per year. The contract also switches insurance groups for those employees, which accounts for the savings. “And it’s basically for the same coverage,” Berkoben said. Next year, most Whitehall employees will be covered under a Laborers’ District Council of Western…

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