The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

August 29, 2012

Divided council agrees to repave asphalt streets

By Tom Davidson Herald Staff Writer

FARRELL — Some people like the sight and sound of driving on the red brick streets of Farrell.  

Those people aren’t on city council.

“We hate them,” Councilwoman Stephanie Sheffield said Monday, during a two-hour council meeting that included a lengthy discussion before a $131,802 street paving project was approved by a 4-3 vote.

Mayor Olive McKeithan agreed.

“Some of those brick streets need to be repaved,” she said Tuesday in City Manager Michael Ceci’s office.

Ceci had thought people liked the brick streets as a reminder of yesteryear, but that sentiment isn’t felt by the powers-that-be in Farrell anymore, McKeithan said.

“It wasn’t my intent to start a battle over one part of town over another,” Ceci said.

Some council members Monday questioned the paving contract, which will pave portions of the asphalt streets on the Farrell hilltop instead of smoothing over the brick streets on the city’s hillside.

Councilwoman Kim Doss noted the list includes streets “uptown” – atop the hill that defines the city and divides it by race and income levels.

“I just think we need to focus on the whole city,” Doss said.

A divided council awarded the contract to Protech Inc., New Castle. Council also approved Protech’s bid of $23,766 to mill, resurface and seal the municipal complex parking lot.

The project will use some of the city’s state liquid fuels allocation to pave:

ä 685 feet of the asphalt of Julia Boulevard from Selina Boulevard to the Hermitage line.

ä 340 feet of the asphalt of Farrell Terrace from Shenango to Park Avenue.

ä 350 feet of the asphalt of Pennsylvania Avenue from Negley to Bond Street.

ä 680 feet of the asphalt of Beechwood Avenue from Webster to Union Street.

ä 325 feet of the asphalt of Shenango Boulevard from Farrell Terrace to Roemer Boulevard.

ä paving over 340 feet of the brick of Bond Street from Hamilton to Fruit Avenue.

City Manager Michael Ceci and Fire Chief Joe Santell defended selection of the streets to be paved.

“We’re doing streets that need to be done,” Santell said.

Ceci noted the city has been saving Community Development Block Grant money for several years to improve streets in low-income areas – many of which are paved with bricks.

CDBG cash must be spent in low-income areas, while liquid fuels money can be spent anywhere, Ceci said. That’s the reason the city targeted the streets in the project, he said.

Councilman Eugene Pacsi agreed with Ceci and Santell’s plan.

“You have to be able to use your money wisely,” Pacsi said. “You have to use liquid fuels where you can’t use CDBG.”

“The goal is to get as much done as possible,” Ceci said. “I’d like to think Joe (Santell) has the experience and you hired me to spend money the best way possible.”

Councilwomen Doss and Sheffield, along with Councilwoman Annette Morrison voted against the measure while Pacsi, McKeithan and councilmen Robert Burich and Stephen Bennefield voted for it.

Ceci reiterated to those who thought some of the city’s brick streets should be given a priority that they will be considered when the city allots its CDBG money next February.

“I think everyone is committed to using the CDBG as quickly as we can,” Pacsi said.

 

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