Schiano Re-Appointed to Kittanning Borough Council

by Jonathan Weaver

To fill the Kittanning Borough seat vacant after Councilman Randy Cloak’s resignation, Borough Council members unanimously put their faith into a former local leader.

By a 7-0 vote, former Councilman (and Council President) Chris Schiano was appointed to fill Cloak’s 2nd Ward vacancy after Cloak announced his intentions to move to the 4th Ward in April.

Council Vice-President Kim Fox motioned for Schiano’s appointment over Rebecca Street interested resident Tabitha Shafer before Fox’s vote was quickly seconded by President Pro-Tempe David Croyle.

“I know Tabitha very well, and I liked her also, but I just think (with) the years of experience and knowledge, we needed to bring him back,” Fox said. “In the years as Council President and Finance, he was involved in all the committees…all of that adds up,” Fox said.

Croyle – who spoke with both interested candidates before the vote - also said Schiano’s experience led to his vote.

Croyle has had philosophical differences with Schiano when he previously
served on council, but he said that didn’t stand in the way of the
nomination.

“I don’t nominate someone because we share the same opinions. I nominate
them because I believe they can represent their ward and the people of
Kittanning Borough.”

Schiano – who took his council seat about 7:55PM after being sworn in by Mayor Kirk Atwood - was beaten by 25 votes at the polls by Cloak in the November 2013 General Election, but said that inspired him to try again.

“There was an opening and I thought I could give it another try,” Schiano said. “I’m aware that I lost the last election 98-68. In my mind, I didn’t lose by 30 votes – I lost by 90 votes.

I want to work hard to regain the confidence of the people in the 2nd Ward.”

Schiano was Kittanning Borough Council President from May 2011 until the beginning of 2014.
During other Borough business last night, County Planning Division Director Jennifer Bellas and Bill Braun of Senate Engineering gave an extensive overview of the pending Jacob Street paving project before the project is bid out by PennDOT next month.

“In the recent weeks, we’ve discussed the PennDOT project and indicated there is a 12-week time period between when PennDOT opens the bids until they permit you with a notice to proceed. We had a conference call with PennDOT on Friday, and they requested the Borough send them a letter requesting the 12 weeks (being reduced) to six,” Bellas said.

Bellas wrote a draft copy of that letter, indicating that the 12 week delay wouldn’t allow the paving during the 2015 summer paving season.

The July 6th borough council meeting may end up being recessed, however, at the conclusion of the proposed agenda to allow for a special meeting later during the middle of next month to award that contract.

But, that still leaves little time potentially for error or weather delay, Braun added.

“It puts us right on the bubble there for paving, the end of September,” Braun said. “But, they can give us an extension if the weather’s nice until the middle of October.”

The lowest-responsible bidding contractor will mill approximately four-and-a-half inches deep and repair four ADA ramps during the six-week project

“As long as we can make it safe, there shouldn’t be any problem extending the contract til the following year,” Braun said.

In a response to Councilman Croyle – who thought the roadway was only getting worse and was concerned about liability issues - , Braun explained that two 12-inch pipes disconnected from another line that could be causing the road to sink.

“That’s the whole reason for digging it out -we’re going to plug the end of those pipes with about five feet of concrete,” Braun said. “If there’s something else down there that we think maybe caused it, then we’ll have to address that at that time.

“If what I was told is correct, I don’t think there’s any chance of an imminent collapse – just material slowly backing up out of those pipes. The best information from what we have is what we’re going by.”

Senate Engineering also has to receive a right-of-way clearance for the paving before People’s Gas relocates a four-inch gas line that extends into Jacob Street – even though the gas company only allegedly recently mentioned the work after a letter was written by Bellas March 6.

“Every indication up until now was that they weren’t going to be doing anything,” Braun said.

Councilman Croyle found it “unbelievable,” and hoped People’s Gas would be accountable for additional money needing to be spent on the paving project if the gas line relocation delays PennDOT’s completion.

Jacob Street will be closed to pedestrians and motorists for a week during the milling and paving.

Braun hoped PennDOT would work with local businesses after Fox and Bellas both were concerned with how it would affect customer and delivery traffic).

Emergency vehicles would also have to reverse onto South Water or South Jefferson Streets as not to interfere with the project.

Council members also unanimously approved a more-than $6,000 pay estimate to Senate Engineering for designs for the Jacob Street project

There will be a Community Development Block Grant public needs hearing at 6:30PM before next month’s meeting as well – when Bellas recommended council members suggest the remaining ADA ramps