Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Allegheny County Judge R. Stanton Wettick Jr. signed a court order extending the Dec. 31 deadline for municipalities to pass 2013 budgets.
Municipalities in Allegheny County have been granted a deadline extension to adopt their 2013 budgets and set property tax rates. Bell Acres Council approved a $1.46 million 2013 budget during its regular meeting on Monday, several hours after Allegheny County Judge R. Stanton Wettick Jr. signed and issued an official court order extending the Dec. 31 deadline to Jan. 31 for taxing bodies to adopt 2013 budgets and set millage rates. Borough Solicitor Robert Max Junker said the deadline was changed after lawyers raised issue on behalf of municipalities working to finalize budgets before the end of the year with uncertainty regarding property assessment appeals. “The judge recognized that people are being asked to develop budgets and …
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Several groups Tuesday filed briefs in support of the group of communities, medical doctor and nonprofit that have challenged Act 13.
A group of environmental and community planning organizations, as well as government entities, filed a series of Amicus Briefs with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Tuesday in support of communities’ rights to making zoning decisions about Marcellus Shale play within their borders. The groups—including the Natural Resources Defense Council, Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association, the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs, the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors, the Pittsburgh City Council, Mountain Watershed Association, and Earthjustice—filed in support of a Commonwealth Court decision that found portions of Act 13 unconstitutional. The groups filing today join a broad spectrum of entities from …
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Ray Zassick will retire on Nov. 1.
Bell Acres Council has accepted the retirement of a longtime public works employee, with regret. Ray Zassick delivered a letter to the borough indicating his plans to retire on Nov. 1. “Ray has been with us forever,” said Councilman Philip Ewanko, who on Monday night made the motion as public works committee chairman to accept Zassick's retirement. “It's with great regret,” Ewanko said. Council President Dennis Young said Zassick is a friend who has worked at least 30 years on the public works department and previously served with the Big Sewickley Creek Volunteer Fire Department. Council approved the hiring of Steve Withrow as a full-time public works employee starting on Nov. 1. Withrow’s starting pay rate will remain at $20.99 per hour…
40.588231
-80.169936
Bell Acres Borough Road Department
1151 Campmeeting Rd, Sewickley, PA
/articles/longtime-bell-acres-public-works-employee-plans-retirement
1258589
/locations/7615224
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Council is working to demolish a boarded-up, vacant home at Pine Manor.
Bell Acres Council is one step closer to tearing down a blighted house at Pine Manor. Council approved a $6,800 contract Monday night with A.W. McNabb LLC to demolish 105 Pine Manor. The Burgettstown-based company offered the lower of two bids, with the other coming in at $9,700. Bell Acres received grant funding from the Quaker Valley Council of Governments to move forward with the demolition of the boarded-up two-story house. The structure sits off Camp Meeting Road at the entrance of Pine Manor, a private roadway in Bell Acres. Council Vice President David Renfrew said the property has been “an eyesore for the borough” for years. Once demolished, he hopes Bell Acres is able to get the title cleared so the property isn’t a complete loss …
40.583686
-80.19443
104 Pine Mnr, Sewickley, PA
/articles/bell-acres-approves-contract-to-demolish-vacant-eyesore
/locations/7398490
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
The borough is working under a consent agreement to complete a list of measures.
Bell Acres Council on Monday approved a $30,000 short-term note to assist the municipal authority as it works to comply with a consent order agreement with the Allegheny County Health Department. Borough Manager Charles Kulbacki said the funds were needed to help cover engineering and audit costs, and would come from the borough’s contingency fund. The contingency fund usually is used to cover unexpected expenses that arise. Council Vice President David Renfrew, municipal authority chairman, said the money would be repaid this summer when the authority receives its bond issue. The municipal authority is under a consent order to address its four aging sewage treatment plants and has been working with the Allegheny County Health Department …
40.605772
-80.166579
Big Sewickley Creek Volunteer Fire Department
1850 Big Sewickley Creek Rd, Sewickley, PA
/articles/sewage-project-remains-on-schedule-in-bell-acres
1838145
/locations/6587072
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
As part of the agreement, the borough’s sewage plants will be replaced with pump stations.
The Bell Acres Municipal Authority has entered into an agreement with the Allegheny County Health Department to improve sewage treatment in the borough. Council Vice President David Renfrew, municipal authority chairman, said Monday the health department set the consent agreement to begin on Feb. 1, which started the clock on a list of priority measures that have to be completed during the next two months. "We're moving toward it," Renfrew said. The borough is under a consent order to address its four aging sewage treatment plants. As part of the agreement, the borough’s four sewage plants will be replaced with pump stations, a multi-million dollar project that isn’t expected to begin until later this year. Renfrew said sewage would be …
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Residents tax bills will remain the same -- for now.
Bell Acres Council approved a final $1.439 million budget for 2012 that does not include a tax increase. The board voted, 6-0, in favor of the budget, which keeps the millage rate at 5 mills. Councilman David Renfrew was absent. At 5 mills, a homeowner with a property assessed at $100,000 will continue to pay $500 in taxes next year. In addition, council Monday night approved a four-year public works contract that includes 3 percent raises the first two years followed by 2 percent raises in the last two years. The contract is effective Jan. 1 and expires Dec. 31, 2015. There are three full-time public works employees. “We have a great group of employees and a good council,” said Bell Acres Manager Charles Kulbacki. As for the budget, …
40.605772
-80.166579
Big Sewickley Creek Volunteer Fire Department
1850 Big Sewickley Creek Rd, Sewickley, PA
/articles/bell-acres-council-approves-2012-budget-with-no-tax-increase
1838145
/locations/6003471
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Solicitors must pay a $150 permit fee, which covers a criminal background check and permit-preparation costs, among other rules.
Bell Acres Council unanimously approved a solicitation ordinance Monday that requires people to apply for a permit before going door to door. The new ordinance also prevents strangers from going to residences where “no solicitation” signs are posted. Councilman Kenneth Alvania made the motion and Councilman Chris Abell moved to second it before the board approved the measure 6-0. Councilman Robert Powner was absent. Borough officials say the ordinance protects and assures the public that people who are soliciting in their neighborhood have been checked out in advance. Solicitors must pay a $150 permit fee, which covers the costs of a criminal background check and permit preparation. Permits containing the name and address of the person …
40.59025
-80.16843
Bell Acres Borough Building
1153 Camp Meeting Rd, Sewickley, PA
/articles/bell-acres-council-approves-new-solicitation-ordinance
1838179
/locations/5809785
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Council's proposed amendment would require solicitors to submit to criminal background checks.
Solicitors soon will need a permit if they plan to go door to door in Bell Acres. On Monday, Bell Acres Council voted to advertise an amendment to borough ordinances that addresses solicitation. Councilman Robert Powner made the motion, which was seconded by Councilman Ken Alvania. Council will vote next month on the amendment, which if approved would require solicitors to fill out a permit application and pay a $150 fee to cover a criminal background check and permit-preparation costs. Door-to-door solicitation would be limited to the hours of 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., but residences and businesses with “no solicitation” signs posted would be off-limits. Solicitors would not be permitted after 5 p.m. to visit places that post “no evening …
40.59025
-80.16843
Bell Acres Borough Building
1153 Camp Meeting Rd, Sewickley, PA
/articles/bell-acres-looks-to-regulate-door-to-door-solicitation
1838179
/locations/5568901
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Borough officials say the Quaker Valley Recreation Association is rectifying environmental issues.
A community recreation organization working to correct environmental issues at the athletic fields in Bell Acres is nearing home base. Councilman Chris Abell, chairman of government and legislation, said Monday night the progress made by the Quaker Valley Recreation Association at the ball fields is "good news." QVRA has been working to develop the fields at Camp Meeting and Fern Hollow roads, where an Allegheny County Conservation District inspection found violations earlier this year. Council met with QVRA representatives in July to discuss concerns that primarily involved retention pond problems, such as runoff and sediment discharges. QVRA assured the borough the compliance issues were being rectified. Abell told fellow council members…
40.59018
-80.14907
Campmeeting Rd & Fern Hollow Rd, Sewickley, PA
/articles/progress-at-athletic-fields-satisfies-bell-acres-council
/locations/5346174
Larissa Dudkiewicz
9:52 am on Wednesday, October 12, 2011
I agree. It's better safe than sorry. more ›