Arnold adds 2 police officers to force

Two new police officers will be patrolling Arnold's streets soon.

Council on Tuesday night hired Nick Rutkowski as a full-time officer and Robert J. Haus as a part-time officer at a maximum of 32 hours per week.

Wages for the officers were budgeted since the department was down two officers from 2016, according to Mayor Karen Peconi.

City Manager George Hayfield was concerned that the overtime costs had exceeded $100,000 for the year, as the department compensated for the staff vacancy.

“I'm not putting my officers on a one-man shift,” Peconi said. “We've had officers running double shifts.”

Rutkowski will start his tenure at about $16 per hour, while Haus will be paid $14.63.

Medical marijuana

Solicitor David Regoli told council that it should look into amending an ordinance in the event the city is considered for a marijuana repository.

“The zoning we have looks to permit it,” Regoli said. “But we need to put it on the horizon in case somebody asks. There are security restrictions and tight controls on this type of business.”

This use would be confined to industrial areas such as the Schreiber Industrial Park or the area adjacent to Dr. Thomas Boulevard.

Regoli noted that the approved marijuana areas thus far have been mostly in economically depressed areas.

Marijuana for medical purposes, now legal in Pennsylvania, is grown then put through a process where it eventually becomes an oil.

Council didn't take any action Tuesday.

In other business

• Chris O' Leath of the fire department reminded residents not to drive over fire hoses while a fire is being fought.

He cited an incident recently in which a motorist ran over a hose while a fire was being attended to on Richmond Street.

The hose was broken and the motorist was cited.

“And when there is a fire, please stay back from the scene,” O' Leath said.

• City Engineer Mark Gera said the sewer replacement project on Ivy Alley should be done by the end of the month.

The sewer is being replaced on Ivy between Drey and 16th streets with $132,500 provided by the federal Community Development Block Grant program.

The demolition of 1537 and 1539 Fifth Ave., also funded by a CDBG grant, should also be done by the end of July.

A.P. Wise Excavating of Butler is doing that work for $71,000.

• A new business will be coming to Arnold.

A dog grooming shop will open at the former Suzy's Market along Drey Street once occupancy and other paperwork is completed.

• Councilman Bill Charlton expressed his condolences for the loss of Freeport International Baseball Invitational founder Sonny Westerman, who died on July 8.

Westerman and his committee had worked with Arnold officials for years to schedule games at the 18th Street Field.

Charlton said games will be held there from July 19-21 at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. each day.

George Guido is a freelance writer.