Charleroi donating playground equipment to school

Charleroi Borough Council put a hold on the sale of playground items until a preschool program can take its pick from the pile.

Mayor Ed Paluso on Thursday evening asked council to table a motion to advertise for the sale of new and used playground equipment and instead donate the recreational items and apparatus to a Head Start program in the community.

'I think it would be a nice gesture from the borough,' said the mayor, who will meet with representatives from the federally-funded program to determine what equipment they are interested in receiving.

The borough is currently in the process of renovating its four community parks. Council member Mary Ann Uhal said the borough is expecting $30,000 in the form of a Department of Conservation and National Resources matching grant to complete the second phase of the park project. Phase two will include landscaping and fencing.

'I'm really excited about getting this done before the end of summer,' said Uhal. 'We've waited a long time to do this, about two or three years now.'

In December, council approved approximately $32,000 for play curbs and safety surfaces for the $67,000 restoration project. Uhal said workers are currently removing the old equipment and grading the playground surfaces and resurfacing the basketball courts. According to the council member, the parks have not been revamped since 1976.

'We want to do them up nice,' she noted.

In another matter, Uhal also expressed urgency in obtaining proper authorization to tear down an unsafe structure on Meadow Avenue.

'It's absolutely ridiculous,' said Uhal. 'You have children playing around up there. I'm afraid for the safety of these children.'

According to Uhal, the holdup is due to a transfer of ownership that apparently took place even though a lien was attached to the building.

Also during the regular monthly meeting, Councilman Frank Frascatore announced the borough received three first-place honors at the Washington County Beautification Awards Program held March 29 at Washington & Jefferson College. He said Charleroi took first in both beautification and entranceway in the municipal category and resident Nikki Sheppick captured top honors for her entry in the individual group.

Starting Monday, April 16, street department supervisor Tom Santoro announced spring street sweeping will begin at 3 a.m., and residents are asked to watch for scheduling signs.

In other action, council: