Finleyville Council members have decided that the borough initially will pay the costs to replace broken windows in an abandoned building at Washington Avenue and Short Street. Borough Solicitor Timothy R. Berggren told council at a meeting Wednesday the empty building belongs to L.M. Frye Funeral Home Inc. of Monongahela. He said he found records dating to the late 1970s showing the owners as Lewis M. and Dorothy Frye. Mayor Michael M. Kutsek said he’s had several cordial discussions with Patrick Frye, another family member, about the three 8-by-10 foot broken windows in the storefront. ‘It’s been at least two years that we’ve been asking the Fryes to fix this problem,’ Kutsek said. Patrick Frye, contacted later, said he has a crew working on the roof of the vacant building. The current director of the funeral home said council’s decision to expedite work on the building seems unnecessary. He said he plans to rent the building to retailers, but can’t say when the building improvements will be complete. Berggren suggested at the meeting that the borough advertise and accept the low bid for the window replacements, and in a 4-0 vote members Irene Wietrzykowski, Irene A. Allridge, Jessie Seliga and Jack Crayton agreed. Council member Pat Garland was not present. Berggren said a notice will be sent to the Frye business, seeking to recoup the costs. He said the borough could file a lien against the property for the amount. As of last week, there were large chunks and shards of glass scattered along the sidewalk in front of the building, which spans nearly an entire block. It has been used in the past as a retail building. Kutsek said improving the building is a matter of public safety first, and beautification second. In other matters, council established regular borough office hours. The office was unmanned for about a month because of a change in personnel, according to Kutsek. Secretary and treasurer Sandy Mayak’s new hours are 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, and by appointment as needed.

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