Retiring Arnold, Lower Burrell mayors look back with contrasting views

When January arrives, Arnold Mayor Larry Milito and Lower Burrell Mayor Don Kinosz will no longer lead their cities.

Neither Milito nor Kinosz is seeking re-election.

Two council members in each city have filed petitions for the Democratic mayoral primary: Karen Peconi and Philip McKinley in Arnold; Joseph Grillo and Richard Callender in Lower Burrell.

There are no Republican candidates on the ballot.

McKinley, who was appointed to a vacant two-year council term last year, is running to keep his council seat. Callender's council term expires at the end of the year; he is not on the ballot for council.

Peconi was elected in 2013, which is when Grillo was last re-elected; they will remain on their respective councils if they should lose their mayoral bids.

The mayors appear to be leaving their jobs with contrasting perspectives.

Weary of resistance

Milito, who will have served for just one term, had health problems last year but said that's not the only reason he's exiting public office.

“What made me decide not to run? My family,” he said. “My family and my health.”

He acknowledges the city has big financial problems in carrying a $6 million debt with little help in solving its problems from the state.

He said just as bad are the attitude and resistance to change among some city employees. He said not those in the public works department, which he called a “great group,” but some within the police department, which he oversees, and city hall. He said he has had enough of that.

“The people who work for this community have to want to change it,” Milito said. “Change has to start within and one person just can't do that; it takes a team.

“There are people who have been here long enough to the point where they feel the city owes them something,” he said.

Milito said when his term is up in nine months, he will be out of politics.

“I'm endorsing Phil McKinley,” Milito said. “I think if it goes in any other direction, the city will go backwards.”

Leadership choices

McKinley, 41, owns P&M Pizza and PA Mac Landscaping and Ponds, plus rental property in Arnold.

“I have a lot at stake in investing in the city and in which way the city moves,” he said.

McKinley said he'd be “a good fit” because the mayor is in charge of the police department and he worked as a police officer for nine years — six of those within the Westmoreland County Sheriff's Department.

“So I know police work inside and out,” McKinley said.

McKinley thinks the city has been heading in a better financial direction and is being more responsible with the budget.

Peconi, 63, said she is running because she is a lifelong Arnold resident and loves it.

“I thought that I could do some good,” she said.

“I think as long as you have a lot of heart and are an honest person, are dedicated and a hard worker, I think there are people around you who can guide you in doing a good job,” she said. “There's a staff there at city hall that's been there a long, long time that can help you.”

“I would like to focus in on drugs and getting the city solvent, see what we can do as far as attracting new business,” Peconi said.

A different perspective

Kinosz seems to be on the other end of the spectrum as he leaves office.

“I decided — and it's been general knowledge for several years — when I was elected the last time that this would be my last term,” he said. “I've been in office for four terms, and I have said repeatedly we need to get young people involved. They need to be part of the future.”

He said he has been surrounded by “great people” within the city government. Kinosz notes that during his 16 years as mayor the city improved its parks and services through the public works and police departments, while taxes increased by only 5 mills since 1997.

“I think that is phenomenal,” he said.

Kinosz's biggest disappointment, “it goes without saying, is the inability to fill Wards and Penneys, with whatever should rightfully be in that plot of land. I have spent hundreds of hours with the owners trying to get something in there. I think it should be a mixed-use parcel.”

He said he would be willing to continue working on that goal if the new city administration is interested.

Kinosz, 74, said he strongly believes in a regional approach to local government and will continue to work toward that through the Westmoreland Economic Development Initiative for Growth (WEDIG).

”Without a regional approach to things,” he said, “we are not going to be successful.”

He will continue to serve as chairman of the Westmoreland County Redevelopment Authority and on the board for the county's land bank. Also, he's active in the consulting business he started after he retired from Alcoa.

One thing Kinosz said he won't do is endorse one candidate over the other to be his successor.

“No, that's up to the public,” he said.

Business districts a priority

Joe Grillo, 55, said he is running because he wants to improve business in the city.

“A few years ago, we tried to start a Lower Burrell business association, and I would like to get back to that.”

A former salesman, Grillo thinks he can sell businesses on investing in the city. Along with the Leechburg Road business district, Grillo thinks more needs to be done to develop a better business district along the Greensburg Road (Route 366) corridor.

Callender, 47, said he is running for mayor on a ticket with council candidates Chris Fabry and Chris Koziarski.

Fabry was appointed to fill a vacancy last year, and Koziarski is running for Callender's council seat.

Callender, who is finishing his first term on council, believes the current administration has done a good job leading the city through the recession in good shape compared to other communities. He thinks his experience on council will help him to continue that as mayor.

Solving the empty Burrell Plaza dilemma is a top priority. He said the city has worked relentlessly with the property's owner, The Widewaters Group.

“We have to do something. That has been sitting vacant in the middle of the community for 10 years,” Callender said. “I will work with them as much as they want, but I will also be pushing them to get this problem solved.”

Tom Yerace is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-226-4675 or tyerace@tribweb.com.