Category: News

Beaver Falls Is Considering A Change In Government Structure

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

The city of Beaver Falls announced recently that they will have a question on Pennsylvania’s April primary that asks the following question:

  • “Shall a government study commission of seven members be elected to study the existing form of government of the municipality, to consider the advisability of the adoption of a home rule charter and, if advisable, to draft and to recommend a home rule charter?”

In essence, the city council is allowing the people to vote on starting a commission to investigate the possibility of a switch from third class to home rule charter.

Beaver County Radio sat down with Beaver Falls Financial Manager Kevin Kunselman to discuss this possible change, and he said that the city itself has been looking into this change for some time:

 

The city’s initial investigation was spearheaded by a $70,000 state-awarded grant, which the city matched with 10%. With their knowledge, the city decided to make the move to place the ordinance on the April ballot.

Kunselman stated that one of the favorable parts of home-rule charter is the option for the city to shift a portion of the property tax collection towards locally earned income tax. Moving the unfair burden to the lower income earners which is currently disproportional for paying a higher percentage of their income than do higher wage earners.  Kunselman, also said this will alllow for the opening of part-time positions in local departments:

 

The main goal, however, is to perhaps gain the power of home-rule charter in order to avoid the financial distress of Act 47, which Kunselman believes will take away power from the city and cause a fiscal burden for citizens.

As far as how the public can become involved, Kunselman had these dates available:

 

Anyone over the age of 18 and with 50 petition signatures (petitions can be found at the City Building) will be allowed to participate on the commission if it is voted on.

Aliquippa’s Blight Strategy Plan to be Presented This Week

Aliquippa’s blight stategy plan is scheduled to be presented this week. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano has a preview. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…

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Tony Amadio Named Vice-Chairman of Regional Planning Commission

Beaver County Commissioner Tony Amadio has been named vice-chairman of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, which is a 10-county planning coalition. Amadio will serve with Chairman and Allegheny County executive Rich Fitzgerald, and secretary and treasurer Leslie Osche, a Butler County Commissioner. Amadio was just elected to his fourth term as a commissioner in November.

Ellwood City Medical Center Highway Signs Coming Down

The Ellwood City Medical Center highway signs are coming down. PennDOT says it has removed most of the blue hospital highway signs, posted near the now-closed medical center. The move comes at the request of residents who were worried about motorists being misled by the directional markers.

4-Month-Old Boy Shot, Reported in Stable Condition

INDIANA, Pa. (AP) — Police say a 4-month-old boy was shot in an Indiana County apartment, but the child is expected to survive.State police in Indiana County say officers were sent to the White Township unit shortly before 6:30 a.m. Saturday and found the boy with a single gunshot wound to the upper body.Police say the child’s parents were present at the time and immediately alerted a neighbor, who called 911. The child was taken to Indiana Regional Medical Center and then rushed to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, where he was reported in stable condition. No arrests were immediately made. Police and the county district attorney’s office are investigating.

Ruling on Dismissal Against 1 in Cookout Slaying Expected

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A judge is scheduled to rule today on a motion to dismiss charges against one of two men accused of killing five people and an unborn baby at a suburban Pittsburgh cookout almost four years ago. Thirty-three-year-old Cheron Shelton and 31-year-old Robert Thomas are charged in the March 2016 killings in Pittsburgh’s Wilkinsburg suburb. The attorney for Thomas has sought dismissal of the charges against his client after prosecutors decided against putting a key witness on the stand. Prosecutors have said they plan to seek capital punishment if the defendants are convicted of first-degree murder.

Lengthy Standoff at Pittsburgh Home Leaves Man, Woman Dead

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Authorities say a standoff at a Pittsburgh home ended with a man and a woman dead. Police responded to the home early Monday after receiving a report of a man barricaded inside the residence with a possible hostage. SWAT teams were called to the home and officers were soon able to get inside the residence, where they found a woman dead from a gunshot. But the officers retreated and shot several rounds of gas into the house when the barricaded man refused directives to leave the residence. Officers eventually found the man dead.