Sewickley Herald

              A Tradition Since 1903
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Serving Aleppo, Bell Acres, Edgeworth, Glenfield, Haysville, Leet, Leetsdale, Osborne, Sewicldey, Sewickley Heights, SewickleyHills
and studenfs of Quaker VaRey Spedolty Designs. See Page 11.
INSIDE
If you hove a favorite mediant, business or swvke, you ton vote for them on this year's Readers (hoke ballot. SeePage 16.
SPORTS
Quaker Volley defeated Sewkkley Academy4-I fas* Monday of the Island Sports Center. For more on the rivalry, see Poge 29.
Local News...............2
Opinion...................6
Tempo....................13
School..................21
Obituaries............26-28
Sports.................  29
Real Estate............-33
DEEP FREEZE
THE GRAY waters of the Ohio River have gone white as the temperatures plummet. Only barge paths break the surface of the January ice.
Photo by Tim Edmonson
SEW8CKIEY
Debate stirs first 2004 meeting
By Jon Paul Creese___________;______________
Staff writer___;____________________________
Differences between council members may be the sign of a well-balanced board, as was the case at last week’s Sewickley Borough meeting.
Reginald Bridges, a lawyer who joined the council this year, was adamant as he asserted members rushed to fill a vacancy without adequately informing the public.
“ (The announcement for the vacancy) came out in the Herald as an article one day prior (to the deadline), and it came out in the Times five days prior,” Bridges said “lb me, that was not adequate notice”
Once he learned of the short timeline, Bridges hurriedly rounded up five hopefuls in Ward 3.
The confusion on how to properly submit an application left Bridges with the impression
that council, specifically Don Kipke, president, wanted to appoint William Comman.
“I felt (Comman) had the support of the Ward,” Kipke said, noting that Comman ran against Tarry Brennan in November (who was elected but resigned due to health problems) and received 47 percent of the votes. “It was the will of council to put him in.”
Other council members agreed.
“Bill had gone through die primary process and elections,” said Matthew MacDonald, “He put his face out there, and he put his name out there.
“It’s a Ward 3 position and the voters of Ward 3 were right there with Bill,” he continued. “I didn’t think it was my position to override the voters.”
Robert Patterson Sr. and C. Michael Rush, ------------------------- Contlniiod on Pag* 3
FIRE SERVICE
Heights settles contract with Aleppo VFD
By Rachel Weaver___________
Staff writer__
Aleppo Fire Department will provide service to Sewickley Heights Borough under a $45,000 .contract, which started Jan. 1, this year.
Sewickley Heights did not renew its 10-year agreement with Sewickley Borough at the end of 2003 for use of the Cochran Hose Co. when Sewickley asked for $52,000 a year with a 3.5 percent in-crease based on assessed value.
The 5-year contract with Aleppo provides for a 2 percent increase each year.
Under the contact, the department received Sewickley Heights’ $15,000 of allocated relief money from the state a ’97 Ford pickup and a Dodge Power Wagon.
“We’re working on the specifications for a tanker track for Aleppo Township,” said Bill Davis Jr., Aleppo fire Chief.
The tanker truck is in the written contract and will be in service by January 2005.
Davis bases the cost of fire service on the municipality's populations. With approximately 1,200 people in its 2 square miles, Aleppo Township pays $60,000 for fire services.
Sewicldey Heights is home to 981residents in its 9 square miles and has an assessed value of $222 million.
“It’s five times the area of Aleppo Township. How does Aleppo pay more than Sewickley Heights,” asked Oliver Poppett-berg, Aleppo board president at tiie board meeting last week.
Contract negotiations took place between Sewickley Heights --------- Contiaaod on Pag* 9
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