Rostraver Township relaxes late fees, penalties

By ERIC SEIVERLING
eseiverling@yourmvi.com
The economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic prompted Rostraver Township commissioners to relax late penalties and fees for payments towards real estate taxes and township services.
At their virtual meeting Wednesday night, commissioners voted unanimously to defer late and penalty fees for garbage services. Commissioners also voted unanimously to extend the discount period for real estate tax payments and extended tax payments without penalty.
Commissioner Henry Boldyzar was absent from the meeting.
The deadline for garbage fee payments, originally set for March 31, has been extended to July 15. For residents who pay garbage fees after July 15, the penalty will be $25, jumping the fee from $150 to $175. For senior citizens, garbage payments made after the new deadline will be assessed an additional $20, raising the fee to $130.
Commissioners also extended the discount period for real estate tax payments until Aug. 31, and extended tax payments without penalty until Dec. 31.
“The delay gives taxpayers a chance to have additional time to make payments due to financial hardship caused by COVID-19,” noted board Chairman John Lorenzo. “The delay is not expected to cause a cash flow problem for the township. We are on par with the 2019 tax numbers. We are in unchartered water and do not expect a cash flow problem due to COVID-19. Any potential adverse effects might be seen in the 4th quarter or the beginning of 2021. Sixty- seven percent of our proposed tax budget is already in… for reference in 2019 at this time we had 68% in. Rostraver Township is on solid ground and we are doing well, all things considered.”
In other business, the board voted to remove the three-way stop sign at Concord and Municipal drives.
“We received numerous complaints from residents about it,” Lorenzo said. “We did a traffic study and the stop signs are not needed.”
Commissioners voted to reduce the speed limit on Concord Lane from 35 mph to 25 mph.
The board approved the amendment of a noise ordinance that stood for more than 30 years. The township’s Nuisance Ordinance, adopted in Sept. 1989, allowed noise levels from construction equipment and traffic in the 60 to 70 decibel range from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The amended ordinance now allows noise levels in the same decibel range from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Any noise level in that decibel range to be conducted after 7 p.m. will need a special permit by the township’s zoning officer and will need to qualify as an emergency.
“People need to sleep and relax at reasonable hours and 10 p.m. was far too late to have noise levels in the 60-70 DBA range,” Lorenzo said.