NBV extends state of emergency
By JEFF STITT
jstitt@yourmvi.com
North Belle Vernon council unanimously voted during Tuesday night’s virtual meeting to extend its state of emergency declaration through June 30.
Mayor Craig Ambrose and Solicitor Mark Ramsier said the declaration will be “canceled” if Gov. Tom Wolf and his administration move Westmoreland County to the “green phase” of the plan to reopen the state’s economy.
Ambrose and Councilman R.J. Sokol said that as a result of coronavirus mitigation efforts, North Belle Vernon Community Bank Park will likely remain closed until at least June 1.
Ambrose and Sokol will speak with the recreation board over the coming weeks about when to open the park. Ambrose said he would like to explore the possibility of installing hand sanitizer dispensers throughout the park before it reopens.
Ambrose also announced that American Legion Post 659, Belle Vernon Cemetery and the borough have decided to cancel this year’s Memorial Day parade.
“That is one parade I did not want to cancel,” Ambrose said. “I hate having to cancel. … Them guys lost their lives for this county, but we don’t need to lose more lives having it.”
American Legion members plan to hold a small 21-gun salute ceremony on Memorial Day at the cemetery, but the public is not encouraged to attend.
Ambrose and Councilwoman Barbara Day said borough officials will discuss holding a memorial service for veterans in the summertime or after restrictions on public gatherings are lifted.
In other business, council unanimously voted to award a nearly $56,000 contract to Donora-based El Grande Construction for the Vine Street paving project.
Council also awarded a $117,736 contract to Laurel Asphalt for the paving and intersection installation portions of the borough’s streetscape project.
A $72,000 contract was awarded to Schultheis Electric of Latrobe to complete the lighting portion of the streetscape project. The project is being paid for with grant dollars awarded by the state Department of Community and Economic Development. Council Vice President Geoff DeWitt said the borough’s local share amount is $58,829, which will be drawn from the liquid fuels account.
