Rostraver ratifies police contract

By CHRISTINE HAINES
chaines@yourmvi.com

Nearly three months after signing a memorandum of understanding for a new three-year contract with the Rostraver Township Police Department, the agreement was formally ratified by the commissioners.
“It took a little bit of time for their attorney to review, then it had to go back and forth,” said commissioner’s board President John Lorenzo. “We signed the memorandum of understanding in December.”
The agreement includes a 10% pay raise for officers divided over the life of the contract, increases in the uniform allowance and hourly increases for shift differential.
The commissioners also approved the Easter egg hunt April 3 at DiVirgilio Park. The socially-distanced event will begin at 1 p.m.
Some of the buckets will contain special eggs containing tickets for special prizes including bicycles.
The commissioners approved the first disbursement from the newly-created Rostraver Township Fire Account. The Rostraver Township No. 1 (Webster) Volunteer Fire Department was approved for $64,665 to be used toward its fire truck payment.
Lorenzo said the fire account, funded through a new tax, gives local fire departments a guaranteed source of revenue. In past years, funds for the fire departments came from a $300,000 line item in the township’s general fund.
Commissioner Devin DeRienzo reported the state Department of Environmental Protection has conducted four inspections at the Westmoreland Sanitary Landfill so far this year. During each inspection, state officials noticed mud tracked onto Tyrol Boulevard and indicated it was a violation. Lorenzo said more needs to be done.
“Where’s the penalty phase? In all these reports the violation is noted, but where’s the penalty for it?” Lorenzo said.
The DEP reports indicated that a mitigation plan is in place and should be completed by the end of the year.