Charleroi OKs changes to public participation at council meetings

By TAYLOR BROWN
tbrown@yourmvi.com
Charleroi Council adopted a new ordinance Wednesday that aims to promote a more healthy way of communicating between officials and residents.
The ordinance outlines public meeting policies and is based on a similar policy used in Crawford County.
Borough Manager Matt Staniszewski gave a final reading of the ordinance Wednesday before council voted to approve it.
The ordinance was approved unanimously by Paterra, Paul Pivovarnik, Larry Celaschi, Joe Smith and Randy DiPiazza. Council members Nancy Ellis and Jerry Jericho were absent.
President Frank Paterra, asked Staniszewski to elaborate on the ordinance for those in attendance.
He said the ordinance will streamline the public participation process — while recognizing the importance of public participation at meetings.
“We want to ensure great communication and provide people an opportunity to voice their concerns,” Staniszewski said. “This (ordinance) provides a cleaner process and outlines the public decorum we need when we hold these types of meetings.”
Staniszewski said a large part of the ordinance is already outlined in a paragraph concerning public participation, including on the agenda.
The ordinance will permit any resident, taxpaying business owner, nonprofit organization, federal, state or municipal representatives and Charleroi vendors, contracted services and other service providers to “comment on any and all Charleroi Borough matters relative to official action or deliberation before the Council prior to final action by the Council at publicly advertised regular (or business) meetings of the Borough of Charleroi.”

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