Charleroi discusses hiring street employees and moratoriums

By TAYLOR BROWN
tbrown@yourmvi.com
Charleroi Council’s work session meeting Wednesday night drew a crowd as a lengthy agenda included a few contradictory topics up for discussion: a potential moratorium on hiring and a request to hire new street department employees.
Council President Frank Paterra proposed the moratorium as the borough prepares for new council members to take office next year.
Personnel committee chairman Larry Celaschi requested it be placed on the agenda and voted on next week that they hire new street laborers and a foreman.
As most municipalities are preparing new budgets for the coming year, two scheduled budget meetings have both been postponed in Charleroi.
Council is also in the midst of deciding how to invest the first payment from the Authority of the Borough of Charleroi for the purchase of the borough’s sewer lines, dealing with an outstanding bill due to the third party law firm hired to help negotiate the ABC deal, and dealing with other important decisions in the coming months.
Paterra said ahead of Wednesday’s meeting that he wanted to freeze spending and hiring until a new council is elected. He also wants to create an advisory board with all candidates on the ballot so that they are included in important council decisions.

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