Charleroi council opts to hire new engineering firm

By TAYLOR BROWN
Senior Reporter
tbrown@yourmvi.com
In a nearly split vote, Charleroi Borough council decided to hire a new engineering firm on Wednesday.
Four different firms were interviewed on Monday by Councilmen Larry Celaschi and Joe Smith.
Other council members were invited to participate in the interviews, but were unable to attend due to scheduling conflicts.
After interviewing representatives from the borough’s current firm, Remington & Veronica Engineers (RVE), as well as from KLH Engineers Inc., K2 Engineering Inc., and Penn E&R, Smith and Celaschi recommended they stick with RVE.
After some discussion at last night’s meeting, Smith nominated RVE for the job, while Councilman Tom Santoro nominated K2 for the job.
New council members who took office in January, including President Kristin Hopkins-Calcek, Robert Whiten Jr. and Santoro, as well as incumbent and current vice president Jerry Jericho, have at times questioned the cost of RVE’s services.
K2 was selected in a 4-3 vote with Hopkins-Calcek, Jericho, Whiten and Santoro voting yes. Celaschi, Smith and Councilman Paul Pivovarnik voted against the move.
K2 Engineering has offices in Uniontown and Bellaire, Ohio.
This year, the borough budgeted $55,000 for engineering costs, about $5,000 less than was budgeted in 2023.
Due to MS4 compliance and other contracts that needed to be negotiated, the borough paid nearly double that to RVE last year.

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