Glassport eyes alternatives to trick-or-treating

It may be replaced with trunk or treat or a community event.

Citing dwindling participation, the borough of Glassport is considering doing away with door-to-door trick-or-treating.

At Tuesdays workshop meeting, council members said many streets in the borough have only “one or two lights” for children to visit.

Officials are considering a trunk or treat alternative. The community-based Halloween event allows children to retrieve candy from trunks of cars in a centralized location, such as a school or church parking lot. Councilman Dave Kowalski noted that “safety reasons” is another factor.

“I’d love to have it here (at the municipal building)” Council President Anthony Colecchi said.

A discussion led by Borough Manager Elaina Skiba raised a number of possible sites, including Glassport Honor Roll Park. The former high school football field was also considered, but council agreed that geese have largely taken over that land.

Other ideas, such as having a larger community event including music and other activities are being considered. Having a trunk or treat along with a designated 6-8 p.m. door-to-door campaign may also happen.

Also Tuesday, council discussed applying liens on a couple of properties that have more than $30,000 in delinquent sewage taxes. According to Skiba, 601 Indiana Ave. is $17,576 in arrears and 712 Ohio Ave. is $14,000 and qualifies to have liens accessed and be put up for Allegheny County Sheriff sale.

According to online records, both multi-family residential properties are behind on Allegheny County real estate taxes as well.

Skiba told council that the owner of 601 Indiana Ave. asked about a settlement in an attempt to sell the property, but officials weren’t interested.

Solicitor Falco A. Muscante told council that Sheriff sales are possible, but that doesn’t mean that properties sell “dollar for dollar” or at market value. And the sheriff sales couldn’t take place unless the liens were filed.

Muscante said borough officials would need a game plan because any property made available during the sheriff sales would need to attract buyers.

Skiba said 10 properties in the borough “are all viable” for sheriff sale, adding, “All are occupied and two have squatters.”

Homeowners have passed away, and some people live in the properties.

“There’s not incentive to pay the house isn’t theirs,” Skiba added.

Officials say it’s important to get those properties back on the tax rolls.

Councilman Bob Miskanin noted that a recent clean-up behind the borough building picked up “two truck loads of garbage” and evidence of squatters “living there.” Colecchi said there was office equipment in the area “for years.”

Miskanin also noted that residents are leaving televisions at the Public Works building. He urged residents to not leave electronics there, as security cameras are soon to be installed.

Skiba said the borough will be accepting bids for garbage service soon and may ask for pricing that includes electronics and tire removal.

Borough officials are also waiting to hear from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection as Waste Management has officially closed Kelly Run and they need a new destination for sludge landfills. She said they have applied to locations in Westmoreland County and Monroeville.

At a voting meeting held before the workshop meeting, council approved a Community Benefit Trust application for senior center utility upgrades, equipment for Ninth Street Park and renovations to the community center area of the borough building.

They also accepted a motion to ratify entering into a contract with Hufnagel Excavating for emergency sewer repair work due to a collapsed sewer in the 500 block of Spruce Alley. Officials say the work was deemed an emergency by the Allegheny County Health Department.

Council ratified a concurring resolution for the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County for a GEDTF grant for $177,980 for windows throughout the borough building, and agreed to close Monongahela Avenue from Fourth to Seventh Streets for the rescheduled Classic Car Show Sept. 21.