Police chief reports 17 ICE arrests in Glassport; new police officers hired

Shawn DeVerse told council that agents will be returning to the borough.

By THOMAS LETURGEY
For the MVI

Glassport Police Chief Shawn DeVerse told council and residents that Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations have been in the borough twice over the past two weeks, apprehending 17 people.

“They are coming back,” DeVerse said during Tuesday night’s council meeting. “I just want to make it clear. There’s nothing we can do about it. We can’t tell them no.”

He said the agents have spent a total of about four hours in the borough.

Since ICE ramped up operations in Western Pennsylvania and across the country, some municipalities have made public statements about the agency’s actions. Glassport has not made an official declaration.

DeVerse said representatives from the federal agency usually contact him the night before they descend upon the borough.

“There’s not much of a head’s up,” he added. “They were pretty active Monday.

“They are federal agents; we are required to cooperate. We’re not going to go out and initiate things for them, because we’re not. But if they come in to do their job, they’re going to do their job.”

DeVerse said officers have proper paperwork, lists of who they are looking for, dates of birth and technology to scan facial recognition.

“All 17 were illegal,” he said.

DeVerse said ICE agents are not going to churches or schools. He also said if agents capture an entire family, they are required to have a court order “and they will do it at home.”

Building condemned, officers hired

As a follow-up to last week’s meeting concerning a crumbling building at 709 Monongahela Ave., Borough Manager Elaine Skiba reported that officials still have been unsuccessful in contacting the owner of the former Chuggers Bar.

Glassport Borough Officials say last week’s fire at the corner of 8th Street and Ohio Avenue have resulted in 800 and 802 Avenue being declared a total loss. Photo by Thomas Leturgey.

She said Glassport has reached out to Allegheny County officials and have “received legal clearance” to demolish the building the borough recently condemned and called “a blight and dangerous.”

“We need to get that building down ASAP,” Skiba said, noting that parts of Monongahela Avenue remain blocked off due to the building’s condition.

Council, with Mark Stecak absent, approved a motion to approve a slums and blight resolution, declaring the property a public nuisance. Officials also approved a concurring resolution to apply for $12,700 from Allegheny County Economic Development to demolish the building and authorizing Steel Rivers COG to file all the required paperwork.

Council addressed last week’s multiple structure fire at the corner of Ohio Avenue and Eighth Street. Skiba said the owner of 800 Ohio “doesn’t have insurance on that property” and there may be a legal battle between that property and the owner of 802 Ohio. The building inspector has determined that both structures are a total loss.

Council accepted the resignations of officers Marko Makovic and Stephano Faiello. Three new officers were hired as Mayor Keith DiMarco swore in Nicholas Zocco, Nataly Humphrey and Robert Patton, with their friends and family looking on.

Council President Anthony Colecchi introduced Surya Lee, community outreach coordinator for Tree Pittsburgh. She said the organization will host a free education seminar and workshop in the borough.

“We’re working on getting folks certified to be tree tenders,” she said. “(There’s) a certificate. You have to go through a couple of different modules with our education team and then you can be certified to care for trees.”

She also told the borough that Tree Pittsburgh can provide funding to help remove mature trees that may have fallen during last week’s heavy winds. Residents can contact the borough for more information.

As part of his Crime Watch Parks & Recreation, GDC report, Councilman Dave Kowalski said the borough is “working on having the Ninth Street Park unlocked during the day so the kids have an area to play. Signs will be posted for no dogs allowed.”

Councilman Bob Miskanin reported that officials have met with engineers to discuss the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection response to their request of changes to the consent order and agreement for the sewage plant. He said their responses have been also sent to state Sen. Nick Pisciottano and state Rep. John Inglis for their input.

Councilwoman Jennifer Stockett said the contract with Tobey Karg Service for HVAC upgrades to the borough building has been signed and a notice to proceed has been issued.

“The work will begin soon,” she said. The project, which is expected to complete the borough building’s HVAC system, will be funded through a Local Share Account grant.

She added the notice to proceed has been given to Dun Rite to start the LED light replacement in the Borough Building and will be funded with a GEDTF grant.

Council approved the final payment to GrahamBoys LLC for renovations to the Police Station.

Elaine Skiba reported that Pisciottano and Inglis have put the borough in touch with Street Dog Coalition, a free dog care clinic. She will have more information at a later date, but the clinic will likely be held at the borough building.

Council approved grant applications totaling $729,000 for paving several streets. They were awarded $75,000. Skiba said engineers feel they should be able to pave Sixth Street from Vermont to Michigan streets with the funds. They are working on details and will get it out to bid.

Engineers are continuing to work on the specifications for the $418,500 Small Water and Sewer grant they were awarded for several areas of run-off in the borough.

Colecchi also said the food bank is at the fire hall from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on the first Monday of each month.