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SALTSBURG -- Borough Council took a step closer to bringing the community its own skate park at Monday night's meeting.

Council agreed to apply for a grant of up to $25,000 to build a skate park through the Tony Hawk Foundation, sponsored by the professional skate boarder of the same name.

The site for the proposed skate park would likely be where the current basketball court and playground are at the West Penn Trail head near Water Street. As it has noted in the past, council recognized that the playground should be moved from its current location in an attempt to keep smaller children separate from teenagers. Moving the playground would also make room for the proposed skate park.

"Even if we don't do the skate park, that playground needs to be moved," Council President Elizabeth Rocco said.

A possible site suggested for the playground was along the canal, catty-corner from the borough's comfort station.

"That way, it would be closer to a bathroom, which would be great for the kids," Rocco noted.

No action was taken on the playground issue, but several members of council said they would scout out the suggested location and see whether or not there is enough room for the playground equipment.

Several members of council expressed concerns with having a skate park in the community, but could see the benefits it would bring, including giving the town's teen population something to do.

The subject of liability insurance was brought up, but it was pointed out by council member Michelle Jesko that, since skate parks are becoming more commonplace, insurance costs have been declining.

The behavior of the targeted teenagers was also a concern. Jesko recommended that if teenagers get out of hand or begin to destroy the equipment, a barrier could be built around the park.

Jesko added that these concerns should not deter council from considering applying for the grant.

"Let's go for the grant and see what happens," she said.

Council member Paul Klucsarits suggested that before any major decisions are made regarding the skate park, that council first host a public meeting to gain some feedback from borough residents.

"I think we should go for the grant and, assuming they offer it, open it up to community comments and see if it's something we really want to do or not," he said.

Though the board consented to applying for a grant, no plans have been made in regards to the skate park itself, though Jesko said she has been looking into the possibility of a pre-formed ramp packages, which would require less design and construction.

"It would be minimal work on the part of the borough," Rocco said.

Police Chief Frank Stanley advised council to carefully consider other issues that a skate park brings, including drawing other teens from surrounding communities.

Police matters

At Monday's meeting, Stanley presented three names to council for consideration as part-time police officers for the borough.

Don Isherwood, Raymond Long Jr. and Frank Scatena were all officially hired on Monday night, bringing the police force's total to four.

With the extra officers now on board, Stanley plans to schedule more shifts, especially during the night. With the quality of officers he now has on board, he added, he can increase foot patrols as well.

"I've got officers now that really want to work and know all aspects of the law," Stanley remarked.

Stanley is also looking to purchase a new patrol vehicle, possibly a used SUV. The vehicles he's been looking at would need to be outfitted for police work.

One recent occurrence in the borough has the police force concerned, and council asked that the community at large be more aware of the problem.

Over the weekend, while canoeing with her family, a young girl was injured when struck by a rock thrown from the railroad bridge that is now used to cross the river along the West Penn Trail, on the section that leads toward Slickville.

The girl's companions quickly docked their boats and tried to run after the assailant, to no avail. The girl suffered from a cut to her head, but was not seriously injured.

Even so, council urged the public to report any such activity to the police in order to prevent a serious injury or even a death that can be caused by such delinquent activity.

"This is when all of us have to be more cognizant of what's going on," Rocco said. "We need to watch who is on the bridge (throwing rocks), try to put a name to that person or persons, and they will be cited."

In other police business, Stanley reminded residents that the summer curfew for those under 18 is 10 p.m. for both weekdays and weekends. Anyone out in the streets after that hour must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

When school resumes in the next few weeks, the weekday curfew will be 9 p.m., with the weekend remaining at 10 p.m.

Stanley reminded the community that it is a state law that all cars must be parked with the flow of traffic. Those failing to adhere to that law will be given a ticket.

Other parking issues have members of council concerned, particularly certain streets in the borough that have cars parked along both sides, leaving only a narrow space to drive through.

Rocco reminded residents that the fire department's new fire engine is considerably wider than the previous truck, and some streets are now too narrow for firemen to maneuver to answer emergency calls.

In response to action taken at last month's meeting, the Dumpster used by the borough to collect yard waste has been removed.

"It has been a costly expense for us," Rocco stated.

Gordish Sanitation, with whom the borough is contracted for the town's trash collection, has agreed to accept bags of yard waste as long as the bags carry the red sticker sold for a $1 each through Gordish Sanitation, which can be purchased at the borough building.

The borough will cease offering the green stickers that were sold at the office, though any stickers already purchased will be honored.

Council also discussed the possibility of merging the sewage and garbage bills, agreeing to place it on the agenda for next month.

The council streets, buildings and sewage committee has estimated that the 2009 borough paving needs are in excess of $66,000, but has only $35,000 available.

Though council member and committee head P.J. Hruska was absent from Monday's meeting, he had submitted a prior request that a motion be made to use the funds available, with the committee meeting in the next few weeks to choose which borough streets are in the most need of attention.

The board agreed, with Rocco noting, "The street committee needs to pick the worst roads. If we let them go through another winter, they'll just get worse and cost us even more money."

With the Salt Center in need of a new heating and air-conditioning unit, council decided to try applying for a grant through the PA Conservation Works! program to help cover the estimated cost.

Greg Shirley, who owns a local HVAC business, sits on the Salt Center board and gave an estimate of $90,000 for the project.

The borough voted to contribute $5,000 toward the project should the grant, which must be used for energy efficient projects, be received.

Klucsarits volunteered to act as the voting delegate for Act 32, consolidating the collection of earned income tax.

The legislation, which was passed last summer, restructures the earned income tax collection process, creating county-wide tax collection districts.

Under the new act, each state municipality and school district must name a primary voting delegate to represent them as the Tax Collection Committee draw up by-laws and choose a tax collector.

At last month's meeting, William Greenacre had agreed to fulfill the position, but has since rescinded. At Monday night's meeting, council members Jesko and Hruska were appointed as the first and second alternates, respectively.

Klucsarits will attend the first committee meeting in October.

In other business, council:

• Agreed to give the Saltsburg Junior High cheerleaders $50 as a sponsorship fee for their upcoming golf outing fundraiser.

• Denied a donation request by the Indiana County Humane Society, noting that the board had already sent a budgeted $135 gift to the shelter.

• Denied a request for a donation from the Vandergrift Fire Department, noting that they'd rather keep their resources contained to their own department and the surrounding communities that assist it.

• Approved the list of candidates for the 2009 election.

• Announced that the borough has met its monetary obligation for the employee pension plan, which runs on a two-year cycle, and because it is now fully vested, council no longer has to budget that item for the year 2010.

• Agreed to pen a letter of support for the Indiana County Emergency Management Agency, which is petitioning for broad band installation in the county. According to Rocco, the county is applying for funding for broad band connection, which would help enhance public safety and access to information for both schools and the general public.

• Heard from member Tammy Kravetsky, who expressed her desire to have more stop signs erected at certain borough intersections.

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