Canonsburg Council Approves Three-Year Police Contract

Cannonsburg borough council, in a 5 to 2 vote, approved a new three-year agreement with the police department Monday. The contract includes a 3.25 percent salary increase that translates to an $0.81-per-hour increase for each year of the agreement.

Health care contributions will increase to 2 percent of gross wages and pension contributions were set at 2.5 percent of employee compensation to the police pension plan and 1 percent to the non-uniformed employees pension plan as per the contract. Councilmen George Coleman and Paul Sharkady voted against the contract.

“On behalf of the police department, I would like to thank you for your vote. That’s a vote of confidence for the department, for the men, and that’s three years of good working relationships between everybody,” said Mayor David H. Rhome.

Rhome also presented Council President Joseph Milioto with the Chandler Associates Municipal Cooperation Award given to the fire department, borough, and council of Canonsburg by the state Fire and Emergency Services Institute. Sen. Tim Solobay also sent a congratulatory letter stating that the award “best exemplifies the spirit of cooperation between local governments and emergency services entities.” 

The mayor also presented a certificate of commendation to Katalin Rockey for her outstanding act of good citizenship in assisting the Canonsburg Police Department in making a timely arrest in November. Joseph Milioto and George Coleman were also presented with certificates of commendation for their eight years of service on borough council.

"I appreciate all of the help and all of the friends and aquaintances I have made and will always appreciate what they have done for me," said Milioto.

Additional business at the meeting included unanimous approval of resolution for distribution of a $486,000 dollar community block grant.

Also approved at the meeting were the 2012 tax ordinance, the 2012 salary ordinance, the drop pension ordinance, and the ordinance adjusting nuisance fine payments.

After an executive session, a new motion was made by Councilman John Bevec to offer a retirement incentive to all borough employees of two years of health care for spouses. The motion passed unanimously and details will be presented next year.

Holly Stabile was appointed as solicitor for the Canonsburg Zoning Hearing Board and will vacate the position of solicitor for the planning board.

Budget and Finance Committee Chair Richard Russo suggested, that despite an ordinance requiring it, some of the businesses in town are not paying the mercantile tax and some of those same companies are also doing business with the borough. Borough Manager Terry Hazlett promised to address the problem with a specific solution early next year.