Oakmont Council Notebook: Jan. 9 Regular Meeting

Here are the highlights from Monday night’s regular meeting of Oakmont Borough Council:

Oakmont Police Reunite Mother with Child

Borough Mayor Robert J. Fescemyer read into the record a letter sent to him by Joseph Williams, a family law attorney practicing in downtown Pittsburgh.

As read by Fescemyer, Williams represents a female client, who, in Sept. 2011, agreed to let her husband, from whom she is separated, travel to Florida with their 3-year-old daughter to visit family and friends. She was told they would return in 10 to 14 days.

After two weeks had passed, however, her husband and daughter had not returned. It was at this point that Williams began to take legal action on behalf of his client. He presented two different motions to the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County to obtain orders of court for the husband to return to Allegheny County with the child.

The second order also directed law enforcement officials to confiscate the child from the husband’s custody and return her to her mother.

For nearly three months, Williams and his client spoke with multiple police departments in Florida and in Allegheny County, many of which were unwilling to help or required additional information.

In Dec. 2011, when Williams and his client learned that the husband and daughter might be in Allegheny County, his client sent copies of the orders to various local police departments.

According to the letter, the was immediately willing to assist her in any manner necessary.

On Dec. 14, 2011, with the help of Chief David DiSanti and Officer James Sedlak, Williams’ client retrieved her daughter and was able to talk to her for the first time in three months.

“This was an extremely joyful time,” Fescemyer read, “and would not have been made possible without the help of Chief DiSanti and Officer Sedlak.”

As per the “help” that he and Sedlak provided, DiSanti described it as an undercover operation, similar to a drug sting, where they drew the offender out.

Reuniting mother with child, DiSanti said, was the best Christmas present ever.

Halt on Hulton

Work on the Hulton Bridge will result in officers signaling single-lane traffic on the bridge from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., Monday through Thursday, said DiSanti.

Reynolds Resigns

Council approved the resignation of Kyle Reynolds from the Oakmont Recreation Board. Reynolds, , offered his resignation via email in a letter dated Jan. 4. He cited unforeseen circumstances as his reason for resigning.

Councilwoman Kitty Vagley said that there are at least two applicants ready to vie for the vacant seat.

Wrong Numbers Could Cause Trouble

In his report, Chief Bill Peeples said that some of the house numbers of the Edgewater properties and properties on Riverview Drive do not coordinate with house-numbering in the borough.

This could be very problematic for police, fire and EMT responders, he said.

Council discussed different numbering scenarios in an attempt to discern what body had the authority to decide the numbering, whether it was the property developer, the borough, the police chief or the postmaster.

No definitive answer was reached and it was suggested that the matter be addressed with township manager Bruce Jamison, who was absent from the meeting due to illness.

Give Me a Sign!

In his capacity as an Oakmont resident, Peeples addressed council regarding what he considers the necessity for stop signs at various locations throughout the borough. The locations to which he pointed are: the intersection of Edgewater and College, the intersection of Edgewater at California, and the intersection of Third and Delaware.

Just as with the house-numbering issues discussed above, council was uncertain whether the authority to set signs vested in the borough or in the developer, though borough solicitor Robert Shoop said he wasn’t sure he’d want to see the developer do it, since that would mean the developer was controlling traffic within the borough.

To reach a more definitive answer, Council President Timothy Milberger said he will consult Jamison regarding these signage issues.

Wood Sales = Good Sales

Cut wood from Riverside Park is being recycled out of the park. Council approved the sale of poplar wood to for $400 and approved the Recreation Board’s request to market the remaining oak and bring sale proposals to council at a later time.

The oak is estimated to bring in $2 per foot, with total potential revenue of $4,000 to 6,000, the proceeds of which would go to the Recreation Board’s funds.