[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6629025,"mediaKeyId","2712491-833313eefd8029569a6335292728b830","parentId",2712491,"title","Connellsville council approves bids, park permits, investment and seasonal hires; votes list","audioSeconds",655,"startMs",4485000,"endMs",5140000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2712491-833313eefd8029569a6335292728b830&start=4485&end=5140","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2712491-833313eefd8029569a6335292728b830/thumbnail_4485000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6629025/Connellsville/Fayette-County/Pennsylvania/Connellsville-council-approves-bids-park-permits-investment-and-seasonal-hires-votes-list","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6629025-db8d4792094c7c270b2f7f27b3c2ccaf/orig.mp4?Expires=1775966559&Signature=PN4prsXS06AEetlwZzgAzKE1zh-0nNJTCFnwT71UbUQEttwoUm9EUCwaumoyYcU5vD68Yt6VNmgZdpnGzZ8VIoLRhVeKpDwqATtZ9amXQa7Kx3v9HmyUIHlwuj4bdRvaEnMlCUGZRChm8DsqcdEQ~Ka8O5spEjjV~a40aL-xCRvdJoYqABmat8G7Ncc4nwzrXUkKOuPXXd1NFszu-AXObxTxqNzi96vTqqI4fgMsJo61IkOvxPHyj3oM~WmfOvH6gliIEOUZbqrUYgNCxeSWSarwhS7N4wAbef5fSdyCF76X5R-cnbtP6QyGAiWuqE3UlZMZ7NDZ~XcYwjhENKzE4g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Connellsville, PA","date","2025-03-20T14:40:11.327Z","article","The Connellsville City Council on March 18 voted on multiple resolutions, contracts and administrative items. Most motions passed by recorded roll call with the council members recorded as voting in favor when the clerk called the roll.

Key outcomes at a glance:

- Tree planters contract: The council accepted the low bid from J Masonary LLC for $48,300 to install tree planters in city-owned parking lots as part of the Connellsville Community Tree Program (funded by a USDN grant). Motion passed by roll call. (Bid opening and award recorded during the meeting.)

- Park use and events: The council approved the Memorial Day parade street closures for Monday, May 26, 2025 (route and times specified in the resolution), subject to approval by police, fire, public works and PennDOT; approved a permit for the CHS Bible Club to use Yough River Park for an Easter service on April 17, 2025 (council instructed the group to complete the utilization form and provide required documentation); and amended road-closure and fireworks permits for the Red, White and Boom festival in July. All motions were approved by roll call.

- Finance and investment: Council authorized investing $250,000 (rollover from a 2024 CD) in a 12‑month certificate of deposit at Somerset Trust at a quoted rate of 4.3%. Motion passed by roll call.

- Contracts and collections: Council approved entering into an agreement with Credit Tech Collection Solutions to pursue late payments of fees and charges owed to the city; the arrangement is fee‑based and paid by the account holder, not the city. Motion passed by roll call.

- Concession and facility leases: The council awarded the concession-stand contract at Yough Park to James Cox at $125 per month for the term 4/1/2025–3/31/2026 and granted seasonal and league field use agreements (girls softball league, travel teams, Jamie McPoyle Foundation events). Motions passed by roll call.

- Personnel and seasonal hires: The council approved hiring seasonal public‑works employees (names recorded in the meeting packet): Craig Yonkin, Will Snyder and rehire of Carter Wilson. Wage guidance discussed: $14/hr during the week and $16/hr on weekends. All hires approved by roll call.

- Bids advertised: The council authorized advertising bids for an F-550 dump truck (as‑is), a salt spreader and a 9‑foot snow plow; sealed bids were scheduled to be received by April 15, 2025.

- Administrative motions: The council approved routine items including acceptance of the Feb. 18 minutes, waiving the four‑day rule for late submissions (items marked with an asterisk), a small set of municipal records disposal resolutions, and an amendment to the Right‑to‑Know policy (updating contact and website information). Each item was presented and voted on; the clerk recorded roll-call votes.

How the council voted: Where the clerk called the roll, the recorded “yes” votes were: Councilman Topper, Councilman Addis, Councilwoman Tiberio, Councilman Keating (recorded variously as Keede/Keating in the transcript), and Mayor Lincoln. Those recorded votes show unanimous approval on the items listed when roll call was taken.

Next steps and conditions: Several approvals were conditional on administrative follow-up (e.g., required proof of insurance for park leases, police/fire/public works approval for closures, grant funding to pay for tree-planting work). The solicitor and staff will prepare standard agreements, and several items (notably any zoning changes discussed earlier) will require additional hearings or budget approvals before implementation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","March 18, 2025 City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","At its March 18 meeting the Connellsville City Council approved a slate of resolutions and contracts including a tree-planting contract, a $250,000 CD investment, park uses for community groups, several seasonal hires and contracts for collections and concessions. The council recorded roll-call approval on the items listed below.","taxTitle","Connellsville, Fayette County, Pennsylvania","taxId",76399,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6629029,"Connellsville residents press council to allow backyard chickens; officials say zoning changes required",1722,166000,1888000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2712491-833313eefd8029569a6335292728b830&start=166&end=1888","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2712491-833313eefd8029569a6335292728b830/thumbnail_166000.jpg","/articles/6629029/Connellsville/Fayette-County/Pennsylvania/Connellsville-residents-press-council-to-allow-backyard-chickens-officials-say-zoning-changes-required","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6629029-3182434be64df028eecb5138ca038e4e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775966559&Signature=icyLjrYaDpfuVRMzfnwCckZBtqHK0HGjGG0YVDddkUD11D660C9ZF27Yna9KvRWUZ89mZLhiyH1bZTUFI9lHuI1srVKxIxNUL5ImfUoJbeLN5e67Yv282T5OtorycWA9WR8OrxBPcUTh-LVRrSpoHy7X6-towLcyxJRSMKPFOGnP0Ul~l7Nqm3IMlRI3O0b8R2oeLdJ~j2kZV~Cx413zUxV3pI2Jpifxe~Keg2nvs63NCxSxGTnCkXiJIXmrYL7gDV~fwvylw05oytFwBvsA5IMWZX7y~9hYS0x9SfoJI19Owws~IY6lkQY4ulfTq5m245zTMYkKxFj813OLpwCyIg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Nina Pleva, a Connellsville resident, urged the City Council on March 18 to permit backyard chickens and said the practice could help residents access fresher eggs and reduce food waste.

Pleva told the council, “My name is Nina. I live in the city of Connellsville, and I am proposing urban homesteading in Connellsville with backyard chickens.” She said properly kept hens reduce pests, produce nutrient-dense eggs and can be managed with coops and covered runs.

The comment period drew multiple residents who supported allowing a small number of hens and presented a petition; speakers said they had gathered about 115 signatures in under 24 hours supporting permission for backyard birds. Supporters suggested limits such as no roosters, a cap of about five hens per yard, enclosed coops and prohibitions on selling eggs from residential lots.

Council members and the city solicitor responded with legal and implementation concerns. The city solicitor explained that under the city’s zoning ordinance uses not specifically listed are treated as “use by special exception” and currently are permitted only in the C-2 (highway) and industrial districts. The solicitor said county zoning continues to apply within borough limits and could bar chickens in particular parcels even if the borough adopted an ordinance allowing them.

Council members, the code enforcement official and other speakers raised operational objections: enforcement challenges when animals run loose, complaints already reported in nearby South Connellsville, the risk of attracting pests if coops are not constructed to code, uncertainty about how to handle confiscated birds, and limitations on limiting permits to owner-occupied properties. A city official noted the zoning hearing board can impose conditions through the special-exception process but that a citywide allowance would require amending the zoning ordinance — a months‑long process with public notices and hearings and additional administrative costs (the solicitor cited a current $325 fee for a zoning hearing application as a point of reference).

Speakers referenced nearby municipalities’ approaches: South Connellsville and Pittsburgh were cited as examples with different rules. The record included residents’ assertions that commercial eggs are older and chemically processed, and that properly handled backyard eggs can be safer and more nutritious; the council and staff did not endorse those health claims but noted the city’s health officer had expressed reservations about permitting urban flocks within city limits.

The council did not take action on a new ordinance at the meeting. Mayor Lincoln and other members said staff and the solicitor would research options and that any citywide change would require amendment of the zoning ordinance and additional public hearings. Council members said the process would not be completed immediately and would likely take several months.

The discussion combined public comment (individual residents’ appeals and petitions) with staff and solicitor explanation of legal constraints and enforcement challenges. The council indicated it will study the issue further before placing any ordinance change on a future agenda.","Residents urged the Connellsville City Council to permit small backyard flocks, arguing benefits for nutrition and household food security. City officials and the solicitor said current zoning limits chickens to C-2/highway and industrial districts and that a citywide change would require amending the zoning ordinance and public hearings.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Connellsville council approves bids, park permits, investment and seasonal hires; votes list

Connellsville residents press council to allow backyard chickens; officials say zoning changes required