[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_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",6083199,"mediaKeyId","2935189-7bb1680c2bd7a084dcae8ec5f283460a","parentId",2935189,"title","Council approves routine payments, grant applications; ordinance on staff salaries tabled","audioSeconds",1860,"startMs",4320000,"endMs",6180000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2935189-7bb1680c2bd7a084dcae8ec5f283460a&start=4320&end=6180","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2935189-7bb1680c2bd7a084dcae8ec5f283460a/thumbnail_4320000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6083199/Green-Tree/Allegheny-County/Pennsylvania/Council-approves-routine-payments-grant-applications-ordinance-on-staff-salaries-tabled","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6083199-f09511edd73d229bd3d7e977c55a409f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775135093&Signature=JLTmu7SQSLJFNojwgOUDEGILG1YPpJF1PiDsIoRYBmz01NPcSNaKRv5qaNVoB3x83emXhP3-W0tvd-V~ztuI2hl6ckQLFAjJKNjqMGjSq8Ppm-EFJI~bHfx1M~msSWCiKbnRdW7Y1vfVCvf8qkx26pU4wE8nypa21Y3M7DHTpmhHcdvRLSea-wBArLuaSRtfm0dD4VqtX2ejlq0h9yGsIphiMMa9-IDDcnrtLt93E4v2uwYdNdvmbIRUTU9jM0I37ENTdFHjvwYsD5Xvso5sjuHcepfDDeFxmzoWykXao6vNLmmsRQERw93GdhIeSsSdj1Bc~fpwi9fEflHNu~iKeg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Green Tree Borough, PA","date","2025-04-09T20:25:24.64Z","article","Green Tree — The borough council handled several finance and grant actions at its April 7 meeting. Key votes included payment of operating invoices, introduction of grant resolutions, reappointment to a civil service body and tabling of an ordinance that would set full‑time staff wages and benefits.

Votes at a glance

1) Payment approvals — March 2025 invoices (approved)
• General Fund: $23,671.45
• Payroll Fund: $214,451.50
• Educational Service Agency Fund: $5,918.52
• Credit card (January 2025): $4,465.88
Outcome: Motion approved (voice vote; council recorded “Aye” and the chair declared the motion passed).

2) Payment approvals — April 2025 invoices (approved)
• General Fund: $122,924.67
• Storm Sewer Fund: $7,900.30
• Sanitary Sewer Fund: $6,040.08
• Capital Projects Fund: $68,892.10
• Bond Fund: $71,131.43
Outcome: Motion approved (voice vote; chair declared the motion passed).

3) Ordinance 19‑08 — Setting wages and benefits for full‑time borough employees (tabled)
• Background: Council introduced Ordinance 19‑08 to set wages and benefits; members discussed an administrative error in a previously adopted wage ordinance and a reorganization of two administrative positions (public communications administrator and receptionist/departmental support assistant).
• Action: Motion to table Ordinance 19‑08 until the next personnel executive session and follow‑up (motion seconded and carried via voice vote).

4) Resolution 1366 — Commonwealth Financing Authority small water & sewer grant application (Holiday Drive & Mansfield Avenue storm sewer), $425,000 (adopted)
• Action: Council adopted Resolution 1366, authorizing the council president and borough manager to execute documents for a $425,000 application to the Commonwealth Financing Authority for storm sewer work.
• Roll call (recorded): Houts — Yes; Panza — Yes; Ray — Yes; Schwartz — Yes; Tintore — Yes; Baron — Yes; (chair declared motion passes).

5) Resolution 1367 — Greenways, Trails & Recreation grant application (Park Edge Park improvements), $144,000 (adopted)
• Action: Council adopted Resolution 1367 to apply for $144,000 in GRANT funds for Park Edge Park improvements.
• Roll call (recorded): Council members voted in favor and the chair declared the motion passed.

6) Authorization to lien unpaid 2024 real estate taxes (adopted)
• Action: Council authorized the borough manager to lien unpaid 2024 real estate taxes; motion approved by voice vote.

7) Reappointment to Civil Service Commission (adopted)
• David Moss reappointed to Civil Service Commission for a six‑year term through March 2031; motion approved by voice vote.

What was not approved tonight

• Ordinance 19‑08 was tabled for further review at an executive session on personnel; council discussed the need to reconcile salary lines and job titles before final adoption.

Context and clarifications

• Several payment motions were approved by voice vote; the meeting record shows “Aye” and the president declared motions passed; specific roll calls were used for resolutions 1366 and 1367 where recorded yes votes were read into the record.

Ending: Council asked the finance committee and borough staff to provide additional details on personnel wage lines and IT and insurance budget items in follow‑up committee reports.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","April 7, 2025 Borough of Green Tree Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Council approved routine invoice payments and two grant application resolutions on April 7, authorized the borough manager to lien unpaid 2024 real estate taxes, reappointed a civil service commissioner and tabled Ordinance 19‑08 on staff wages pending personnel review.","taxTitle","Green Tree, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania","taxId",74558,"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},6083204,"Green Tree council urges residents to comment as PRT proposes steep bus cuts including Line 38",138,3872000,4010000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2935189-7bb1680c2bd7a084dcae8ec5f283460a&start=3872&end=4010","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2935189-7bb1680c2bd7a084dcae8ec5f283460a/thumbnail_3872000.jpg","/articles/6083204/Green-Tree/Allegheny-County/Pennsylvania/Green-Tree-council-urges-residents-to-comment-as-PRT-proposes-steep-bus-cuts-including-Line-38","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6083204-179dc87da52a7266b30d71e37f977893/orig.mp4?Expires=1775135093&Signature=e9SRNVzKSqeThaA7M4g3hz7fgLkwE4k5mT9g33M5RGCxBuywGsRxJWeUjLSB0xmWscDAaSK9iVW2zImW-7yFfvUzgDUuNU3JPwniWIq9hl92k9lMTqzcp-xAiWQEaYd5nq7gN8JXokxgJliSqRQ8HAcMBvUbXwDJpkjsiiUCIb1uUP0cdUpuAaOryHq2xeXgCMiB-jNQG0hxhIeeyFN3hTyR67heKDfz~VdkrKebNoGOxc8HATEwLAdnfpAeLExqnTOZcTjmMF1fQPkOcQ1S-3IaFf9xTWOi7Tjy3-fA2J0NZ0pBysP8ceAmCoH-wyBmQ1fnM5ERfldGkEmljSqsSg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Green Tree — At its April 7 meeting, council’s community engagement committee reported on a Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) proposal that would substantially cut bus service and could eliminate the Route 38 that serves Green Tree. Committee members urged residents to submit public comments during PRT’s formal comment period and to attend one of three scheduled hearings.

Why it matters: the Route 38 is one of the primary bus lines serving Green Tree; committee members said sustained public feedback to PRT and to state legislators could influence the decision and show the line’s community impact.

What the council said

The committee explained that PRT has opened a public comment period through June 18 and listed ways residents can provide feedback online, by mail, by phone and at in‑person hearings. The committee relayed PRT’s posted hearing dates, times and locations and said the borough had copied the public guidance on the borough website and Facebook page.

A committee representative told council, “This is the main bus line through our community, and it is one of the reasons a lot of people love living in this community because of direct access to downtown.” The representative added that the cuts would affect not only current riders but also the borough’s businesses and residents who rely on the line for appointments and work commutes.

How to comment (as posted by the borough)

• Online: www.rideprt.org/fundingcrisis

• By phone: (412) 566‑5525

• In person: PRT downtown service center (address posted on borough website)

• PRT public hearings (registration encouraged): April–June hearings at David L. Lawrence Convention Center and Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall (see borough website for schedule)

Council and staff action

The borough manager sent a letter to PRT and to state legislators outlining community concerns and co‑signed the outreach with neighboring communities; municipal staff posted PRT’s public comment information and urged broad resident participation.

Ending: Council members asked staff to share hearing reminders and an online link on the borough website and social media and to encourage residents who do not currently ride the bus but value regional transit access to weigh in.","Council’s community engagement committee summarized Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s public comment period on proposed service reductions and urged residents to submit comments and attend hearings; the council co‑signed outreach and posted guidance on how residents can respond.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6083209,"PennDOT-funded Trumbull (Cumberland) Drive bridge set for design, borough’s share capped at 5%",1807,1936000,3743000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2935189-7bb1680c2bd7a084dcae8ec5f283460a&start=1936&end=3743","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2935189-7bb1680c2bd7a084dcae8ec5f283460a/thumbnail_1936000.jpg","/articles/6083209/Green-Tree/Allegheny-County/Pennsylvania/PennDOT-funded-Trumbull-Cumberland-Drive-bridge-set-for-design-boroughs-share-capped-at-5","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6083209-e7566e9046113e1b7a72eeb22426c601/orig.mp4?Expires=1775135093&Signature=aVncKBDMGPYz-P-7kUkoQxWjped0lRAbTI6PoJweWkMR3o5D1SDCbuAAo0xuF4lYaPs5kNPL8ImauN3IPWbYteEwrp7XDmuM1~WIaTwqZdNJq7r7kB-Lc4GoGB8jqJwrK68ib3I5xQjKMkcrPOQxBvm4sQexwv-0tPSe5IdDPTPfwb56EddtMs3Zsj4q1OfNx1JnnSidnkc96GLdgFsLnMcSV45Jo8Hl2Hy52P9~HxLAbSr~u6~HgW-4bhgXTP-DFrjE4jvw3uMgm4e~LK62g3lcIP9Dnff8jMStcWU6xBI7sn2hRJtO6qOCGUzdWnvwQ0lk0X6fTVDeOQQcoKRw1w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Green Tree — Consultants updated the Green Tree Borough Council on the replacement of the Trumbull (also referred to as Cumberland) Drive bridge, saying the existing structure is inspected every six months and that PennDOT has moved the project forward for full funding and design.

Chris Wilmer, project manager with Gannett Fleming, told council the bridge is a fracture‑critical, two‑girder structure and “it is inspected on a 6 month frequency,” adding the bridge’s superstructure condition rating is currently a 4 on the 10‑point scale. “It is currently not posted. It is safe and has capacity to carry legal loads without a post in. And, again, that's all monitored on a 6 month basis through the inspection process,” Wilmer said.

Why it matters: council members and residents have pressed for clarity on the bridge’s safety and the project’s cost and timing. The consultant said PennDOT is providing the bulk of construction funding under its program (approximately 80% of approved project cost), while the borough’s statutory or programmatic maximum contribution is 5% of the total construction cost. Borough staff said the borough has budgeted $350,000 in bond proceeds and has identified an additional $500,000 in grant proceeds that may be applied toward the local share.

Key facts and schedule

• Current condition and monitoring: Wilmer said the structure’s superstructure rating remains at 4 from previous inspections; PennDOT inspects the bridge twice a year because of the fracture‑critical details and closely monitors seated connections shown in inspection reports.

• Funding approval: Consultants said PennDOT’s District Program Management Committee (DPMC) and central office approvals were in progress; the project was taken to DPMC to obtain additional funds after construction and escalation estimates rose. Wilmer said the construction cost estimate has increased from prior estimates based on inflation and market conditions; consultants gave an example range that moved from roughly $5–6 million (based on earlier pricing) to approximately $6.6 million–$7 million in current 2026 dollars, and they cautioned costs could rise if construction is delayed further.

• Borough share and reimbursement: Borough staff reiterated the borough’s expected local share is 5% of the final construction cost. Council was told the program is a reimbursement mechanism: costs are paid and reimbursed through PennDOT’s ECMS/ECMS‑style reimbursement system as invoices are submitted.

• Right‑of‑way and railroad coordination: Wilmer said right‑of‑way and temporary construction easements will be required in three quadrants of the bridge footprint, and a separate agreement will be needed with the railroad for a slope easement. Railroad coordination has begun and the consultant said the railroad has been cooperative to date; the consultant added right‑of‑way acquisition typically takes 12–18 months after an approved ROW plan.

• Schedule: The consultant said notice to proceed on final design had been issued and that, because construction funding is not available until 2027, the project will be advertised (a let date) at the end of 2026 with anticipated contractor work during the 2027 season; typical construction could take one season, with partial punchlist work extending into spring 2028.

Questions from council and residents

Council members pressed for detail on the estimates and the borough’s exposure if costs rise. In response, Wilmer and borough staff said the state/federal funding program generally covers the majority of construction, but if final costs increase beyond the awarded amount PennDOT must approve any additional funding via its internal TPMC/DPMC process and the borough could be asked to confirm its share when/if that occurs. Borough staff said they were told the funding approval from central office was expected imminently.

Council also asked what would happen if the bridge condition worsened before construction. Wilmer said the next step would be an engineering analysis; that could lead to a posting (lower legal limits) or, in an extreme and unlikely case, a closure if the structure lost capacity before repairs or replacement.

Construction impacts and communications

Consultants said the project will be staged so traffic is maintained about 99% of the time; there will be up to four or five short closures, planned at night or on weekends, for removal of the existing bridge and beam setting. Wilmer said contractors will be required to notify the borough, neighboring businesses, emergency services and other stakeholders well in advance of any closures and the borough will issue public notices at major milestones.

Clarifying details

• Estimated construction cost (presented): roughly $6.6M–$7.0M (2026 dollars); consultants noted escalation risk and used a working figure of $7M in planning; council was told costs could increase if bids or market escalation move higher before letting.

• Borough maximum share: 5% of final construction cost (the borough has $350,000 budgeted plus approximately $500,000 in identified grant proceeds that could apply).

• Right‑of‑way: multiple permanent slope easements, permanent guide‑rail easements, and temporary construction easements are required; at least one railroad easement will be negotiated.

What’s next

Consultants offered to provide regular milestone updates to council. Borough staff said they will continue to monitor central office funding approval and the right‑of‑way plan; design is under way and the borough expects continued coordination with PennDOT, the railroad and affected property owners.

Ending: The council received the presentation without taking an immediate formal vote on the project itself; several council members asked staff to return with updates as the PennDOT funding authorization and right‑of‑way work progress.","Consultants told the Green Tree Borough Council the fracture‑critical Trumbull (Cumberland) Drive bridge is inspected every six months and the project has secured PennDOT funding; construction is expected to be let in late 2026 with construction likely in 2027, and the borough’s maximum share is 5% (budgeted at $350,000).","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves routine payments, grant applications; ordinance on staff salaries tabled

Green Tree council urges residents to comment as PRT proposes steep bus cuts including Line 38

PennDOT-funded Trumbull (Cumberland) Drive bridge set for design, borough’s share capped at 5%