Crafton council approves contracts and grants, appoints new member in April meeting
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Summary
At its April 8 meeting Crafton Borough Council awarded a sewer CCTV contract, approved a trail feasibility study and seasonal hires, authorized a three‑year dump truck lease, filed a DCNR grant request for pool improvements and appointed Matt Choate to fill a council vacancy.
Crafton Borough Council on April 8 approved several contracts and grant applications, confirmed seasonal hires for the borough pool and appointed Matt Choate to a council vacancy created earlier this year.
The meeting included votes to award a 2025 sewer CCTV contract, to accept a trail feasibility study proposal, to approve a three‑year lease for a new public works dump truck and to file a Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) grant application for pool rehabilitation. Council also approved the borough’s seasonal pool hire list. Council filled a council vacancy by appointing Matt Choate to serve through Dec. 31, 2025; that appointment was decided by roll call and received four votes to two.
Why it matters: the actions advance planned infrastructure and recreation projects funded through bond funds, grants and routine operating budgets and keep several projects moving toward design, bidding or construction.
Key votes (at a glance)
- Sewer CCTV contract: Council awarded the 2025 CCTV contract to Edge AI in the amount of $51,160 as recommended by Gateway Engineers. The engineer called for the motion and Council approved the award by voice vote. The project is a televised inspection of roughly 10% of the borough’s sewer network and the amount is $1,160 over the $50,000 line item budget.
- Trail feasibility study: Council approved contracting GAI Consultants Inc. to perform a trail feasibility study for $78,000. The bond fund will supply the borough’s half of the cost ($39,000).
- Seasonal pool hires: Council approved the list of 2025 seasonal pool employees as recommended by the pool manager; the manager reported positions were filled and many returning staff accepted.
- Dump truck lease (Resolution 2025‑04): Council authorized a three‑year lease with Huntington Bank for a Ford F-550 dump truck and custom body in the amount of $127,835; the manager said the amount is about $15,000 below budget. The resolution passed on voice vote.
- DCNR grant application (Resolution 2025‑05): Council adopted a resolution requesting $225,000 from DCNR for Crafton Pool rehabilitation and improvements, including a new slide, pavilion, ADA lift and concession upgrades. The borough will provide matching funds and in‑kind public works labor; the manager said the total project estimate is about $450,000 and that use of borough labor reduces cash outlay but did not provide a final cash‑match figure at the meeting.
- Council appointment (Resolution 2025‑06): After a public interview process with two candidates, council voted by roll call to appoint Matt Choate to fill the seat vacated by Vince Rodilla. The roll call produced four votes for Choate and two for the other candidate, Justin Marks. Choate was sworn in at the meeting.
Other procedural items included routine consent agenda approval, monthly reports and scheduling for infrastructure and planning items.
Council decisions that required roll call or formal resolution are on the record; most other votes were taken by voice and recorded in the minutes as “motion passes.”
