Connellsville council approves clerk hire, reappointments, event permissions and COSTARS salt participation

The Connellsville City Council took a series of administrative and operational votes at its Jan. 28 meeting, approving the hire of a new city clerk, multiple board reappointments and event-related street closures, participating in the Pennsylvania Department of General Services’ COSTARS salt contract, and accepting a municipal traffic-signal maintenance agreement with PennDOT.

The council voted to hire Rita Smith as city clerk with a start date of Feb. 3, 2025, and approved an amendment to the city clerk employment agreement that modified a retirement sick-leave buyback (set to 70%) and provided a payment equal to 50% of the city-paid health insurance premium for employees who waive city coverage. The hires and employment-amendment resolutions were moved, seconded and approved by roll call; recorded “Yes” votes at the roll calls included Councilman Addis, Councilman Keating, Councilwoman Tiberia and Mayor Lincoln.

Other approved items included: authorization for the Greater Chamber of Commerce to use the East Side Fire Hall for the 2025 farmers market dates and associated closures of North Arch Street during the event; permission to close Meadow Lane for the Lions Square Summer Concert Series on specified Sunday evenings in June–August 2025 pending review by the police chief, fire chief and public works foreman; and a municipal traffic-signal maintenance agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for the intersection of SR 711 (Crawford Avenue) and Arch Street.

The council also approved yearly reappointments to local boards and authorities through 2030, including the Collinsville Police Pension Board, Redevelopment Authority, Collinsville Housing Authority, Municipal Authority, Zoning Hearing Board, Shade Tree Commission, Board of Health and others. James Flynn was reappointed to the Connellsville Recreation Board and James Lembo was reappointed to the traffic committee.

Council authorized the city to submit a salt contract participation agreement to COSTARS to access the statewide sodium chloride contract for the August 2025–July 2026 season. Members discussed supply and delivery concerns during the vote; Councilman Keating said he supported the participation but asked whether the state contract includes remedies if suppliers fail to deliver on time.

Other administrative actions approved or introduced included accepting the Dec. 17, 2024 minutes; waiving the four-day rule for late-submitted items; permission for the Yawk River Rally to make Sixth and Seventh Street one-way during the river rally (June 13–15, 2025) pending department reviews; authorization to solicit quotes for a Ford F-550 dump truck funded from liquid fuels and grant accounts; and introduction of Bill No. 1 of 2025, an ordinance to place a stop sign at North Penn Street and Peter Street (first reading introduced).

Why it matters: the measures complete routine municipal business — staffing, board membership, event permissions and essential winter-supply contracting — that keep city services running and allow planned seasonal events and maintenance to proceed.

Votes at a glance

- Hire Rita Smith as city clerk (start date 2025-02-03). Outcome: approved. Recorded yes votes: Councilman Addis, Councilman Keating, Councilwoman Tiberia, Mayor Lincoln.

- Amendment to city clerk employment agreement (retirement sick-leave buyback 70%; 50% city-paid health premium payment for waiver). Outcome: approved.

- Authorize Greater Chamber of Commerce use of East Side Fire Hall and closure of North Arch Street for 2025 farmers market dates (June–August) pending department approvals. Outcome: approved.

- Close Meadow Lane for Lions Square Summer Concert Series on specified Sundays in June–August 2025 (06:30–09:30 p.m.), pending police, fire and public works review. Outcome: approved.

- Municipal traffic-signal maintenance agreement with Pennsylvania DOT for SR 711 (Crawford Ave.) and Arch Street. Outcome: approved.

- Reappointments to boards and commissions (terms to January 2030 unless otherwise noted): Police pension board, Redevelopment Authority, Housing Authority, Municipal Authority, Zoning Hearing Board, Shade Tree Commission, Board of Health, Recreation Board (James Flynn), Traffic Committee (James Lembo) and others. Outcome: approved (roll calls recorded yes votes as noted in meeting minutes).

- Submit salt contract participation agreement to COSTARS for sodium chloride (Aug 2025–Jul 2026). Outcome: approved.

- Authorize solicitation of quotes for a new Ford F-550 dump truck (funding: liquid fuels account and recycling grant). Outcome: approved.

- Introduce Bill No. 1 of 2025 to place a stop sign at North Penn Street and Peter Street (first reading). Outcome: introduced; refer to subsequent readings.

- Permit Yawk River Rally to make Sixth and Seventh Streets one-way during the river rally (June 13–15, 2025) pending department approvals. Outcome: approved.

The meeting record shows roll calls and voice votes; where a roll call was read aloud the transcript recorded affirmative “Yes” votes from council members present. The council did not record any defeats or abstentions for the items read during the Jan. 28 meeting.

Other items reported to the council but not voted on included the city treasurer’s fund balances and the police department’s December report. The treasurer reported the general fund at $1,122,200.97, an investment account at $487,696.70, a recreation fund at $80,002.58 and a capital improvement fund at $212,124.28. The Connellsville Police Department reported remitting $5,742.87 in fines for December, answering 332 complaints for the month and issuing 65 traffic citations.

Council adjourned at the end of the regular agenda.