Connellsville council approves park parcel transfer, CDBG awards, energy contract and other routine permits

Connellsville City Council met on Aug. 19 and voted on a series of community permits, appointments and administrative actions including: a transfer of a five‑acre parcel (parcel ID O5040010) to Connellsville Township for use as a public park; acceptance of federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocations for FFY 2025; appointment of a Shade Tree Commission member; an extension of the city—lectric supply agreement; and the ranking of engineering firms to serve as engineer of record through 2030.

The votes followed public comment and routine reports from city staff. The transfer of parcel O5040010 to Connellsville Township was presented by a township representative and discussed briefly on how the deed restricts the property to recreational use; the council approved the transfer and noted that any costs for the formal property conveyance will be paid by Connellsville Township.

Why it matters: the parcel transfer and the CDBG allocations set the stage for near‑term park and code‑enforcement projects and allow the township to pursue grant funding and park development. The engineer ranking authorizes the city to use a prequalified consultant list for future infrastructure projects, including a planned Wills Road wall repair that the city said has state funding support.

Key details and background

Parcel transfer to Connellsville Township: Council approved a resolution to transfer parcel ID O5040010 to Connellsville Township for use as public parkland. Council members noted the parcel was deeded for recreation when it was donated in the 1950s and that the deed contains a reverter provision: if the recreation use is violated the property could revert to the donor—amily. Township officials said they plan to pursue grants and to develop the site; township staff asked the city to preserve opportunities for trail or mountain‑bike features because of the parcel—haracteristics. The resolution states that all conveyance costs will be borne by the township.

CDBG FFY2025 awards: Council approved use of FFY2025 CDBG funds, listing $221,370 for a project described in the packet as "phase 2" of an unspecified capital project and $30,000 for code enforcement. The motion passed on the council floor; council did not detail the specific phase deliverables during the meeting beyond staff materials included in the council packet.

Shade Tree Commission ordinance and appointment: Council adopted Bill 2 of 2025 (Ordinance 15‑86), amending earlier ordinances (identified in the motion as Ordinances 11‑31 and 12‑80, codified at 1‑463) related to qualifications for Shade Tree Commission members. The council then appointed Brenda Zimkiewicz to fill a vacant Shade Tree Commission seat with a term expiring January 2027.

Engineering consultant ranking and Wills Road wall funding: Council approved a final ranking of engineering firms to serve as the city—ngineer of record for future projects through 2030. The ranking placed KCI first, HRG second and Gibson Thomas third. Council members said the selection is tied to an upcoming, state‑funded Wills Road wall repair that will require significant engineering oversight.

Electric supply contract extension: Council voted to extend the city—lectric supply agreement with KeyTech Energy for a 12‑month term from October 2025 through October 2026. Staff presented comparative market numbers and recommended a 12‑month term at 0.08837 dollars per kilowatt‑hour (kWh), citing a sharp rise in capacity charges that affects municipal bills statewide. Staff noted the increase in capacity pricing since the prior term and said an 18‑ or 36‑month contract would have been more expensive in the current market.

Other approvals, permits and routine business

- Public events and street closures: Council approved a series of temporary event permits and related street closures including a Halloween parade route on Oct. 28, 2025, an annual community event sometimes called the "Crawford School of Terror" with intermittent Friday and Saturday closures between Sept. 26 and Nov. 1 (final closure specifics to be set by the police chief, fire chief and street foreman), two additional farmers market dates (Sept. 4 and Oct. 16), a Juneteenth park permit request for June 20, 2026, and authorization for the city's annual trick‑or‑treat hours on Oct. 31, 2025, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Council expressly conditioned several street‑closure approvals on review and final sign‑off by the police chief, fire chief and public works.

- Parking meter removal: Council approved a request from the Loyal Order of the Moose to remove damaged parking meters adjacent to the lodge building; council members discussed a broader future conversion away from mechanical meters to centralized or digital systems and asked staff to bring a fuller plan for council review.

- Contracting, appointments and routine minutes: Council accepted the July meeting minutes (with one abstention noted in the roll call), heard monthly police, fire and finance reports, and approved the city—ngineer ranking and other administrative items listed on the agenda.

Votes at a glance

- Transfer parcel ID O5040010 to Connellsville Township for park use — outcome: approved (motion; second; roll call recorded as yes). - FFY2025 CDBG allocations ($221,370 project phase 2; $30,000 code enforcement) — outcome: approved. - Ordinance (Bill 2 of 2025 / Ordinance 15‑86) amending Shade Tree Commission qualifications — outcome: adopted. - Appointment: Brenda Zimkiewicz to Shade Tree Commission (term to Jan. 2027) — outcome: approved. - Extend electric supply agreement with KeyTech Energy (Oct. 2025–Oct. 2026 at 0.08837 $/kWh) — outcome: approved. - Final ranking, engineer of record (KCI #1; HRG #2; Gibson Thomas #3) — outcome: approved. - Event permits and street closures (Halloween parade, Crawford School of Terror dates, farmers market extensions, Juneteenth date, trick‑or‑treat hours) — outcome: approved, several pending police/fire/public works review. - Remove damaged parking meters near Moose Lodge — outcome: approved.

What council did not decide or deferred

Several event items were approved subject to final operational coordination with the police chief, fire chief and public works (for example, lane‑closure details and parking plans for events near the plaza under imminent construction). Council asked staff to convene follow‑up meetings with event organizers and city public‑safety and public‑works personnel before the next meeting to finalize logistics.

Next steps and follow‑ups

- The township will arrange and pay for the formal property transfer documents; city staff and the township indicated they will schedule follow‑up meetings to align grant and design work once conveyance is complete. - Staff will produce a consolidated plan on the removal/modernization of downtown parking meters for a future council discussion. - Event organizers will coordinate with police, fire and public works to confirm lane‑closure language and parking plans given construction in the plaza area.

Ending

Council closed the meeting after routine reports and a brief public comment period in which community members spoke about a planned mural, park improvements and summer programming. Several council members thanked volunteers and staff for summer events and for work on park and infrastructure projects currently moving toward design and grant application stages.