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

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.