Connellsville council approves permits, tree planters, a conservation MOU and traffic ordinance; seasonal hires vote splits 4–1

Connellsville City Council on Feb. 18 approved a package of routine permits and project actions, adopted a traffic ordinance and authorized several park- and event-related items. Most measures passed unanimously on roll call; council voted 4–1 to advertise for seasonal weekday and weekend park staff, with Councilman Addis recorded as the lone vote against that item.

Among the approvals the council took at the meeting:

- Permit: Fayette County Behavioral Health Administration requested use of Pavilion No. 2 at Youghiogheny River Park for a free wellness event on May 22, 2025; the council granted the request and set the rental cost at $60. (Roll call: Councilman Topper — Yes; Councilman Addis — Yes; Councilwoman Tiberio — Yes; Councilwoman Keeney — Yes; Mayor Lincoln — Yes.)

- Permit: Connellsville Garden Club’s annual geranium sale and drive-thru fundraiser at East Side Fire Hall on May 15–17, 2025 was approved. The club requested access for delivery and sorting over three days and asked for auxiliary police assistance for traffic flow. (Roll call: Councilman Keating — Yes; Councilwoman Tiberio — Yes; Councilman Haddis — Yes; Councilman Topper — Yes; Mayor Lincoln — Yes.)

- Permit: Jamie McBoyle Foundation, in conjunction with the Connellsville Recreation Board, was granted use of Austin Park on June 14, 2025 for a 21-and-over kickoff kickball tournament. (Roll call: Councilwoman Tiberio — Yes; Councilman Addis — Yes; Councilman Topper — Yes; Councilman Keeney — Yes; Mayor Lincoln — Yes.)

- Minutes: The council approved the Jan. 28, 2025 meeting minutes on a voice/roll call vote. (Roll call: Councilman Topper — Yes; Councilman Nattis — Yes; Councilwoman Tiberio — Yes; Councilman Keating — Yes; Mayor Lincoln — Yes.)

- Waiver: The council waived the four-day resolution rule to allow consideration of late-submitted resolutions at the meeting; the waiver passed on roll call. (Roll call: Councilman Harris — Yes; Councilman Keating — Yes; Councilwoman Siverio — Yes; Councilman Topper — Yes; Councilmember Merrill — Yes.)

- Volunteers/Tax Credit Eligibility: The council adopted the eligibility list of active volunteers for property tax credits under Act 172 and Ordinance No. 1533 of 2018. (Roll call: Councilwoman Siverio — Yes; Councilman Taba — Yes; Councilman Addis — Yes; Councilman Kinney — Yes; Mayor Lincoln — Yes.)

- Conservation MOU: The council approved a memorandum of understanding with the Mountain Motor State Association for phase 2 of the Youghiogheny River conservation plan; the agreement covers the next watershed planning segment and asks the city to serve as a host and to help identify a volunteer city representative for the committee. (Roll call: Councilman Keating — Yes; Councilwoman Tiberio — Yes; Councilman Addis — Yes; Councilman Topper — Yes; Mary Laney — Yes.)

- Bid authorization: The council authorized putting the installation of three planters in city-owned parking lots out to bid under the Connellsville Community Tree Program funded by a USDN grant; the grant will fund the work. (Roll call: Councilwoman Tiberio — Yes; Councilman Addis — Yes; Councilman Topper — Yes; Councilman Keedy — Yes; Mayor Lincoln — Yes.)

- Event street closures: The council approved temporary street closures for the Red, White and Boom festival on July 5, 2025, subject to chief and public works approval. (Roll call: Councilman Topper — Yes; Councilman Addis — Yes; Councilwoman Tiberio — Yes; Councilman Keede — Yes; Mary Lincoln — Yes.)

- Designated smoking area: The council approved designating an area at Youghiogheny River Park as a smoking area during the Yough River Rally, June 13–15, 2025. (Roll call: Councilman Kiddy — Yes; Councilwoman Tiberio — Yes; Councilman Addis — Yes; Councilman Topper — Yes; Mayor Lincoln — Yes.)

- Ordinance: The council adopted Bill No. 1 of 2025, regulating motor vehicles making right turns onto Fifth Street; associated fines were referred to the motor vehicle code. (Roll call: Councilman Topper — Yes; Mr. Menatus — Yes; Councilwoman Tiberio — Yes; Councilman Katie — Yes; Mary Lincoln — Yes.)

- Personnel advertising (split vote): The council authorized advertising for seasonal weekday and weekend departmental employees, to be funded from line item 430.145. The motion passed 4–1 (Councilwoman Tiberio — Yes; Councilman Addis — No; Councilman Katie — Yes; Councilman Topper — Yes; Councilwoman Marilyn — Yes). Councilman Addis was recorded as the lone dissent.

Council members also received routine reports from the police, fire and public works departments and heard updates about park upgrades and camera installations; no additional formal action on those items was recorded in these votes. The meeting concluded with a roll-call adjournment vote.