Tarentum council approves police hire, water-system repairs, generator purchase and solar scheduling agreements
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Summary
At its March meeting the Tarentum Borough Council unanimously approved multiple personnel actions (including hiring a police officer and a water plant director contract), authorized water-system repairs and a borough generator purchase, rejected an over-budget waterline bid and adopted two ordinances to secure portions of future power supply with American Municipal Power.
Tarentum Borough Council unanimously approved a package of personnel moves, water-system repairs and energy agreements at its regularly scheduled meeting.
The council voted to hire a police officer effective March 11, 2026, and approved an employment contract for Tom Wazilowski as water plant director effective April 1, 2026. The council also authorized advertising for a water plant operator and an internal promotion to water plant coordinator to backfill the resulting vacancy. All personnel motions passed on voice votes recorded as unanimous (6–0).
Staff briefed council on water-system needs and ongoing grant planning. The borough authorized repairs to its distribution pump (Total Equipment Company, $35,600) and backwash pump (Total Equipment Company, $29,100), both to be paid from the capital fund, and approved purchasing an emergency generator for the borough building from Generac for $17,097. Council also voted to reject all bids for the TriPak (Bridal) waterline replacement project after bids returned roughly $200,000 over engineering estimates and directed staff to rebid. Staff noted the borough has “a couple million dollars’ worth of grants” expected to begin arriving this year to address larger water-plant investments (staff comment).
The council also approved two ordinances authorizing schedules with American Municipal Power: Ordinance 26-01 (Bright Mountain Solar schedule) and Ordinance 26-02 (Potomac Energy Center schedule). Staff characterized the moves as a way to secure a portion of future power supply and reduce exposure to PJM capacity-market volatility; both ordinances passed unanimously.
Votes at a glance (recorded outcomes): - Approval of 02/10/2026 minutes — passed unanimously, 6–0. - Pay February borough bills — passed unanimously, 6–0. - Hire police officer (Eric Callan) effective 03/11/2026 — passed unanimously, 6–0. - Employment contract for water plant director (Tom Wazilowski) effective 04/01/2026 — passed unanimously, 6–0. - Advertise water plant operator and coordinator positions — passed unanimously, 6–0. - Distribution pump repair (Total Equipment Company), $35,600 (capital fund) — passed unanimously, 6–0. - Backwash pump repair (Total Equipment Company), $29,100 — passed unanimously, 6–0. - Purchase emergency generator (Generac), $17,097 — passed unanimously, 6–0. - Reject all bids for TriPak waterline replacement and rebid — passed unanimously, 6–0. - Resolution 26-03: Opt into Allegheny County CDBG and related programs for 2027–2029 — passed unanimously, 6–0. - Resolution recognizing Local Government Week (Res. 26-04) — passed unanimously, 6–0. - Ordinance 26-01 and Ordinance 26-02 (schedules with American Municipal Power) — both adopted unanimously.
Why it matters: The council’s approvals address near-term reliability (pump repairs, generator), personnel continuity for utilities and public safety, and longer-term energy procurement strategy through contracts that aim to stabilize a portion of future power costs. Rejection of the waterline bids signals fiscal caution and a plan to rebid for more competitive pricing.
Council members who spoke included the Council President and staff who outlined the technical rationale for repairs and the electrician/electric-market context for the solar schedules. One staff member summarized grant prospects, saying the borough has “a couple million dollars’ worth of grants” anticipated for the water system. The meeting adjourned after a second public-comment period.
