UNION TOWNSHIP Water service gets OK to expand
A former supervisor took a current supervisor to task.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Union Township supervisors approved an extension of water service Thursday to the Harbor area.
The Pennsylvania American Water Co. plans to begin work in June to extend service to the area bordering Mahoning Township. When it is completed, almost all of Union Township will have public waterlines.
Supervisors also approved a 2002 budget of $957,650, a slight increase over this year's $932,400. Taxes will remain the same.
Accusation: During public comment, former supervisor Sally Byler accused Supervisor Steve Galizia, who was not at the meeting, of violating zoning in a business with which he is associated on the north side of U.S. Route 224.
She produced a letter from Solicitor Don Nicolls to Zoning Officer Harry Passerrello stating that the landscaping business, SMG Enterprises Inc., is not a permitted use in the B-2 Business District because it has numerous trucks and a salt pile, but no office.
Nicolls states in his letter that it is his opinion that the business operation is not authorized or permitted under township zoning terms.
Byler told the supervisors that when she wanted to open a day-care center in her home, Galizia told her she couldn't because it would violate the zoning ordinance. "Apparently, since he is a supervisor, he can do anything he wants," she said.
Supervisor Ralph Nuzzo said action may be taken in January on the matter.
Contacted after the meeting, Galizia, stating he is manager, not owner of SMG, said it makes no sense for anybody to say that a business cannot be run in a business district.
"If you are going to start spot zoning in Union Township, you are in for a legal battle," he said.
Health insurance: Byler also disputed Galizia's statement at a previous meeting that he was not required to pay back any money for family health insurance coverage he received from April 28 through June 16, 1999, even though he had stopped working as assistant township roadmaster.
She produced a statement from the Pennsylvania Ethics Commission, which states that even though Galizia's letter of resignation states he would continue to pay for the benefits, he made no payments or reimbursements to the township.
The statement directed Galizia to pay $1,136 within 30 days of the order, dated March 12, 2001.
Galizia said Byler had originally contended he owed the township $6,485.
He agreed that he said at that time that he owed the township nothing and said the investigation was ongoing at the time.
He pointed out that, according to the ethics commission complaint process, disclosing or acknowledging information about a complaint, preliminary inquiry, investigation, hearing or petition which is before the commission is a misdemeanor offense.
Galizia said he did not attend Thursday's meeting because he had business in Pittsburgh.
Supervisors set their reorganization meeting for 3 p.m. Jan. 7.