NEW CASTLE Official: Target fire safety

Council hired attorneys and bond counsel to work on the downtown revitalization project.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The debate over fire safety in the area behind the proposed city high school has one city councilman questioning how good is the city's overall fire protection.
"I think we should take a good hard look at all the response times in New Castle. We are saddled with a public safety and this issue with the school has raised a red flag," Councilman Mark Elisco said.
On Tuesday, Fire Chief Jim Donston told council members that he opposes the closing of Reis Street, something needed for the construction of a new city high school.
The fire chief said the street is the most direct access to the 36 homes behind the school building. Forcing emergency responders to take another route could delay them anywhere from 45 seconds to a minute, he said. He pointed out that a fire can double in size every 30 seconds.
Vote scheduled: City council will vote on the matter March 22.
During Thursday's council meeting, resident Rosemary Henderson asked council not to close the street.
"I feel no council member can vote with their clear conscious and vote that the street should be closed. It disturbs me when people's lives are at stake," she said.
Resident Mary Ellen Jessell also questioned council about fire response times throughout the city. She asked that the fire department provide times for every section of the city to determine if there are any other problems.
Elisco agreed.
"I think council should also consider the number of full-time firefighters we have. The number has probably gone down 100 percent in the last 10 years, but the general acreage of New Castle remains the same," he said.
The department has 21 full-time firefighters, including the chief and his assistants, and seven part-time fire fighters.
Would support hiring: After the meeting, Elisco said he would support hiring more firefighters if it's determined there is a public safety problem.
He also wants to check out city traffic patterns for emergency response, especially during high school football and basketball games when the city's narrow streets are lined with cars.
Also on agenda: In other business, solicitor James Manolis and his law firm will take on new responsibilities for the city. Council hired Verterano & amp; Manolis as special council for legal services on the downtown revitalization project at a fee of $150 an hour.
Manolis said the project requires work other than his normal duties as city solicitor, including preparing contracts and property acquisition for the city's part in the proposed Warner Bros.-themed mall.
Council also agreed to hire Cohen & amp; Grigsby as special bond counsel for a $1.55 million bond issue needed for the work on city street resurfacing and parking as part of the Warner Bros. project. The Pittsburgh law firm will be paid $10,500.