Road department budget questioned

NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Supervisor Steve Galizia is not pleased with the Union Township Road Department's expenditures.
Galizia said the department's budget has risen from $112,000 to $209,000 since 1998 and has two additional full-time employees -- this in spite of the fact that the only additional township roads are those in two residential developments.
He added that the road department already is $1,000 over budget on fuel for the year.
Supervisor Kevin Guinaugh, who also is township road master, disputed Galizia's figures and pointed out that there has been no increase in taxes in the township in 13 years.
Galizia also said he wants a record kept of road employee hours spent on a township leaf pickup, which begins Nov. 1. He questioned the plan's cost effectiveness. Instead of picking up leaves on a schedule, the road department will pick up leaves whenever a resident calls, Galizia said.
He thought it should be limited to two days a week instead of having "two guys getting paid $12 to $15 an hour to pick up one person's leaves."
Residents are asked to refrain from putting limbs, shrubbery or grass in leaf bags.
Meeting dates
The November meeting will be at 6 p.m. Nov. 14 and the December meeting at 3 p.m. Dec. 12.
Supervisors announced that the Covert Crossing Bridge project will be bid Nov. 5, and work is expected to begin later in November. Completion is expected next August.
They approved a request from Cranbrook Drive residents for a street light.