MERCER COUNTY Officials disagree on testing of radiation

The action does not jeopardize public safety, a commission said.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MERCER, Pa. -- Mercer County commissioners disagreed at their meeting Thursday over whether they should have to comply with Jefferson Township's requirements for measuring radiation coming off communications towers.
The disagreement centers on whether the county's Emergency 911 service comes under "public safety," a designation which would save the county from having to hire a consultant to prove the county's new microwave equipment at Charleston and Lamor roads emits safe levels of radiation.
The county has installed the equipment on a 700-foot tower it rents for $1,300 per month from a Texas company. The township's ordinance requires that new equipment be tested to make sure it complies with Federal Communication Commission threshold levels of radiation emission.
Motion fails
A motion to pay a consultant $750 to do the radiation study failed, with all three commissioners voting differently. Commissioner Michele Brooks voted for the motion, stating she wants to be on record attempting to comply with the township ordinance. Commissioner Brian Beader voted against it, stating that under the township ordinance, public safety equipment is exempt from the requirement. Commissioner Olivia Lazor abstained, later suggesting the commissioners ask the township to amend or review its ordinance so the county doesn't have to comply.
The county solicitor, Mark Longietti, said it is up to the township's solicitor to interpret the ordinance and determine whether the county has to pay for a radiation study.
Beader commented that Thursday's action does not jeopardize safety. He said the communications link "is up and running. & quot;
John Nicklin, deputy director of the department of public safety, said, "This communications link covers the whole county. If we lose that tower, we will lose half the county for coverage."
Also on agenda
Also Thursday, commissioners:
UOfficially introduced the new director of public safety, Frank Jannetti Jr., the former head of Lawrence County's 911 Center. He succeeds Jim Thompson, who resigned to take another post. Jannetti said he's committed to Mercer County and is already looking for places to live. He has given up all his positions Lawrence County with the exception of his post as police chief in Wampum, he said. Commissioner Brooks said Jannetti has the right combination of experience for the job, stating commissioners wanted a public safety director with police and fire experience.
UHired Duane Morris, LLP, a Pittsburgh law firm, retroactive to Feb. 17 to represent them in the lawsuit filed by Carmen Paliotta Contracting Inc. of Library, Pa. The fee for preliminary legal work will be $15,000 to $20,000. Atty. David Scotti of the firm will be assigned to the case and will be paid $360 per hour. The motion states that work will be done by associates or assistants at lower rates when possible. The contractor is suing commissioners in a dispute over completion of the Oakland Avenue Viaduct in Sharon. Work was stopped on replacement of that span in November 2001 because of a misalignment. No resolution of the problem has been reached despite many efforts.
UHired Herman McDuffie as lieutenant at the county jail. He will be paid $38,135 annually. He was formerly a sergeant at the jail and worked there eight years before leaving the post for another job.