LAWRENCE COUNTY State rep wants to void contract

The housing authority director said the company started work Thursday.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- State Rep. Frank LaGrotta wants to void a painting and lawn-care contract given by the Lawrence County Housing Authority because of a pre-existing relationship between the owner of the company and a board member.
The Ellwood City Democrat said he has asked the Pennsylvania Ethics Commission to examine the issue and intervene if necessary.
A. General Maintenance of New Wilmington, owned by Steve and Cherie Catale, was awarded a $236,133 painting contract and a $93,330 lawn-care contract on May 13.
LaGrotta first questioned the bidding process, contending that the only other bidder, WeCare Lawn Care of Youngstown, was not registered with the state of Ohio.
He also had questions about A. General Maintenance, a company that registered with the state only last month. A. General Maintenance had been given the contract in April, but the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development rejected the bid because it was the only one received.
Low bidder
The job was advertised again, and A. General Maintenance was low bidder.
Now LaGrotta believes the entire contract should be voided.
"It was reported to my office that Gary Felasco was partners in the Parkstown Skating Rink with Nick DeRosa and Steve Catale," LaGrotta said.
DeRosa is the assistant superintendent for the New Castle Area School District.
"My staff has spoken with an attorney for the Department of Housing and Urban Development and we were informed that a relationship of this nature must be disclosed before a bid can be awarded to an associate or former associate of a board member," LaGrotta continued. "Also, the board member in question must remove himself from the bid consideration process."
Felasco is a member of the county housing authority board of directors. He is also the elected county treasurer.
LaGrotta said the relationship between Catale and Felasco has to be examined by HUD before any money is given to the company.
Felasco, Catale and DeRosa could not be reached for comment Friday afternoon.
Lawrence County Housing Authority Director Robert Evanick said he was unaware of any business relationship between Felasco and Catale. He has asked LaGrotta for documentation on the matter.
Evanick said A. General Maintenance started its painting work Thursday at Lawrence Manor in New Castle.
Catale did make a $600 donation to Felasco in his last election as Lawrence County treasurer, according to county election records.
Felasco has come under fire since it was revealed in February that he had not paid property taxes on his Cunningham Avenue home since 2000. An improper "court stay" was placed on the property, keeping it from the yearly tax sale. Pennsylvania State Police are investigating.