The Mel Weinstein Municipal Center for Kennedy Township where council meetings are held. -ON THE AGENDA-
By Alice Crow
Kennedy officials ratified a new trash removal contract, hired former Montour administrative assistant Tammy Ulizzi as assistant secretary and approved an additional flex office development for the 100 Beecham site on Aug. 11.
Longtime refuse company Valley Waste Service, Inc. has raised rates and residents can expect to pay more for less. Council approved a motion to accept the only bid for refuse hauling from Valley Waste, the company that has been collecting trash and recycling for Kennedy for more than a decade.
When the Beaver Falls-based company informed the municipality they would be increasing prices, officials put out the word for additional bids and received none.
The plan, based on Valley’s proposals, recommended by Treasurer and Manager Mel Weinstien and approved by council will provide the township with unlimited cans for pickup, four bags of grass per week, recycling every other week and recycling for electronics once a month. Cost will be $69 per quarter. Valley Waste will also provide waste pickup of the large dumpsters at Fairhaven Park for free.
Residential billing is currently $55.65 per quarter and includes weekly recycling pick-up. In selecting the new option for the township, Weinstein said residents would have to separately purchase recycling bins, as they would not be provided by Valley Waste.
“My suggestion is to go out and buy a bin. If your recycling builds up, you will have a larger box to put it in,” said Weinstein.
The other plans proposed by Valley Waste would have provided weekly recycling with bins for $80.58 per quarter or provided recycling bins with recycling pickup every other week for $73.50 per quarter.
By comparing Kennedy’s plan to other townships and boroughs, Weinstein explained that other places pay more for limited plans that often do not offer electronics recycling and grass pickup.
The contract with Valley Waste is set for three years with an option for a two-year extension. Weinstein informed council that he hoped to negotiate a five-year contract to better ensure a steady price for the township.
“I’ll ask if they are willing to go to a five-year contract, because after three years they could have the option to gouge us again, this way we can lock it,” Weinstein said.
Flex office
A motion to approve additional development at the Beecham Flex Office Space site was approved. Alberto Jarquin from Gateway Engineers and Mark Koontz from Horizon Properties Group presented plans to develop a second building at the 100 Beecham site to the assembled council.
Horizon previously bought the original Beecham building in 2016. It was vacant for a number of years before the purchase and the company spent around two years renovating the building, which is now 90% leased.
“That building has been a great asset for us, we love the community and that’s why we want to do a second building on that property,” Koontz said.
The new Beecham Flex Offices Space will have space for as many as seven tenants, but due to it’s flexible nature can be completely filled with less.
“Kennedy is great to work with and we announce up front that we are developer friendly,” Weinstein said.
"Every developer that hears those words, it’s a welcome to them because other communities give them a hard time."
Two other projects for townhouses were announced by Weinstein, with more information to come as plans have just recently been submitted to the township.
Assistant secretary
Longtime Montour administrative worker Tammy Ulizzi was brought on as Kennedy’s new assistant secretary.
“I have heard a lot of great things about you and I want to welcome you,” council member Susan Butya said.
A resident of Kennedy, Ulizzi retired from the Mountor School District after 17 years there and will begin her new position with the township on Aug. 22.
Fireman’s parade
A parade will be held as part of the Kennedy Community Days celebration which runs through Aug. 20 at Fairhaven Park. The Kennedy Township Fireman’s Parade will begin at 7 p.m. on Aug. 20, with lineup for the parade beginning at 6 p.m. at the Kennedy police station on Pine Hollow Road. The parade route will end at Fairhaven Park. A firework display is set for sundown.
Garden Club fest
The Kennedy Garden Club will be having a Fall Festival on Oct. 1 from noon to 4 p.m. at Fairhaven Park. There will be food trucks, craft vendors and activities for kids. This event is sponsored by State Rep. Anita Kulik.