South Pittsburgh Reporter - Serving South Pittsburgh Since 1939

Recent developments in the council of Mount Michener should give the subjects pause to reflect on what has happened in their little fiefdom on the hill. In recent months, Council President Billie Michener and her band of followers dismissed two long-...

The special meeting called by the Mount Oliver Borough Council on Wednesday, April 24 was long on waiting and short on businesses. The meeting was called to approve a real estate transaction with First National Bank for the former bank building at...

Mount Oliver Mayor James Cassidy kept his swearing-in skills sharp by administering the oath of office twice during the April 15 council meeting: to the new Acting Chief, Sergeant Matt Juzwick, and to new council member Vanessa Talley. The vote to...

The findings of a review and evaluation of the Mount Oliver Police Department are a mixed bag of compliments and criticism for the department and borough officials. The report, prepared by Chief Michael E. Mastroianni (Ret.) of L&M Accreditation...

I would like to comment on how the firing of Mount Oliver Sgt. Keith Williams was conducted. Here are some questions this Mount Oliver Council will have to answer eventually: How was Sgt. Williams insubordinate? If so, was he counseled or...

The resignations of two council members, and the appointment of a new member to fill a vacancy, is the lead story from the March 18 Mount Oliver council meeting. Council member John Smith, Sr., and...

Mount Oliver has lost another council member. Late last week on Thursday night, George Farneth II tendered his resignation from the Mount Oliver Borough Council in an email to council president Billie Michener. “My only regret is that I will not...

The last order of business at the Feb. 18 Mount Oliver council meeting is the lead story: the $50,000 settlement of the civil rights lawsuit of council President Billie Michener. The vote to approve the settlement was three yes and one abstention,...

Mount Oliver council President Betty “Billie” Michener’s civil rights lawsuit against the borough and past and present members of council was settled for $50,000 by three “yes” votes of the seven-member council on Feb. 18. Voting in the aff...

The Jan. 21 meeting of Mt. Oliver council -- which fell on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and the Presidential Inauguration -- began with a moment of silence for Rev. King. Councilmen George Farneth and...

The adoption of a 2013 budget with no tax increase headlined the Dec. 17 meeting of Mt. Oliver council. Councilmen George Farneth, Pat Malloy and John Smith, Sr. were absent. In the mayor’s report which began the meeting, Mayor James Cassidy said...

The retirement of the street commissioner, a methane gas leakage in a home’s garage, and a request for more information on the ambulance service were among the topics at the Nov. 19 meeting of Mt. Oliver council. Councilman John Smith, Sr., was...

Upcoming borough events like “Crank it at the Clock” and “Redd-Up Day” were discussed at the Oct. 15 meeting of Mt. Oliver council. The meeting began with Mayor James Cassidy recommending...

The neighborhood success of the new youth football league, and the resignation of Melvin Pollard as volunteer assistant ordinance officer, were the highlights of the Sept. 17 meeting of Mt. Oliver council. Council member Pat Malloy was absent. In...

The hiring of an assistant code enforcement officer in Mount Oliver once again drew the ire of council meeting attendees, this time for the man's record of driving with a suspended or revoked license, and outstanding balances on traffic and parking...

At the July Mount Oliver Borough swore in Melvin Pollard as its new assistant code enforcement officer. Council President Billie Michener declined to take questions before the swearing in ceremony, preferring to wait until after Mayor James Cassidy...

The unveiling of proposed, new parking violation rates, and the swearing in of the new assistant code enforcement officer, were among the actions at the July 16 Mount Oliver council meeting. Council members Pat Malloy and John Smith, Sr., were...

Nearly 35 years ago I went to my first Mount Oliver Borough Council meeting. I can still remember sitting in the gallery of the Council Chambers, what is now the borough administrative office. Then, the borough secretary was Freda Froelich, council...

The hiring of an assistant code enforcement officer was the lead story from the June 18 meeting of Mt. Oliver council, and it was not without controversy. Councilwoman Christine Brendel was absent. By a 4-2 vote, with council members Pat Malloy and...

— Longtime secretary tenders resignation, ways to collect unpaid fines discussed — A new borough secretary, new part-time police officer, a successful "Movies in the Park," and a call for borough volunteers were among the news items from the May...

Mount Oliver council voted at its April 16 meeting to ratify the three percent raise for police Chief Frank Mosesso approved by council on Sept. 20, 2010. No other changes to the four-year contract that runs from 2011 to 2014 were voted on at the...

As she did last month, Mt. Oliver council President Billie Michener began the March 19 monthly meeting with news of the "code of conduct" for council members, mayor, and residents at meetings, and adopted by council last month. Based on Robert's...

Mount Oliver council President Billie Michener began the Feb. 20 monthly meeting by announcing a "code of conduct" for borough councilmembers and employees based on Robert's Rules of Order. "We will...

The Jan. 16 meeting of Mt. Oliver council featured the announcement of new committees and members, news of the borough website, and the potential implementation of a Civil Service Commission for police hiring. Councilman George Farneth was absent....