Articles written by Margaret L. Smykla
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Mt. O. Boro Council passes disruptive property ordinance
A new ordinance amending the Disruptive Property Ordinance was the lead story from the Oct. 15 meeting of Mt. Oliver council. Under the amended ordinance, if there are three calls to a property for disruptive activity within a 90-day period, the...
South Side updated on construction projects coming to community
The upcoming South Side infrastructure projects, and an update on the South Side Parking Enhancement District (PED), were the focus of the Oct. 9 meeting of the South Side Planning Forum. Engineer Emily Gaspich, P.E., of the city’s Dept. of...
Mission Street Bridge, 18th Street corridor slated for improvments
The Oct. 9 meeting of the South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association (SSSNA) began with elections. The slate of candidates approved unanimously was comprised of Jamie Balser, Blake McClaren, Donna Tarkett, Gavin Robb, Candice Gonzalez, and Kristin...
Free wills, assistance for homeowners and free Thanksgiving dinners discussed
Free personal wills, free and reduced-cost assistance for homeowners, and free Thanksgiving dinners were among the topics discussed at the September 27 meeting of the Mt. Oliver City/St. Clair Community Group. The meeting was conducted by Jamie...
Zone 3 council considers summer festival, asks about progress on abandonded cars
Abandoned vehicles, animal neglect, and a potential Zone 3 summer festival were among the topics at the Sept. 17 meeting of the Zone 3 Public Safety Council, held in the Knoxville Library on Brownsville Rd. At last month’s meeting, the question...
MO mayor opposes care facility proposed for school building
A new council member, and a proposal to turn the former Mt. Oliver School into a health and care giving facility operated by the human service agency Auberle, kicked off the Sept. 17 meeting of Mt. Ol...
S.S. Planning Forum history, mission and purpose explained
The history and function of the South Side Planning Forum and the South Side Neighborhood Plan were at the heart of the special annual meeting of the Planning Forum on Sept. 11. There were also brief updates on the South Side Parking Enhancement...
Councilman resigns, nuisance property considered in boro
The August 20 meeting of Mt. Oliver council began with announcement of the resignation of Councilman David Beltz, whose letter cited work and family demands. Council accepted his resignation by a 4-0 vote. In addition to Mr. Beltz, council members...
UPMC Mercy, PED spending disscussed at Planning Forum
Updates on the UPMC Mercy South Side Outpatient Center, East Carson St. business district strategy, and the South Side Parking Enhancement District (PED) were presented at the July 31 meeting of the South Side Planning Forum. The first presentation...
Boro to get tough with those who are delinquent on sewage
A change in how delinquent sewage bills will be handled kicked off the July 16 meeting of Mt. Oliver Borough Council. Mayor Frank Bernardini said he and other borough officials met with Jordan Tax Service a few weeks ago. Going forward, residents...
Wolfe resigns from Zone 3 council, Liz Style will now lead safety group
Zone 3 Public Safety Council vice-president Liz Style is the group’s new president following the resignation of Ken Wolfe. “It has been my pleasure to serve you,” he said at the July 16 meeting. After 14 years he stepped down as president to...
Consultants ask for input on future of South Side business
A community meeting to help develop priority actions strengthening the East Carson Street business district drew about 65 attendees to the South Side Market House on July 12. “We’re in this journey in which you are the most valuable component...
SSCC elects board, hears about lead and Carson construction
The June 25 general meeting of the South Side Community Council featured board re-elections, and presentations on lead service line replacement and the Carson St. infrastructure project. Board President Barbara Rudiak said the by-laws call for 15 boa...
Boro resident asks council to consider paid firefighters
An impassioned plea by a resident for a full-time, paid borough fire department was at the heart of the June 18 meeting of Mt. Oliver council. It was in response to a child dying in a three-alarm...
Zone 3 council learns more about dealing with disruptive properties
Pittsburgh Assistant Public Safety Director Shatara Murphy spoke on "Disruptive Properties: How to Identify and What to Do About Them," at the June 18 meeting of the Zone 3 Public Safety Council....
Planning Forum recaps South Side area developments
The June 12 meeting of the South Side Planning Forum began with Chair Hugh Brannan thanking Barbara Rudiak for chairing the forum meetings the past few months. He said he heard she did a very good job. Mr. Brannan reminded everyone of what he...
Mental health frames discussion at Zone 3 meeting
The May 21 meeting of the Zone 3 Public Safety Council featured a discussion on mental health with therapist and social worker Julius Boatwright of Steel Smiling, the community-based social-service agency he founded which conducts free outreach....
Abandonded cars an issue in Mt. Oliver City
Crime the past four months in Mt. Oliver City was “extremely low”, said community relations Officer Christine Luffey in kicking off the May 24 meeting of the Mt. Oliver City/St. Clair Community Group. The crimes included: one aggravated assault,...
Public safety highlights boro meeting
The May 21 meeting of Mt. Oliver Council began with the public safety report for April. Mayor Frank Bernardini reported there were 714 total calls for service, and 33 drug-related arrests, the latter for the seizure of marijuana, crack cocaine,...
PWSA customers in South Side may have lead lines replaced
The May meeting of the South Side Planning Forum featured presentations on the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) and its lease service line replacement project, and a proposed City Theatre renovation project. In his overview of the PWSA, ex...
Slopes updated on city steps plan, East Carson Street safety projects
Presentations on the city steps plan and on the East Carson Street safety improvement project headlined the May meeting of the South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association (SSSNA). Angie Martinez, of the city’s new Dept. of Mobility and Infrastructur...
South Side Park Master Plan process now completed
The master plan for South Side Park was unveiled on April 19 at the Arlington Recreation Center. Among the 40 elements chosen for the park are: An ADA-accessible boardwalk; open-air pavilion over small building; amphitheater; renovated entrance...
Mayor touts decrease in homicides, increase of ShotSpotter program
“Trauma, Public Safety & You: Impacts & Solutions” was the topic of the spring city-wide public safety meeting which drew more than 125 residents to the Teamster Temple in Lawrenceville on April 18. The meeting was conducted by Zone 5 public...
Mount Oliver to crack down those parking on yellow lines, sidewalks
Vehicles parked on yellow lines or sidewalks will be ticketed. The reminder about the state and borough codes was reiterated during the April 16 meeting of Mt. Oliver Council. No parking on sidewalks is in Section 3353(a)(1)(ii) of the Pennsylvania...
UPMC to relocate some services to other S.S. locations
While surgical and some other services at the UPMC Mercy South Side Outpatient Center will be moving elsewhere this summer, other clinical services will remain at the site for the time being. That inf...
