Municipal News

Twitter

By Colette Dell

A council meeting was held at Shiloh church, in South Park Township, on April 25.

Pictured are (l-r): Pastor Carl Denson; Pastor Christine Portis; SP Police Police Chief Dennis McDonough; Pastor Jack Stepps; Jerrel Gilliam; Stephen Zappala; Elmore Lockley. Lower row: A representative for Matt Smith, Chief Deputy District Attorney of Cumberland County; and Tim O'Conner, Police Chief of BP.

The council members of South Park Township as well as Stephen Zappala, the Allegheny County District Attorney; Julian Craig, representing the Honorable Cheryl Allen; Tim O'Conner, Police Chief of Bethel Park; Dennis Mc Donough, Police Chief of South Park; and Sue Means, Allegheny County District 5 Representative; came together to listen to the concerns of local pastors and residents.

The first to come forward with a concern was the Rev. Jack Stepps, of South Hills Assembly of God. Since the Jerry Sandusky investigation, the PA Legislature has passed a law in which people who will be working with children need to pass several clearances before they can be hired or volunteer in a position that involves children. The concern of Stepps is that those at his church who want to work with children are not always willing to go through all the clearances, much less pay the fee.

"Most of it is nearly $60 per person, $57.50 per person, to be able to get all the clearances that are involved," Stepps said.

Brenda Lockley, Mt. Lebanon resident and Executive Director and CEO of Melting Pot Ministries, an after-school program designed for 4th - 8th graders who come from economically disadvantaged homes, expressed some things she would like to see happen for her program. Her program is primarily academic, but she wants to be able to incorporate athletics and the arts into it as well. Lockley currently gets some use of the Hillcrest school gym, but she has been trying for years to get use of the gym at South Park High School, as well as the auditorium. All she is really seeking is a partnership with South Park High School that will allow her to use these facilities.

Although Lockley is a Mt. Lebanon resident, she still pays taxes on a South Park home that family of hers currently live in, and she feels that she should be able to benefit from being a taxpayer of South Park. "How do we get the use of school facilities as a taxpayer?" Lockley questioned.

Dale Moore, resident of South Park, brought up the issues of vandalism and drugs in his neighborhood. He also asked for a light to be placed in the alley by his home.
Diane Ford, Director of Business Operations for Bethel Park and her daughter, Tracey Ford-Epperson, expressed their thoughts on racism in schools and Crystal Bates, Creative Director of Melting Post Ministries, brought up the issue of bullying on school buses.

The South Park Board of Supervisors and all who were there to listen to the local residents were very attentive and receptive towards the requests made. There were connections made and advice given, and members of the Board explained the actions they will take to resolve the issues at hand.

As the meeting came to an end, the Rev. Carl Denson and resident of Bethel Park, had some words to say in closing. He thanked the supervisors and officials for coming and commented on how well he thought they responded. "This was great, and I was very impressed on how the supervisors reacted," Denson said.

• < Prev
• Next >