[Sandbagger]

Cop Shop:
By Rose Quinn and Cindy Scharr, Of the Times Staff
09/03/2008

In Parkside, if a borough police officer approaches you, don't be alarmed - he might just want to chat.

In an effort to return to the days when small-town police officers knew most residents by name and the home address of every child, Correspondent Kenn Stark reported that Parkside cops will be taking a friendly interest in the people they serve. Officers being open to casual conversations with residents will help recreate a "hometown feel" between taxpayers and the police force, according to council Vice President Shirley Purcival.

The Get To Know Your Police Officers program will be launched this month.

"So, if you see our officers slow up in front of your house, they're not trying to give you a ticket or anything, they just probably want to say hello and take a moment to get to know you," Purcival said.

Also, two new part-time Parkside Borough police officers were added to the force. Mayor Ardele Gordon swore in the pair Aug. 27.

Patrolmen Charles Young and Michael Monaghan were both immediately available for duty, having already passed all testing requirements.

Young, 42, is a Springfield resident and has worked the last eight years as a courthouse police officer. He is also a 13-year Marine Corps veteran with combat experience in the Persian Gulf War.

Monaghan, 37, is a Drexel Hill resident. His Parkside posting is his first law enforcement position.

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Hometown Press
Posted on Tue, Sep 2, 2008
Parksiders Resent Internet Insults
By Kenn Stark

The regular posting of unsubstantiated rumors and caustic opinions on goparkside.com has given the website a bad name, at least in the eyes of its victims.Kelly Clausen - a borough resident, school crossing guard and employee of a Parkside gas station -came before borough council, Aug. 27, asking what could be done to put an end to derogatory Internet comments. Ms. Clausen noted that her work days are filled with inquiries from other residents, and suggested that her name being dragged through the e-mud has recently cost her a better employment opportunity.

Council President Thomas Deitman could sympathize, as he, Parkside Police Chief John Egan, and council members in general have been the favorite targets of the bloggers. The fact that the edgy criticisms are rarely signed with a name other than a fanciful title is the most frustrating aspect of the public attacks, Deitman said.
"You're never going to get anybody to admit who it is," said Deitman, noting that he is definitely not the frequently signed 'Thomas.'

"I firmly believe that this website was not set up to be used in the way that it is used," Deitman stated. "It was set up to be a community bulletin board but this has turned into an anonymous way to besmirch the good name of people."

According to Parkside Borough Treasurer Joseph Possenti, the website creator lives in Aston. As president of the Aston Township Board of Commissioners and former Aston Republican Party chairman, Possenti has been attacked by bloggers on a sister site - goaston.com. He suggested contacting the site's creator to request certain individuals be banned from posting, due to slanderous content.

Parkside Councilman Frank McCollum took another tack, noting that he personally does not visit these sites to read the commentary. Essentially, you can't be offended by what you don't know, McCollum said of the ignorance is bliss approach.

"I wouldn't partake of it. I wouldn't sink to that level," advised McCollum.

Both Deitman and Possenti agreed that public officials have to expect some level of public criticism, but felt that citizens should not be subjected to the same rigors.
"If you have a problem with a public official, you should come to a meeting, (confront) us face-to-face and say this is the problem I have with you," Deitman suggested. "All this does is breed problems and contempt. It's just a bunch of people who don't have the nerve to come and face us."

Council Vice President Shirley Purcival also condemned the anonymous postings.

"It's insulted Mr. Deitman; it's insulted our chief; it's insulted us as council members," Ms. Purcival stated. "Many of the comments there were inappropriate Obviously, whoever is doing this doesn't have the courage to come to council and face us."

If a borough employee is responsible for the derisive web postings, council could take action. Beyond that scenario, however, there is little that can be done.
"We're kind of between a rock and a hard place on this one As long as these things are allowed to propagate, we all have to live with it," Deitman said of unregulated Internet chat sites.

[Sandbagger]

Posted on Tue, Sep 2, 2008
Hometown Press
Parkside Trashes Fee Increase
By Kenn Stark

Concerned over the impact of imposing yet another trash fee increase on Parkside residents, borough council is protesting a proposed processing surcharge on all municipal and private trash haulers.The recent announcement by the Delaware County Solid Waste Authority (DCSWA) that a $30 per ton per month surcharge would be applied to every trash hauler before the year is out is sending a wave of fiscal panic through every Delco municipality.

Parkside Borough Treasurer/Aston Commissioners' President Joseph Possenti noted that the landfill fee hike is a response to the county withdrawing a $5 million annual DCSWA subsidy. Part of the processing fee increase would fund daily operations, while some would be applied to DCSWA capital improvements.

Possenti noted that surrounding counties have been surcharged at $60 per ton for some time. Delaware County has essentially "been getting a free ride for many years," he suggested.

Possenti said a request has been submitted asking for a phase-in of the higher fee, which would allow time for municipalities to budget for the substantial cost increase.

"I'm just hoping that if they phase it in, it won't be as big a hit, and the residents can prepare for that," Possenti said.

For Parkside, which produces about 64 tons of trash every month, the proposed dumping fee increase could translate to paying up to an additional $40,000 a year on top of the borough's current $105,000 trash collection contract.

"We were not asked if this was a good idea, or if we approve of it," Council President Thomas Deitman said of the DCSWA surcharge.

Borough residents have seen Parkside's annual trash collection fee more than double from $65 in 2005 to $135 per household this year.

The average impact of the proposed DCSWA charge is estimated to be $43 per Delco household, according to Possenti.

If another borough trash collection fee hike is needed in 2009 to keep pace with rising contract costs, Parkside residents could be looking at close to a $200 trash fee next year, which would mean the tripling of the rate over a four-year span.

"This is absolutely ridiculous for a small community like this. We just can't handle this It's not fair to the citizens," lamented Deitman.

Deitman suggested that the only solution to spiraling trash collection and processing costs for small municipalities is to share resources and regionalize the effort.

Possenti noted that a recycling collection program, which Parkside does not have, would also reduce trash collection costs by reducing the volume.

Following Aston Township's lead, an official letter of protest from Parkside Borough will be sent to County Council. Deitman suggested that every Parkside resident should draft their own protest letter, as well.

[Sandbagger]

Hometown Press
Posted on Tue, Sep 2, 2008
Parkside Accepts Siren Compromise
By Kenn Stark

Parkside Borough and Parkside Fire Co. officials recently reached an amicable compromise to address firehouse neighbors' complaints regarding use of the call siren.The fire station had initially agreed to turn off the siren from midnight to 6 a.m., out of respect for their residential neighbors. After cordial talks with borough representatives, Fire Chief Joseph Iacona has offered to expand the shut-off hours from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., satisfying a plea made last month by an adjacent homeowner.

In the wake of the new arrangement, the borough received a new complaint from another neighbor, who wants siren use suspended during daylight hours, as well. Council President Thomas Deitman made it clear, however, that he would not present such a request to the fire company.

"We're not going to do that. We're going to stick to our commitment," Deitman stated at the Aug. 27 council meeting. "The fire company is a private organization and they don't have to turn that siren off, unless someone files a complaint under the noise ordinance. So we're not going to go back and revisit this thing. If they want to blow the siren during the day, that's their absolute right to do so," he added.

[Sandbagger]

Deitman chides Kirkland over 'bonusgate' scandal
By: Alex Rose, arose@delcotimes.com
09/08/2008

Parkside Borough Council President and GOP candidate for Pennsylvania's 159th Legislative District Thomas Deitman added his name Monday to a growing list of Republicans denouncing Democratic legislators who are not calling for House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese, D-Greene, to step down in the wake of a staff bonus scandal.

Attorney General Tom Corbett's office in July charged 12 current and former Democratic lawmakers and aides with theft, criminal conspiracy and conflict of interest.

The charges stem from an investigation that uncovered the alleged illegal use of millions of taxpayer dollars and of state employees for political campaigns.

Among those charged were DeWeese's top lieutenants, former House Democratic Whip Michael Veon and DeWeese's ex-chief of staff, Michael Manzo. Corbett promised more indictments would follow, and last month subpoenaed several House Republican staffers, as well.

While DeWeese was not charged and has publicly proclaimed he was unaware of his allies' alleged illegal acts, some in Harrisburg believe that as the top House Democrat, he should take responsibility for their actions and step aside.

Deitman apparently agrees.

"These latest bonus scam indictments, as well as the pay raise scandal two years ago, all took place on DeWeese's watch," he said in a release Monday. "It's no wonder that confidence in the political leadership in Harrisburg is at an all-time low."

Deitman called on his opponent, eight-term incumbent state Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland, D-159, of Chester, to "do the right thing" and demand a vote be taken among Democratic House members to remove DeWeese from his position when they return to Harrisburg next week.

Kirkland said he stands by his leadership in Harrisburg and suggested Deitman focus on doing something about education, economic development and social development in the 159th District if he wants to get his name in the paper, "instead of trying to chastise and lynch Rep. DeWeese and others in the House of Representatives."

"As chairman of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus and as a legislator and as someone who believes in the legal process, I've said this once and I'll say it again: We don't find people guilty until proven innocent, not in the general public, nor should we do it to elected officials," said Kirkland.

"What they don't know about DeWeese is that Deweese has been a great leader in the House of Representatives, he has been a well-respected leader, by me and many of my colleagues in the House of Representatives, and no, we don't know each and every thing that our staff persons do on a daily basis ... but when he did find out, he acted quickly and appropriately."

Kirkland noted that DeWeese immediately suspended certain staffers who ultimately resigned or were terminated as a result of the indictments.

"So take it from someone who has been condemned without justification, I don't think anyone should be lynched, and I use that word in the fashion that Deitman and others have been trying to do with Rep. DeWeese. ... I think Deitman needs to understand who the man is first before he goes and condemns the individual."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

[rukiddingme]

I think Deitman should have been on this months ago nothing like a band wagan jumper

[Sandbagger]

Hometown Press
Posted on Tue, Sep 9, 2008
Plea For Speeding Controls
By Kenn Stark

Motorists speeding and running stop signs at the Parkside intersection of East Chelton and Blossom avenues remains a chronic issue, according to a corner lot homeowner.Pat Carey sees the parade of violations every day, at all times of the day, she recently told Parkside Borough Council.

Ms. Carey has asked for help on prior occasions and was back before council again, Aug. 27, wanting to know why nothing has been done. She noted that a kitten has already been killed in front of her home by a reckless driver, and fears that a child will be the next victim.

"This has gotten totally out of hand and I'd really like to see something be done," Ms. Carey asserted. "Nobody stops, and at nighttime they go through there so fast."

Council President Thomas Deitman called the lack of police presence at the intersection a matter of "time and placement," noting that the borough only has a single patrol car on duty.

The resident noted that whenever a squad car has staked out the intersection, motorists are "all perfect citizens." She suggested a hidden police detail, and even offered the use of her front porch as an observation post.

"If a spotter was on my porch, and (a police car) was sitting at the next blockyou would have (so much) money that you could lower our taxes," suggested Ms. Carey.

Ms. Carey cited Elwyn vans and white Community Transit vehicles as frequent violators. She also said that she has recognized many of her neighbors among the lawbreakers.

Mayor Ardele Gordon confirmed that borough residents are often the guilty parties, reporting that out of 100 traffic citations written in July, 28 were given to Parksiders.

Ms. Carey asked if other alternatives existed, such as the illumination of stop signs or the installation of speed bumps. It was noted that traffic-calming speed bumps or humps are being employed in neighboring towns, but the devices are expensive (movable rubber bumps cost about $1,500 each) and can create insurance liability issues for the boroug

[Sandbagger]

Hometown Press
Posted on Tue, Sep 9, 2008
Penn-Delco Approves Temporary Solution For Former School Site
By Kenn Stark

Already delayed for one year, temporary improvements to the former Park-side Elementary School site were recently approved after another two-month delay. The Penn-Delco School Board had waited over summer recess to vote on two change orders for the construction project.A green recreational area and a much-needed auxiliary parking lot for the new elementary school have been pending since the old school's demolition last summer.

The discovery of an underground plume of petroleum contamination from the gas station across Edgmont Avenue has brought the project to a standstill. Experts representing the gas station, the borough, the school district and the Department of Environmental Protection are now wrangling over a resolution and who's responsible for funding it.

Once the DEP got involved, district officials realized that a permanent fix for the contaminated soil might take months or even years to achieve. The potential delay led to reconsideration of the original plan and the School Board's Aug. 26 adoption of an alternative site improvement plan.

District officials had come before borough council in June, hoping to move the project forward.

A plan to forego installation of an underground drainage system and temporarily cover the parking area with crushed stone (to allow immediate use) was floated by engineer Nick Cirilli, architect Justin Istenes, and District Business Manager John Steffy.

In endorsing the alternate plan in June, borough council set a one-year deadline for project completion, though Steffy predicted then that the work would be completed by September.

When the need to approve change orders for the project arose in early summer, district officials felt that School Board approval was needed, and hence delayed the start of work.

One change order provided for a temporary stone lot, as opposed to a paved surface, while another involved the need for additional tree trimming. When the credits and debits are balanced after the change orders, the total cost of the renovation project comesinat $410,325, which includes demolition of the school, electrical work, field seeding, fencing, regrading and the widening of the entrance drive.

Now that the School Board has unanimously authorized the change orders, work is scheduled to begin immediately. The modified project should take no more than 10 days to complete, weather permitting, according to Steffy.

In response to the uncertain construction start date, Parkside Borough Council has reset the one-year timer, restarting the clock on Aug. 27. Council President Thomas Deitman recommended moving the deadline back two months, arguing that district employees should not be held responsible for a delay created by the School Board.

[Sandbagger]

Hometown Press
Posted on Tue, Sep 30, 2008
Parkside Considers Recycling Program In Light Of County Trash Fee Increase
By Kenn Stark

Parkside Borough currently has no mandatory recycling program, but looming trash collection fee increases are causing borough council to rethink the possibility of starting an official recycling effort to reduce trash costs.When the Delaware County Solid Waste Authority tacks on a $15 per ton per month trash processing surcharge in 2009, Parkside residents would likely see the fourth straight year of an increase in the borough's annual trash collection fee, currently set at $135 per household.

Since the monthly surcharge is based on tonnage of trash collected, separating recyclables out of the mix will reduce the weight, and hence the fee.

Borough officials have already ordered a feasibility study to determine the costs associated with a recycling program. The study is expected to be completed by December.

Council President Thomas Deitman recently suggested that a borough-run recycling effort could offer once-a-month curbside pickups by the Public Works Department, which would be cheaper than contracting with an outside hauler.

"I know that it costs a lot to go through the regular trash haulers, but I don't see why we couldn't possibly use our own equipment for one or two days a month," Deitman stated last week.

Deitman hopes that a recycling program can be started in Parkside by the end of March. In the interim, the borough will determine where to take its collected recyclables to get the best return.

In other business, council authorized the expenditure of $200 to buy four paver bricks for the Delaware County Fallen Firefighters and EMS Memorial at Rose Tree Park. Parkside Borough's bricks will be among 3,000 engraved pavers that would line a walkway to the proposed memorial site.