As we start 2016, we’d like to review the progress that was made in our community by the Ambridge Borough Council and Mayor this past year. It is through their coordinated efforts, great strides have been made to help bring about improvements in our parks, increased public safety staffing and equipment, storm sewer and road infrastructure projects, and comprehensive and uniform code enforcement policies. This past year has brought about the following:
advertisement Public Safety (Police & Fire)
- Hired three (3) new full-time police officers, 2 hired using a Federal COPS Hiring Grant.
- Renewed School Resource Officer Contract with Ambridge Area School District, keeping an Ambridge Police Officer in the High School.
- Amended the Code to allow for turning on Red at 11th and Duss, 8th and Duss and 11th and Merchant St.
- Purchased two new police cruisers
- Created Fire Department Billing Program – created Fire Apparatus Replacement Fund
- Increased the salary for School Guards
Public Works
- Designed, implemented, secured project funding for 2016 Road and Inlet Program – road construction to start in the spring of 2016.
- New trash contract, provided all households with a new Ambridge Recycling Bin
- Additional Full-time Public Works Employee – Mr. Shawn West
- Tree Contract, cleaned up many problem areas
- Planted 25+ new street trees along the 4th Street Gateway
- Partnered with Columbia Gas, new gas lines installed along Wilson Avenue, Elm Road, Pine Street, 4th Street and Short Street
- Installed a new storm sewer in the alley behind the High School and Glenwood Avenue
- Completed many in-house repairs to catch basins saving thousands of dollars
- Amended our Street Opening Restoration Specifications to increase the area to be restored by utility companies while disturbing streets
- Updated the Borough’s Stormwater Management Ordinance
- Created and Implemented an Annual Municipal Facility Maintenance Plan
- Renovated and rehabbed three of the four public parking lots in the business district
Administration
- Secured Pennsylvania Infrastructure Bank loan, low interest at 1% for 10 years for road program.
- Awarded $342,719.00 in outside grants
- Borough Website won 2nd Place Recognition in state-wide contest sponsored by PA State Association of Boroughs.
- Renewed Collective Bargaining Agreements with Firefighters Union and Public Works Employees without arbitration.
- Created and Adopted Fiscal Policies safeguarding public funds
- Adopted the 2016 Budget, balanced spending plan without a tax increase.
Parks and Recreation
- Finished construction of the new Football Field at Panek Park.
- Partnered with Lexi Korol and Lexi Palombo for the construction of the new Ambridge Dog Park.
- Reopened the Ambridge Skate Spot
- Partnered and secured a grant for ABE Baseball for a new lawn tractor to maintain the baseball fields.
- Approved filming of “Friday Night Tykes” at Panek Park for the Ambridge Little Bridgers Football Team.
- Hosted the annual Ambridge Fall Festival at PJ Caul Park that made a profit of $2,529.83 that was earmarked for future playground equipment.
- Purchased an Expression Swing Set for Panek Park using the proceeds from the Fall Festival.
advertisement Community Redevelopment / Planning
- Construction of the new Cobblestone Inn on 11th Street
- Partnered with the Ohio River Trail Council to study creating an on-the-road bike trail through Ambridge, connecting Glen Osborne Borough to Center Township.
- Instituted the “Shop Ambridge First Program” and recognized longtime Ambridge businesses at the Council Meetings throughout the year.
- Amended the Façade Program to focus on Merchant Street
- Partnered with the Municipal Authority – large scale sanitary sewer improvement projects in the Borough including new sewer lines on Park Road, Church Street, new pump station on 4th Street and a holding tank constructed on 19th Street.
- Adopted a new flood plain ordinance.
- Updated and fully implemented the Borough’s tax abatement program as a tool to attract investment to the Community.
- Amended the Zoning Ordinance to allow for outdoor dining at eating establishments.
Code Enforcement
- Appointed Nick Sheleheda as Health Inspector / Officer – inspected all of the Food / Eating Establishments in the Borough.
- Hired DeAunta’e Clark fulltime as the Borough’s Code Enforcement Officer
- Improved the Borough’s Demolition Policies and instituted bonding requirements to ensure completion of demolition projects.
- Improved the Zoning Ordinance to “Right-Size” our downtown, amending the permitted uses of properties on Merchant Street.
- Uniform reimplementation of the Rental Operating License and Inspection Program.
- Partnered with Beaver County Community Development to raze blighted buildings on Olive Lane and Locust Street
- Implemented comprehensive sign regulations in the Commercial District
As a community, working united, sharing a vision for a bright future we stand poised to use the progress made in 2015 as a catalyst for even a better 2016. In 2016, some of the projects that are slated include a large road improvement campaign, blight removal along Merchant Street, LED Street Lighting upgrades in the Historic District, and additional park improvements. We thank everyone for their involvement this past year, as we all have played a role in moving Ambridge forward.
Submitted by: Joe Kauer, Borough Manager
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