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Commissioner Tom Balya Mayors' Forum
Minutes
Saturday, April 12, 2003, 9:00 a.m.
New Stanton Borough Building
Attending Mayors:
Robert Camphena, Export
Everett Saxton, Bolivar
Phil Light, Laurel Mountain
Gerry Lucia, Mount Pleasant
Warren Marchioni, Latrobe
James Roman, South Greensburg
Dan Rose, Irwin
Joyce Somers, Murrysville
Corey Tragesser , Sutersville
Guest Speaker: Rich
Matason,
Westmoreland County Director of Public Safety
Host Welcome: Standing in for New
Stanton Mayor Russ McHugh, Borough Secretary-Treasurer Mary Ann Roll welcomed the mayors
to New Stanton and thanked them for attending. She also provided the group with background
and a brief history of the borough -- the "Highway Hub of the County" -- and
briefed the mayors on several borough projects, including the widening of Center Avenue.
Guest Speaker: Westmoreland County
Director of Public Safety Richard Matason began his remarks by restating his goal that he
set forth for the department when he became director -- that Westmoreland County public
safety should lead the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The County’s leadership role was
affirmed recently when new PEMA Director David Sanko chose to visit Westmoreland County
first after his appointment. Since taking his post in February 2000, Rich has established
a team concept in emergency management, establishing working groups to promote cooperation
and interdepartmental relationships.
Rich said that communication is the key to
effective emergency management, and Westmoreland County is a leader in the state. The
contract with Motorola for the new 800-MHz high-band emergency radio system has been
signed, and the system is scheduled to be on-line in June 2004. The system is different
than the one that was originally proposed and not acted upon in 1999. The 800-MHz system
is an all-digital system that can carry data, and eventually push the data into every
municipal emergency response vehicle in the county. It provides almost 100-percent mobile
coverage and has built-in backups. There is also redundancy in the transmission towers
capable of supporting 14 "simulcast" systems. Rich also explained the economic
benefits of the new system, as other counties can feed off the central command system --
for a fee.
Rich stressed that the county will continue
to support conventional radio systems for as long as needed. The county is pursuing
additional State and Local Emergency Preparedness (SLEP) Grants for more radios to
complement the 1,000 radios that are currently being provided to local emergency service
providers.
Other new initiatives to increase the
county’s public safety and preparedness posture include a new Mobile Command Post and
Dispatch Center and a new HAZMAT rescue truck. The Mobile Command Post is scheduled to be
in service in early May to assist in community incidents. Seven positions in the truck are
duplicates of the county’s 911 center and can go into operation within 30 minutes,
meaning that there is no lag time in the event of a catastrophic failure at the 911
center. The new HAZMAT truck replaces a 12-year-old vehicle.
Rich went on to note that local
municipalities are better prepared as well. Westmoreland County was recognized by PEMA for
all 65 jurisdictions having accepted emergency management plans. This distinction opens
access to emergency training grants, which the county will share with communities. A high
percentage of local emergency managers are also "certified" by the state.
Rich explained that homeland security is
obviously a major issue for all government entities. Westmoreland County is part of the
highly recognized Region 13 (the 13 counties of southwestern PA), which is leading to
increased federal grant opportunities. The county is using the 65 local emergency managers
as a conduit for homeland security information. The Department of Public Safety is
currently finalizing a list of recommendations for the color-coded levels of terrorist
threats that will establish flexible guidelines for each community.
To further prepare the county for possible
terrorist attacks, or other disasters, Rich explained that his department is leading
efforts to formalize a County Continuity of Government Plan. Rich suggested that every
municipality consider adopting a similar strategy.
Question and Answer Session:
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Rich responded to a question about the
800-MHz project, stressing that current radio systems will continue to function as long as
the county continues to run the low-band frequencies.
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Rich responded to another question about
what happens if the county loses electricity as the result of a terrorist or
weather-related disaster. He explained that the center has a 24-hour battery backup.
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The next question was in reference to the
county’s readdressing project and whether it was law. Rich explained that the county
makes recommendations that must be approved at the local level. He added the project
should be completed by year’s end.
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A question about the responsibilities of
local jurisdictions led to an active discussion. Rich explained that responsibilities are
found under federal Title 35 and call for communities to establish (1) an emergency
manager, (2) an emergency center, and (3) an emergency plan. Rich offered his availability
for presentations before any local governments on community responsibilities under Title
35.
Rich can be reached at 724-600-7301 or via
e-mail at rmatason@co.westmoreland.pa.us.
New Business: Commissioner Balya
updated the mayors on the state of the county budget and the impact of proposed state
cuts. Only a portion of the county’s $290 million budget is funded through property
taxes -- about $60 million -- with the remaining coming through state and federal funds.
One of the county’s primary functions is the delivery of human service programs. As
currently proposed, the state budget would cut 90 percent from the Human Service
Development Fund (HSDF), costing Westmoreland County about $1 million. Other proposed
budget cuts would result in $1.6 million lost for the Westmoreland County mental health
program. The state bunch crunch will undoubtedly have an impact on the county budget and
the services the county provides. Local legislative leaders are working to restore this
funding.
On the issue of economic development, the
county is trying to secure funding for a new business park in Hempfield Township, off
George’s Station Road. The impact of the current recession on the county is not
nearly as drastic as past economic downturns in the 1980s. This is due in large part to
the county’s diversified economy, to which the county’s industrial park system
plays an important role.
Commissioner Balya also updated the mayors
on the county’s new Tourism Grant Program. The program is funded through a hotel
"bed tax." Two-thirds of the money goes directly to the Laurel Highlands
Visitors Bureau to promote tourism. The remaining third (expected to be about $200,000)
will be awarded in grants to tourism and tourism-related entities. The money can be used
for promotion or capital improvements. Commissioner Balya is part of a five-member
committee to review applications. Grant applications are due April 15, and grant awards
will be announced in June. (Note: On April 15, the Laurel Highlands Visitor’s Bureau
received 82 applications, from 61 different organizations, requesting more than $1.7
million.)
With no further business, the meeting
adjourned at approximately 10:30 a.m.
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