8/7/2019 080410 West Pittston Apartments

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Developer reassuresWest Pittston residentsBy Patrick SweetStaff Writer

WEST PITTSTON The

run-down Hitchner BiscuitBuilding in West Pittstonwill not be designated forSection 8 housing once thefour-story building is devel-oped into an apartmentbuilding.

That was the repeatedmessage Tuesday night atthe West Pittston BoroughCouncil meeting. The coun-cil members present votedunanimously to extend the

termination date for theUnited Neighborhood Com-munity Development Cor-porations purchase optionfor the building.

The extension from Aug.2 to Nov. 4 will allow thecorporation enoughtime tofinish securing financing.The corporation purchasedthe building for $300,000from the borough, whichpurchased it at a tax sale.

The fireproof concretebu i ld ing tha t f ea tu re sgiant ovens once used forcake and biscuit bakingwill feature 18 apartmentsranging from one to threebedrooms and 600 to 1,100square feet.

Its going to be a veryclassy, very clean place,Michael Hanley, executivedirector of the develop-ment corporation, said.

In response to residentsconcerns about future ten-

ants, Hanley said the cor-poration will have strictapplication requirements,i n c l ud i n g a m i n i mu mincome to ensure rent getspaid on time.

We do criminal back-ground and credit checkson every tenant, Hanleysaid.

Lisa Reynolds, a WestPittston resident, was con-cerned that in five to 10

years the apartments couldbecome shady.

West Pittston isnt real-ly an apartment building

town, Reynolds said. Imsure you can understandour concerns.

Despite the building notbeing designated as Section8 housing, Hanley said thecorporation will acceptSection 8 vouchers if thetenant passes all the appli-cation requirements.

Under fair-housing laws,it would be illegal for themt o t u r n a wa y t e n a n ts

because they qualified forSection 8 vouchers.You cant stop someone

f r o m a p p l y i n g , Wes tPittston Mayor Bill Gold-sworthy said, but you canhave controls.

psweet@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2117

Pa. layoffs loom as vote on aid nHARRISBURG (AP)

Pennsylvaniasstate andlocalgovernmentswould be forcedto lay off a combined 12,500public employees, includingteachers, police officers andfirefighters, if Congressdoesnt send the state more

recession-relatedaid, Gov. EdRendellwarned Tuesday.

The Democratic governorhas taken the lead in recentweeks to rally supportfor thefederal bill, scheduled for akeySenatevoteWednesday.

Republicans oppose themeasure, saying theprice tagwouldaddtothenationsgrow-ingdebt.Democrats insist theproposedaidwouldbe coveredby cutting expenses and clos-

ing tax loopholes. They saythat without the aid, manymoreAmericanswouldbesenttotheunemploymentline.

Werefightingto keepgood jobs,to keep theeconomyroll-ing in the right direction,Rendell said in a conferencecall with reporters Tuesday.Stand up and be counted fortheAmericaneconomy.

The $26 billion bill would

providea six-monthextensionof federal stimulus aid tostatesandschools. ThePenn-sylvania budget relies on $850million in federal stimulusaid. The state-aid bill beforetheSenatepromises $600 mil-lionfor Pennsylvania, leavingRendellto dealwithashortfallof about $250 million.Thebillalso promises about $378 mil-lion to Pennsylvanias schooldistricts, which are already

layingoff teachers or closingbuildingsbecause anemic taxcollections hurt by the reces-sion.

Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., said Tuesday that Sen-ate Majority Leader HarryReid, D-Nev., was very opti-misticabout securing the60votes necessary to ensure itspassage.AspokesmanforSen.Bob Casey, D-Pa., said it was

unclear whetheranyRepubli-cans wouldjoin Democratsinsupportingthe measure.

If a Senate vote fails, Ren-dell said he will have to bal-ance the state budget by cut-ting subsidies to publicschools and county-runhuman services. He said thatmeans the likely layoff of 4,000 state employees, 3,000teachers and other schoolemployees and more than

5,500 local andcounty employ-ees, such as caseworkers,police officers and firefight-ers.

West Pittstonisnt really an

apartment buildingtown. Im sure youcan understand our

concerns.LISA REYNOLDS

West Pittston resident

LOW COST SPAY/NEUTER

MOBILE CLINIC FOR CATSEastern PA Animal Alliance

Will be at Hazle Beer Deli,613 Hazle Street, W-B,TUESDAY AUGUST 10

Please call for appt.994-5846

Ferals and stray cats welcomeSome shots & worming available,

Limited space available.

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we will pass your request on to the appropriate store manager.

L OWE S F RONTIER P ENNS P EAK B ON TON M T. A IRY R ESORT S EARS K OHL S HH G REGG F ETCH S J UMPSTART YOUR W EEKEND

R&H ACE HARDWARE

P ETRO HARDWARE

Call 333-5265 For Info Or ReservationsOr Purchase Tickets At Door

2nd Annual

DANCEWhich Doctor& DJ George

Music By

Food Snacks Refreshments BYOB Chinese Auction 50/50 Drawing Door Prizes

Saturday, August 7West Pittston Armory

Susquehanna Ave., West Pittston7:00 pm - 11:00 pm(Doors Open At 6:00 pm)

$ 25 00Tax Deductible Donation

per person

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WEDNESDAY ,AUGUST4 ,2010