Council members have appointed attorney Loretta Kendall to fill the seat of Larry Hawk, a councilman who died in March. The vote Monday night was 5-0 with Tim Thomassy absent.

Ms. Kendall, a resident since 1990, has a private law practice on East Lincoln Avenue. In addition to a law degree, she holds degrees in accounting, her application letter said. She has 25 years of military service and is a judge advocate with the West Virginia Air National Guard.

She volunteers for the Pennsylvania SeniorLAW Helpline and is a member of the Primrose School and Museum restoration committee.

• The McDonald Volunteer Fire Department has received a $6,446 federal grant to purchase a gear washer and extractor, which is used to clean and remove contaminants from firefighters' protective turnout gear.

The money came from the Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. The fire department serves McDonald and Robinson and provides mutual aid to Midway and Mount Pleasant.

Council unanimously appointed Michael McCaig Monday night to serve the remaining 19-month term of councilman William Naumoff, who resigned last month due to travel duties for work.

A lifelong Peters resident and former independent bond advisor for the township, Mr. McCaig has served on volunteer boards for the township and school district.

Mr. McCaig holds a master's degree in business administration from the Katz Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh and is employed by PNC Capital Markets.

• Council addressed a request by an ice cream truck vendor seeking a reduction in permit fees for peddlers and canvassers.

The fee, established recently to curtail door-to-door solicitations, inadvertently snared ice cream truck vendors who said they couldn't afford fees of about $650 per season.

In response, council crafted alternate language to address traveling street vendors on Monday to include those who only stop when requested, stop for no more than 10 minutes, and vendors who do not enter private property.

For those vendors, a $100 fee will be assessed for a three- to six-month permit. Council voted 5-1 in favor of the adjustment, with Councilman David Ball dissenting. Mr. Ball said he felt no exceptions should be made.

• Garbage and recycling fees will increase two percent July 1 as called for in the final year of the township's three-year contract with Waste Management.

In addition, customers will find a 14-cent fuel adjustment increase, meaning most residents will see a total increase of about $1 for curbside service in their quarterly $46.50 bill.

Dan Piatt, a recently appointed supervisor, was sworn in Tuesday night.

The supervisors also filled other vacancies on township boards. Sherry Blackburn was appointed to the Board of Auditors. She must run for election in 2009.

Dan Svidro was appointed to a two-year term on the parks and recreation board. The township still needs one more person to serve on the board and bring the total to seven members.

• Supervisors approved a conditional use application by Adrienne Gardner to allow Kids 1st Childcare and Learning Center at 16 Country Club Road, in a light industrial district. They also approved Mrs. Gardner's and Tim Kane's final site plan for the day care center.

• The board also approved the final subdivision on a lot on Davis School Road and final site plan for Crown Castle to construct a communication tower off Davis School Road, as requested by Louis Siyufy of LJS Development.

• The board approved entering into an amended agreement with the state Department of Community and Economic Development for a $15,000 Emergency Responders Resources grant.

The agreement was instituted in Nov. 2006 to pay for firefighting services while bridges on North Main Street and Lakeview Drive, near Interstate 70, were being replaced and to pay for rent for a temporary fire station in the Washington section of Tylerdale. Washington aided South Strabane with services at the time.

There was $5,000 left. The amended agreement will allow the township to purchase firefighting gear.