Carlynton

School directors rescinded a policy last Thursday that has, for a dozen years, offered tax abatements to businesses in Carnegie. The 1996 ordinance created a Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance, or LERTA, district in that offered tax breaks from the borough, the school district and Allegheny County.

But the ordinance says the affected area was to be outlined in "Appendix A," and no such appendix exists.

"The board is not opposed to [be] helping economic development," superintendent Mike Panza said, "but it's just not going to give carte blanche to everything in Carnegie."

He said the current administration was not even aware of the ordinance until it was contacted by a business owner.

Carnegie Manager Stephen Vincenti attended the meeting and asked that the motion to rescind the ordinance be tabled for 60 to 90 days, and noted that zoning limits where businesses can build in Carnegie anyway.

But he said the board's assurances of future support were encouraging, and in a way the debate "will get the word out there" about the economic revitalization ordinance.

Mr. Vincenti said the borough would work on an appendix to the ordinance, and hopes to have it to the board by August.

Moon Area

School directors Monday night accepted a proposal from Construction Engineering Consultants Inc., of Pittsburgh for testing and inspection services related to the high school project and the demolition of the Carnot Building.

The cost of the work is not to exceed $12,000. The vote was 5-3 with Directors Ben Bonham, Mark Limbruner and Jeff Bussard dissenting. Carol Cellini was absent.

In another 5-3 vote, school directors approved $401 in change orders for electrical work and pole modification to Michael Facchiano Contracting of Pittsburgh and they voted 5-3 for Facchiano to saw-cut paving, to patch paving and to install new water taps in an amount not to exceed $20,000.

Director Mark Limbruner said that last week the board approved $20,000 in change orders and now the board is approving $32,000 more.

"I find $52,000 in change orders disturbing," he said.

Dan Engen, of Eckles Architecture in New Castle, said that the board budgeted $1.3 million for the project and that there was a $200,000 contingency.

He said that in order to install the water taps they would have to cut in the middle of pavement and that there may be concrete under the pavement.

Construction Manager Enzo Calla, of N. John Cunzolo Associates Inc., of Pittsburgh, said the amount needed for the saw cut paving would be less than $20,000 but that a board approval was needed to move the project forward.

The Board voted 7-1 to allow Superintendent Donna Milanovich to authorize change orders up to $15,000. Ben Bonham dissented.

• Former newspaper reporter Amanda Hartle has been hired as public relations officer at a $25,000 salary with a one-year term. The vote was 8-0. Director Carol Cellini was absent.

• In separate 6-2 votes, school directors passed resolutions to comply with Act 34 regarding the high school building project and its natatorium. Ben Bonham and Mark Limbruner dissented on both votes.

The district will hold an Act 34 hearing at 6 p.m. July 31.

Dan Engen, of Eckles Architecture in New Castle, said the high school project cost estimate is $76 million and that $62 million was the maximum building construction cost. That amount does not include site work or architect fees, Mr. Engen, estimated at $4.2 million.

The natatorium resolution was necessary so that the state would reimburse the district for the eight-lane, olympic-sized pool that would be built in the high school. Director Mark Limbruner suggested that the middle school pool be retained for use by students and the community.

Moon Superintendent Donna Milanovich said that placing a pool in the high school fits with the high school curriculum.

"We can't afford two pools," Dr. Milanovich said, adding that if the middle school pool isn't removed, the district would not be reimbursed by the state for the new pool.

Director Jeff Bussard suggested that the middle school pool could be maintained by the township for public use.

West Allegheny

A summer music camp for band students who have completed the fourth, fifth or sixth grade will be offered from 9 a.m. to noon July 14-18 in Donaldson Elementary School.

The registration fee is $40.

To register, contact Darren Humbert, 724-213-1010, or dhumbert@westallegheny.k12.pa.us.