Sewickley Hills plans for 2025 include $300K expansion of borough building

Sewickley Hills officials are planning an expansion of the municipal offices and reconstruction of two roads in the borough next year.

The projects are part of a $1.1 million budget council introduced Nov. 12.

The 1,000-square-foot expansion of the borough building could cost $300,000.

Councilman Hunter Hopkins said the expansion would create more office space for borough operations and record keeping, as well as create a community room that could be rented out for events.

The roads, Canter Drive and Trotter Circle, include a complete regrading and more extensive work than routine paving. That project would also cost $300,000.

Council vice president Michael Lepore said it is a big investment in infrastructure.

“I wouldn’t say they’re problem roads,” Lepore said. “It’s just that time and needs to be done. Repairs need to be made before they become a problem.”

Property taxes in Sewickley Hills would remain at 2.84 mills in 2025.

Council voted 3-0 on Nov. 12 to advertise its 2025 spending plan. Council members Teresa Hartle and Thomas Klixbull were absent.

Income includes about $310,000 in earned income and wage taxes, $290,000 in interfund operating transfers, $285,000 in real estate taxes, $35,000 in facility rentals, $27,800 in state funds and $11,500 in licenses and permits.

Projected spending includes about $110,000 for police, $41,000 for payroll, $20,000 for waste collection, $19,500 for engineering services, $17,700 for tax collection, $13,500 for legal services, and $8,300 for ambulance service.

A new expense that is expected to reap rewards next year is $1,500 for a grant writer.

Hopkins said he and his colleagues learned through applying for grants this year that they could use some help.

“It became pretty obvious as we did that ourselves that we lacked the grant writing expertise that a professional could do,” Hopkins said.

Lepore said Sewickley Hills has had some success through the years working with state Rep. Valerie Gaydos in getting funds, and he anticipates more opportunities with a grant writer.

Some of those future grant applications will go toward recreational upgrades.

Borough treasurer Nicole Pesce said budget planning began in September.

She credits smart fiscal management and team effort between council and administrators as reasons for not needing a tax hike.

“I believe we’re investing well, and that brings our total income up a lot,” Pesce said.

The borough contracts with Ohio Township for police services.

Lepore said having contracted services keeps costs low.

“We’re able to keep our costs down because we don’t have vehicle costs; we don’t have insurance costs, we don’t have pension costs,” he said. “There’s no employee costs to maintain the borough. We’re fortunate in that way to be able to contract everything out. … For the size of the municipality, it doesn’t make sense to put all those costs on our citizens.”

Council plans to formally adopt the budget on Dec. 10.

It has been at least three years since borough officials raised taxes.

The proposed budget is posted under the “Government” tab of the borough’s website, sewickleyhills.com, and it is also available for review at the borough office, 349 Margee Road.

Possible Sunshine violation

The borough potentially violated the state’s Sunshine Act violation prior to the Nov. 12 meeting because it didn’t post the agenda for the meeting at least 24 hours before it was scheduled.

The Nov. 12 agenda was posted shortly after 3:45 p.m., less than four hours before its 7:30 p.m. start.

It would be up to an individual to challenge the borough in Allegheny County Courts over the issue and possibly have a judge invalidate council’s actions due to the procedural flub.

Melissa Melewsky, media law counsel for the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association, said that is possible, however, unlikely.

“Any person who believes the law’s been violated can file suit,” she said. “I think your case would be stronger if you were a resident or a taxpayer. … It’s subject to attack in a court of law. Whether or not a judge would void it is a different question.

“If you don’t follow the procedures required under the Sunshine Act, anyone who feels there’s been a violation can bring a lawsuit and ask the court to through (the meeting) out. That’s not what typically happens. There’s very little litigation in the Sunshine Act realm, but that’s what the law allows.”

Hopkins said borough secretary Diana Steele recently sustained an injury that caused her to miss work, and she regularly updates the website.

Other officials, including council president Joe Hajnas, have been stepping up to handle borough business in her stead.

It was unclear when Steele would be ready to return to work.

Lepore said the borough is aware of the Sunshine Act and will ensure all of its regulations are followed.