Newcastle City is keen to work with local support hubs to support City services.
At Thursday's City Council meeting, Administrator Chris Fry said he will lead a tour of the city in June for members of the SWPA City Project Hub. The group, funded by the Heinz Endowment, connects local government officials in southwestern Pennsylvania with resources and practical technical assistance needed to conceptualize and implement community development projects, according to the group's website. We are helping them receive infrastructure and funding. Frye said the hub's resources and assistance are free. He hopes the group will assist the city in grant writing, strategic planning and policy implementation.
“This seems like a great opportunity to move forward as we look at different initiatives for the city,” Frye said.
This potential partnership comes after the city's plan to consider implementing an urban revitalization and improvement zone failed. In January, with the blessing of the City Council, Frye began the process of exploring the possibility of implementing a CRIZ, which allows the city to designate 130 acres within a community to encourage development of vacant and underutilized land. did. The city had intended to use CRIZ to go after owners of vacant and dilapidated properties, but Frye said the state would not provide financial support for the program at this time. He said the city is considering alternatives, including the possibility of a mortgage purchase program. Frye said the city is waiting to see if it will receive a state Department of Environmental Protection 902 Recycling grant to purchase more recycling bins. Since the trash cans don't have wheels, the city will have to come up with solutions for residents who have difficulty getting around. Frye also said law enforcement continues to crack down on private garbage collection companies operating in the city.
“The problem is ongoing. It's hard to grasp,” Frye said. “It’s still our responsibility to enforce that.”
With some exceptions, businesses and residents will be required to use the city's own garbage trucks for Aiken trash. Frye said the code also polices residential properties using services other than Aiken.
“As long as it's in a residential area, you can't use anything other than Aiken,” Frye said.
In separate work from Frye's report, he spent more than a month reviewing the city's policy manual and financial manual with all department heads. He also reviewed Code Enforcement Officer and Code policies and procedures and conducted Code of Conduct training on conduct and professionalism for City office staff and customers at City Hall. Mr. Frye is also meeting with companies for the city's future IT services contracts, and should soon have a bid ready for a council vote. He also encouraged people to visit local artist Asia Ward's wind turbine-powered art sculpture on Apple Alley Way, especially at night.
