“Police protection” to include vests / By Martha Knight

Port Allegany Police will have bullet-proof vests before long, thanks to the efforts of Patrolman Tony Tanner in applying for a grant, the Bureau of Justice Assistance and the approval of the Port Allegany Borough Council at its meeting Monday night.

Tanner told council members he had applied for the grant, and it had been approved subject to a go-ahead from the borough. The grant will cover half of the cost.

The borough will front the money, about $775 per vest, and will be reimbursed by the granting agency.

At least three vests will be purchased, those for the three full-time officers. Mayor George Riley and Chief Dave Distrola’s department will decide whether some or all of the four part-time officers will need the protective gear too. They work for other police departments as well.

A longstanding request by Mahlon Davenport of Dennis Avenue for the borough to install a catch basin at his place was effectively denied, without a vote, after borough manager Richard Kallenborn added an oral report to his monthly written report to the council, describing his investigation of the situation.

“The necessity of a catch basin does not look that necessary,” Kallenborn declared, after listing times he has gone to the property in question this spring, and the amounts of rainfall on various occasions as measured at the sewage treatment plant.

Council member Dave Fair said Kallenborn had put a lot of effort into denying Davenport’s request, but the borough had promised the catch basin over a period of many years and it should deliver. His motion died for want of a second.

Davenport said he does not agree with Kallenborn’s conclusion, and has pursued the matter for 23 years, but he will have the drive paved this summer, and build up the area where water has pooled. He predicted that the lack of a solution to the drainage problem will cause water to run into the street, where it will freeze in the winter.

At previous meetings Kallenborn had said he would look at the situation in the spring. Davenport says the problem is year-round, and worsened by frozen ground.

Pat Bodamer, who is chairing a Main Street window decorating contest, spoke of the Allegheny River-themed project, and the clean-up day set for this Saturday in the downtown area.

Council member Eric Button said he would like to hear from borough residents their opinions as to whether a town-wide clean-up day, similar to those in other municipalities in the area, would be desirable. He invited residents to call him at 642-2267, to weigh in on the matter.

Kallenborn reiterated his stand on that, saying it would be a waste of money. Borough residents can arrange with SDS Casella, the current garbage collection contractor, for special pickups, by calling them, Kallenborn said. There is a charge.

The new police cruiser has arrived, it was announced, but does not yet have the identifying lettering on the door. Council voted to have the older vehicle now in use sold to the highest bidder.