Four seek Conemaugh Twp. supervisors seat

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May 14, 2009

By PATRICK BUCHNOWSKI The Tribune-Democrat Thu May 14, 2009, 11:19 PM EDT

TIRE HILL — Four candidates

– including two newcomers – will face off May 19 for one opening on the Conemaugh Township board of supervisors.

Republicans Thomas C. Roberts III and Jerry K. Bellak, and Democrat Joyce E. Graham are vying to unseat incumbent Democrat Albert E. Zuccolotto.

Zuccolotto, 68, was appointed last year to fill the unexpired term of Calvin Gindlesperger, who resigned. Zuccolotto also served as a township supervisor in 1992 and 1993.

Zuccolotto said the top of his agenda is “getting the sewer department straightened out.”

He said his goal is to bring down sewer rates, which he estimates are $48 a month.

Other goals include consolidating

fire departments and repairing township roads, which he said are in in

“terrible” condition.

Zuccolotto said he has the experience needed to be re-elected.

“All three supervisors work together well and have the same goal of keeping taxes down without hurting services,” he said. “I can’t imagine somebody getting in there without experience.”

Graham, 50, has been a a fixure at supervisors’ monthly meetings for several years.

“I don’t think we’re heading in the right direction with how our tax dollars are being spent,” she said.

The township will pay $347,000 for employees’ health insurance from July 2008 to June 2009, and she wants to change that.

“In today’s world that’s virtually unheard of,” Graham said.

Graham said she would push for employees to pay for some of their health care to save taxpayer money.

She also would like to hire one or two part-time officers to fill shifts during holidays and when officers are on vacation.

“I don’t feel we have enough officers for coverage,” she said.

The township has six full-time officers, but needed state police to cover open shifts in December. Zuccolotto said the scheduling conflict has been resolved and state police are no longer needed.

Along with Graham, Roberts is making his first bid for office.

The 48-year old manager of the electric energy plant in Seward said he supports the takeover of the township’s sewer system by the Conemaugh Township Water Authority. The authority has offered to take over the system, which it said would save tax dollars.

“The government should get out of the sewer businesss,” Roberts said. “The government does some things efficiently. This is an example of something that is not efficient.”

Bellak, of Davidsville, is a former township police officer and works for West Hills Regional Police Department, where he has been employed for 24 years. This is his third run for supervisor.

Bellak said supervisors acted irresponsibly when they approved police contracts with neighboring municipalities.

Contracts with several communities ended after a Somerset County judge ruled in March 2008 that police have no arrest powers in neighboring municipalities unless ordinances are passed.

“I don’t want to have three or four municipalities purchasing services from Conemaugh Township,” he said. “When those municipalities pull out, our citizens are left holding the bag with bills to pay.”

Bellak wants to ensure the township has adequate police, fire and emergency services.

“I want to take care of Conemaugh Township residents first,” he said.

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