Citizens say Swissvale council wasn't transparent about plans for new borough building One councilmen said the borough is violating the spirit of the Sunshine Act. Share Shares Copy Link Copy

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BEAU: THAT’S RIGHT. THE SWISSVALE BOROUGH COUNCIL MET INSIDE THE CURRENT MUNICIPAL BUILDING, WHICH IS ANYTHING BUT CURRENT. BUILT IN 1906, IT NOW HAS HEATING ISSUES AND EVERYONE AGRES THE BOROUGH NEEDS A NEW BUILDING. NOT EVERYONE AGREES ON HOW TO DO THAT. THE PLAN IS TO RENOVATE AN EXISTING BUILDING ON IRVINE STREET, TO SERVE AS THE NEW POLICE DEPARTMENT AND MUNICIPAL BUILDING. AND, TO RENOVATE A BUILDING ON MCCAGUE STREET TO HOUSE THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS. TONIGHT, THE BOARD MADE TWO KEY VOTES TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT PLAN. >> SHAME. THAT’S A SHAME. BEAU: BUT SOME CITIZENS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, SAY THE PROCESS HAS BEEN ANYTHING BUT TRANSPARENT. MANY SAYING THEY WERE ONLY INFORMED OF THE NEARLY $2.3 MILLION PLAN, A WEEK AGO. >> WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT MULTIMILLION PURCHASES WITH TAXPAYER MONEY, YOU NEED MORE THAN A WEEK. YOU NEED MUCH MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC INPUT. >> THERE’S A LOT ABOUT THIS PROJECT THAT REALLY DESERVES TO BE DISCUSSED AND PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC FOR THEIR COMMENT AND INPUT. NONE OF THAT WAS DONE. BEAU: COUNCILMEMBERS DARRELL RAPP AND ABIGAIL SALISBURY VOTED MULTIPLE TIMES TO PRESS PAUSE, AND HAVE MORE DISCUSSION. BUT WERE OUTVOTED EVERY TIME. WE ASKED COUNCIL PRESIDENT MICHELE STANTON ABOUT ALLEGATIONS THAT HER COUNCIL LACKED TRANSPARENCY. >> I HAVE TO DISAGREE. THIS ISN’T ANYTHING WE FORCED THROUGH. WE GAVE A CAREFUL DELIBERATION. WE HAVEN’T SIGNED OR AGREED TO ANYTHING. THERE’S NOTHING WE ARE DOING ILLEGAL. THAT’S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. BEAU: WHAT’S YOUR RESPONSE TO THE COUNCILMAN -- CAN WE GET ONE LAST QUESTION? >> I’M DONE. BEAU: SPECIFICALLY BOROUGH COUNCIL VOTED TONIGHT TO APPROVE A SECOND APPRAISAL ON ONE OF THE BUILDINGS THEY HOPE TO RENOVATE AND AUTHORIZED THE SOLICITOR TO PREPARE A SALES AGREEMENT FOR THE OWNERS OF THE BUILDING TO CONSIDER. THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT, SAYS PLANS TO REPLACE THE CURRENT BUILDING HAVE BEEN UNDER DISCUSSION FOR QUITE A WHILE. LIVE IN SWISSVALE, BEAU BERMAN, PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEW

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