Action Stalled on Pitcher Park Issue

Another meeting has passed with few answers as to what will become of Pitcher Park Memorial Park.

Two motions regarding the park were on Monday’s agenda: one to form a citizens group to propose alternatives to the May 2011 , and another to authorize the advertisement of an ordinance ratifying the April 5, 2010 motion approving the park passed by the previous council, which resulted in the May 2011 document.

Neither passed.

Council voted 4-2-1 against forming the committee. Councilwomen Onnie Costanzo and Joan Hodson voted in favor of it, and Gene Barilla abstained from the vote.

Council later voted 4-3 to table the motion regarding the April 5, 2010 vote so the borough could get two or three more legal opinions on the matter. Solicitor

Mary Pitcher, president of the Pitcher Park Foundation, presented council with an opinion from registered parliamentarian Ronald W. Satz of Trevose, PA. The opinion states that Dormont Borough and the Pitcher Park Foundation must continue to honor a Memorandum of Understanding signed by members of both parties in May 2011.

Citing that opinion, Pitcher twice proposed her own motion during the meeting to appeal the decision of council. She was twice seconded by an audience member, but in both instances council President Bill McCartney said her motion would not be recognized by council.

McCartney and Councilwoman Laurie Malka said after the meeting that the issues would be discussed in committee meetings over the next month. Committee meetings are not voting meetings, and they are open to the public.

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