Lebanon City Council took time from its regular business Monday evening to honor the memory of former councilman Richard A. Beistine, who died in February.
Bleistine’s lengthy public service résumé included 24 years on city council. He was the first to chair council when the city converted to its current strong-mayor form of government.
Reading from a resolution, acting council chairman Richard Wertz noted that “during his tenure on council, Mr. Bleistine proved to be a capable and hard working official and we are grateful for his dedication and tireless efforts to the betterment of the City of Lebanon.”
Relatives of Bleistine in attendance were presented with official copies of the resolution.
Also Monday, council passed a resolution authorizing Mayor Sherry Capello to ask Lebanon County Commissioners for $25,477 to repave Walton Street, a heavily traveled alley on the city’s south side, from Lincoln Avenue to 7th Street.
The commissioners receive an annual allotment from the state for distribution to municipalities. The city’s share this year is based on 2010 census figures, according to Capello.
Speaking to the general condition of city streets, Capello told council that she would like to use some American Rescue Plan funds to repave parts of Maple and Lehman streets, with Lehman Street from 7th to Lincoln Avenue planned for this summer.
The city, in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, is in the midst of a years-long project to repave its major streets, including Walnut, Cumberland, 9th, and 10th. Capello said 10th Street, also designated as Pennsylvania Route 72 South, is scheduled for repaving this summer.
Long term, Capello said she would like to repave some of the city’s less-traveled “minor streets.”
READ MORE: Walnut Street resurfacing bumped to 2021; more city roadwork coming
In a second unanimously passed resolution, council approved the destruction of old paper records generated by a number of city departments. The city has been purging records for months, in anticipation of the early-May move to its new downtown city hall.
READ MORE: Lebanon City Council OKs financing for downtown City Hall project
Other business before council
- Capello informed council that she has appointed recycling coordinator Jessica Caruso and director of public works Robin Getz as the city’s representative and alternate to the Greater Lebanon Refuse Authority, effective Feb. 24.
- Through the end of February, with the fiscal year 16% complete, Capello reported that revenue received was 14.5% of budget projections, and expenditures were at 10.5%. The revenue lag is expected early in the year, she said, because property tax receipts haven’t started flowing in.
Next council meetings
City Council’s next pre-council planning meeting will be on Thursday, April 21, at 4:45 p.m. The next regular monthly council meeting will be on Monday, April 25, at 6:30 p.m.
Both meetings are open to the public and will be held in council chambers, Room 210, Municipal Building, 400 S. 8th St., Lebanon.
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