Beaver rethinks project protocol, employee performance reviews

BEAVER Months after the borough suggested a tree was a hazard to the community, Beaver contractors cut it down without contacting the property owners.

While homeowners typically receive a letter for that kind of removal, the borough never did so for this home, located on Fifth Street near the high school, officials said. Director of Operations Chuck Copeland said Friday he contacted a neighbor but not the owner.

It was no question it was the right thing to do, Copeland said of removing the tree.

The incident was one of several performance-related issues related to Copeland, which led to council voting Tuesday whether to fire him, officials said. Council voted against that motion 7-2, with council members J. Lauson Cashdollar and Ron Embaugh in the minority. Due to concerns raised over Copelands performance, the borough is reviewing its policy on performance reviews, which could become more frequent, as well as procurement procedures for projects, council President Mike Deelo said.

One project that had raised issues involving Copeland dealt with whether he followed state procurement procedure correctly in installing pipes under Wilson and East End avenues. Copeland separated the tasks into projects that were less than $10,300 each, according to a report he read for Tuesdays meeting.

Borough solicitor John Petrush informed council that one cannot divide a contract into smaller parts to avoid bid requirements under state law, officials said. Despite that, several council members stated his duties and responsibilities are not changing.

Copeland noted if the project hadnt been expedited in preparation of a PennDOT Third Street overhaul project, the borough would have had to tear up newly paved road and repave it at its own expense. With the tree that was deemed a hazard, Copeland said a crossing guard contacted the borough, indicating it could fall on students at a Fifth Street crosswalk near the high school.

The couple that owns the home both work during the day, and the morning a tree-removal company showed up to remove the tree, Victoria DOrazio happened to be going into work late, her husband said.

Had she not been going in late, we would have come home to the surprise of our life, Anthony DOrazio said, adding borough officials were anxious to make amends. They all apologized.

The tree, some 25 or 30 feet tall with a 4-foot diameter, was a Norway maple, which often have dead wood and become diseased, Shade Tree Commission Chairman J. Philip Colavincenzo said.

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Beaver rethinks project protocol, employee performance reviews