Pittsburgh Capital Plans Shift Funds to Repair to Paramedic, Police, Fire Stations
June 30--Pittsburgh would pull about $1.6 million from budgeted capital projects -- including playgrounds and ball fields -- to repair fire, police and paramedic stations, according to legislation introduced Monday by City Council.
Under the legislation, council would reduce money budgeted in about a dozen capital project line items and use it to repair six fire houses, two medic stations, a police station, a Department of Public Works headquarters in Elliott and the North Side's Sue Murray Pool.
The city budgeted about $3.5 million for renovations to 12 buildings.
"I just want to make sure that where we're taking the money from is from the best possible places with the least impact on residents," said City Councilwoman Theresa Kail-Smith of Westwood. "I'm fully supportive of buildings being fixed because that impacts public safety."
Mayor Bill Peduto in early June issued an executive order calling for complete repair of all city assets within 10 years and the establishment of a 40-year maintenance plan. The city owns about 300 buildings, many of which haven't been renovated or repaired in years because the city lacked the money.
Unions representing fire, police and paramedics have complained about problems at stations, including sinkholes, leaking roofs and sewage backups.
"It's a good start, but much more work is needed," said Howard McQuillan, president of Fraternal Order of Police Fort Pitt Lodge 1. "At least it's a start."
Budget Director Sam Ashbaugh said some improvements, such as equipment for playgrounds at Frazier Park in Oakland and Burgwin Park in Hazelwood, would be delayed until 2016.
He said some of the projects budgeted for 2015 wouldn't have been completed this year. Capital projects often are delayed from year to year because of bidding lag times and availability of Public Works employees, he said.
"All of these things are going to be done," Ashbaugh said. "It's just moving around the time frame. The capital budget rolls over from year to year."
Councilman Dan Gilman of Shadyside said projects that impact the health and welfare of employees -- such as a sinkhole or leaking toilet -- take precedence over less critical projects.
"You don't build a swimming pool at your house when your roof is leaking," Gilman said.
Ralph Sicuro, president of International Association of Firefighters Local 1, praised the administration and council for allocating more money for stations.
"We're glad to see that council is acting on the concerns of the employees," he said.
Copyright 2015 - The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
