Fox Chapel to update borough code to remove derogatory term for Native Americans

An outdated and derogatory term for a Native American woman will be removed from Fox Chapel’s borough code where it appeared as part of names for some streets, geographical fixtures and other items.

Fox Chapel Council approved the change Monday March 20.

About 15 sections of the borough code will be updated to remove the word and reflect present names, such Eliza Fox Trail, Sycamore Run Interceptor Project and Hemlock Hollow Road.

There are also a few references to housing plans that use the derogatory term that will be modified.

Borough officials said they have limited authority to completely rename those recorded plans, and they will likely be referred to by number instead of suggested changes to S. Run Manor Plan and S. Run Place Plan.

“There are organizational names we can’t change,” Solicitor Bruce Bowden said. “There are recorded plans that we can’t change. We’re kind of trying to make a euphemism out of it.

“We can make reference to the volume and page number of the plan book. If it’s an organization, corporations all have numbers in Pennsylvania. We can state corporation number such-and-such and maybe find other ways to refer (to it) so it’s clear what we’re talking about and not use any bad words.”

Council unanimously voted March 20 to enact the ordinance authorizing the changes, nearly two-and-a-half years after it first voted to remove the name from two borough roads and a trail, which ended a divisive, months-long debate and followed a national trend to remove the slur from place names.

“The federal government and the borough changed the stream name and road names,” borough Manager Gary Koehler said. “We realized sections of code referenced old names that future residents will not recognize these locations. We’re just trying to get the codes up-to-date with the new names.”

Councilwoman Betsy Monroe said the move to update the borough code was an obvious decision.

“We can’t have our codes and ordinances referring to roads and waterways that don’t share that name,” she said. “It’s a basic thing.”

In other matters

• Koehler announced the borough was working with engineers on designs for a roof and gutter repair project for the Fox Chapel Volunteer Fire Department station along Dorseyville Road.

It is also working on designs for a new fitness and weight room for borough police and firefighters at a former Fox Chapel public works facility.

• Council approved the sale of a steel storage building to Cody Cooper for $1,450.

• It approved the sale of a 2012 International 7500 truck to Aaron Moats for $33,200 and a Sefac Model 1200 M68 truck lift to Rob Wallace for $10,300.

All three transactions were to the highest bidders on Municibid, described as an eBay for municipalities.

• Council approved a $42,400 CoStars contract to Advanced Rehabilitation Technology to line 20 manholes.

• Police Chief Michael Stephens announced the borough received 24 applications for its full-time police officer position.

He said there are many highly qualified candidates and related screening would begin April 4.