Sharpsburg VFW donates to borough police department for new traffic control devices

Sharpsburg Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 709 has partnered with the borough police department to make their town a safer place.

Post Cmdr. Anthony Francioni and Quartermaster Howard Strain presented Chief Thomas Stelitano with a $6,200 check to buy two new remote radar speed signs.

The solar powered devices will be able to track motorists’ speeds and will flash the numbers when drivers are over the speed limit. They can also store the data for traffic reports.

The donation was made at a council meeting July 27.

“We have a long history of supporting public service and our community in general,” Francioni said. “… As a VFW, it’s our mandate to create a safe and empowering veteran community. While we’re giving this to the community, it’s also a representation of what veterans do and what we’re about.”

Strain said funds were raised the past few years through the VFW’s bingo games. They take place every Wednesday evening at 1017 Main St.

Stelitano and other borough officials thanked the VFW for their support.

“That will be another tool for us to stop aggressive driving,” the chief said about the devices. “It catches your attention. We can download the data into a software system that we will have. It will give us an idea (of how many speeders are on a given road).”

The department plans to use them on Main Street, North Canal Street and other well-traveled roadways.

The department has been cracking down on aggressive driving. There were 79 traffic stops made in June alone. Those stops resulted in 43 citations, 35 warnings and one arrest.

“Because of all this construction on Route 28 and all these closures, we have a very large amount of traffic coming through here on a daily basis,” Stelitano said. “More than I’ve every seen in 30 years that I’ve been here.

“I have order on the board for my guys to enforce speeding, traffic violations, stop signs (and) red lights. It’s their discretion to issue citations or warnings.”

It is unclear when the devices would be available.

Mayor Brittany Reno believes the devices will make a difference.

“Hopefully this expands out ability to calm traffic to strengthen Sharpsburg’s walkability,” she said. “Nearly a quarter of our households here don’t own a car and really on walking, biking, and public transit to get around.”

In other news

All motions made at the July 27 meeting passed unanimously with a full council.

• John Scovern and Wayne Davis have been hired as public works laborers at $20 per hour.

• The borough sold an emergency trailer for $2,000, a public works trailer for $525, and a warehouse sweeper for $825. Sales were through the online government auction Municibid.

• Residents should keep an eye on their mailboxes in August.

Borough Manager Christine DeRunk said Sharpsburg’s first news letter will be sent out to everyone sometime that month.

Content is still being developed. Printing and shipping costs are being covered by Waste Management, DeRunk said.

• Council’s next workshop meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 10. The next voting session is at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 24. Both will be held at the borough building, 1611 Main St.