The Rocket

Issue date: 11/6/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Rita Boamah Dr. Itzi Meztli, assistant professor of English, suggested firing Jimmy Grossman, who currently plows the roads in the borough. Thirty six parking spaces were going to be eliminated to make the roads more accessible to Grossman.

After a heated citizen input session and discussion among Slippery Rock Borough Council members Tuesday night, the council voted to not approve Ordinance 645, which would've eliminated 36 parking spaces on East Cooper Street and Normal Avenue from Nov. 1 to April 1.

Although the council didn't approve the ordinance, they're planning to form a committee to further analyze the issue.

They wanted to eliminate the parking spaces in order to make the roads more accessible to snow plows.

Dr. Itzi Meztli, an assistant professor of English, stood up during the citizens input session and presented the council with a prepared statement and petition against the ordinance.

Fourteen East Cooper Street residents and 11 Normal Avenue residents signed the petition against the ordinance.

In the statement, Meztli recommended that Jimmy Grossman, who currently plows the roads in the borough, change his current schedule.

Meztli said that he wants Grossman to plow the streets between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m., when there is less traffic.

"I also recommend offering him compensation time if he needs to plow on weekends," Meztli said in the statement. "And, if necessary, offering him overtime pay to plow any heavy snow between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. and on weekends. If Mr. Grossman objects to a revised work schedule, then SR Borough should consider firing Mr. Grossman and subcontracting out the snow plow work to companies whose employees can work in the middle of the night and on weekends."

Before Meztli was finished with his statement, Vice President Blase Tucci informed him that his 3-minute time limit had expired. Meztli then became upset and asked if he could finish. Tucci said the council wanted to stick to the time limit, and Meztli wrapped things up.

His presentation upset council member Robert Bowser, who felt the criticism of Grossman was unfair.

"Itzi, I would like to thank you for bringing that petition, but you need to refrain from saying public employees need to be fired," Bowser said. "They work hard. Don't disrespect them like that."

Some council members said that more time was needed to discuss how to fix the problem before they vote on the subject.

Council member Gerald Heller said that he believes snow removal is an important issue that needs to be addressed.

"We should have started talking about this in March, not September," Heller said. "We need to do a thorough study on the complications of this."

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