COMMITTEE TO SAVE OUR HOMES - MEETING
CECIL TOWNSHIP BUILDING  -  FEBRUARY 20, 2000

The meeting was called to order at 2:07 p.m. by Peter Cassidy.

Role Call was taken by area residents and concerned citizens.  They
stood and stated their name and address.

Chairman:  Peter Cassidy  -  Conducted the meeting.

Co-Chairman:  Tim Walker

Treasurer:  Dorothy Roth

Approximately 46 people were in attendance.

The meeting was started with the subject of the contact list.  The lists
now contains over 200 names and phone numbers of people and property
located in the area that is proposed to be affected by the Southern
Beltway. Pete apologized for any wrong numbers he may of dialed while
making phone calls.

A report was given by Tim Walker on the February, 17th meeting at
Triline.  He spoke about a toll plaza on the B1 route that may be
changed to the Karen Drive area.  Service roads would then be needed to
connect Reissing and Cecil-Reissing Roads to the toll plaza, and also,
Cecil-Sturgeon Road would have another service road connector.  He also
told about the alignments and interchange on the B1 route that may be
different, crossing Valley Street.  Things that the Turnpike Commission
are looking at in their report were areas of:  wetlands, old garbage dump,
Ireland Oil, Historical Sites (sites over 50 years old), old oil wells,
undermining, etc.  Mr. Walker stated that he felt that the Environmental
Impact Study was pretty much done.  He seemed to think that the Turnpike
Commission was "tweaking" the alignment along the ridge behind the King's
house and over to Reissing Road and Highland Drive, crossing Profio Roads,
going toward the Turntable area and Johns Avenue and into the Aloe Coal
tract of land.  A Question on  the Realignment  was asked at the Triline
meeting concerning the  Main Objective of whether or not they had a
legitimate reason to change the alignment in this area?  The answer was
stated that they couldn't reveal that information at this time.  Tim
Walker said the date on the map used by the Turnpike Commission at the
Triline meeting was February 2000, but the map still had much of the old
information on it.

Elizabeth Cowden spoke about eminent domain and about the fair market
value of property.  She gave information about how property values in the
affected areas are likely to go down and how fees may need to be paid for
the following:  attorneys, geologists, appraisers, etc.  She gave an
example of a home worth $100,000 today, may have a $40,000 value if this
route goes through our area.  This is a "fast death" to our homes.  Not
only for the ones taken, but the ones that will be stuck next to this
proposed road.  She talked about the air and noise pollution.  She also
made the point that our whole area and township was in trouble - that it
would affect everyone in Cecil Township.  She spoke about a one mile
variation in the route of the highway that the Turnpike Commission has.
She suggested that we not let our guard down for a minute and that the
Turnpike Commission is planning our demise.  She also reported that if
this was a township wide group, support may be available from the Cecil
Township Residents Against the Toll Road.  She talked about the toll road
sign and how the printer made the signs with a backward slash, but they
just kept it that way.

Pete Cassidy stated the two main obstacles on the B1 route.  First, is the
oil slick on Noblestown Road, but there is money in the state available to
clean the site.  The site could be capped with cement. Also, soil could be
incinerated and laid back down.  Second, he feels that "big hitters"
meaning big developers, are behind the road coming through our area,
namely Quicksilver Golf, and the Aloe Property Development.  Pete also
said that the toll road fees will be eight cents a mile.  Not only will
the road ruin our neighborhood, but the residents that are left will need
to pay a toll to use the road.  There was a discussion on a proposed
development of land on Valley Street.  It was stated that sewers are not
expected out there until a year from this summer.

It was decided that 50 signs would be put up  in our area on roads going
in and out.  Pete Cassidy offered to put up the money for the first 50
signs.  He said that they needed to be put up before the meeting with
Barry Stout.

Pete Cassidy asked if the group was in favor of the B1 route - this was
agreed on.  He suggested that when the signs were ready, they should be
put up at the same time that our area makes calls to the Turnpike
Commission and state to them that we want them to choose the B1 route,
because B1 does the same thing as the other route (B2/B3).  We need to
voice our objection to any other route than B1, this was voted on and
agreed to.  Gary Markovich already has 20-30 stakes ready for the signs.
The following agreed to help put up the signs.  Tom Casciola, Harold
Phillips, Dennis Cooper, Tim Lohr, Mike Cromp, Dan Kemp, Jon Smith, Ray
Morgan, Dave Yetsko, Ed Sowinsky, Joseph Almady, and Bob Dell.

People were asked to write up literature at a later time and to help
distribute it.  Volunteers for this were Mike Monaco, John Candee,
Stephanie Lucchino, and Margaret Boggs.  John Candee gave information of
his web site.  It is located at:
www.concentric.net/~skykingj/tollroad.htm. (Webmaster note: The site is now http://notollroad.org/ )

Some people who tried to contact Rep. Lescovitz received a letter in
return.  It was reported that the letter didn't offer much help.

Pete Cassidy made a proposal that he would place a phone call to Rep.
Lescovitz on Tuesday asking him to meet with our group.  A vote was taken
- and it was agreed on for Pete to make the call.

Dorothy Roth reported that there are 569 registered voters in our area,
but usually only 200 or less actually vote at an election.

It was agreed on that our next meeting would be on Wednesday, February 23,
2000.  Tom Casciola called to find out if the Cecil Fire Hall was
available.  He found out that it was.  The meeting was set for 7:00 p.m.
Since this would be a public meeting, phone lists of area residents were
passed out and volunteers offered to call and give information on the
meeting.  People offering to make the calls were: Margaret Boggs, Marilyn
Omatick, Grayce Cassidy, and Dorothy Roth. Specific area callers are:
Susan Stewart - Gladden Heights Area; Joe Almady, Highland Drive; Janet
Dell, Nine-Eighty Road; Nancy Gielarowski, Profio Road; Patty Walker,
Reissing Road (long list); Mike Cromp, Reissing Road (short list); Donna
Meade, Turntable area.

Suggestions were given for announcing events and meetings.  Some of the
suggestions were: newspapers, cable announcements, TV coverage, flyers and
notices, community papers, Letters to the Editor, etc.  Tim Walker will be
in charge of publicity.  Pete Cassidy said that he will help and split the
work with Tim.  A Ms. Diamond from the O-R is to meet with Tim about news
coverage.

Coverage for the Wednesday meeting should be big - and phone calls need to
be made to all of the above local areas.  The purpose of Wednesday's
meeting is to give a report of meetings, and to talk about collecting
funds and fund raising.

Concerning the up-coming meeting with Barry Stout - all sections of the
township should be represented, also senior citizens and people with
personal appeals should be present to follow the point through.

An invitation was given to Mr. & Mrs. Peter Cassidy and to Mr. and Mrs.
Tim Walker to meet at the Turnpike Commission with officials about the
beltway.

Handbills may need to be passed out in the area at a future date -
volunteers will be needed to do this.  We cannot place the handbills in
mail boxes - we may need to go door to door.

Peter Cassidy praised Bracken Burns and Tom Casciola for all of the help
that they have given.  He also mentioned several residents that have given
their time to the committee.

Stephanie Lucchino suggested that before we go into the meeting with
Barry Stout, that we have definite reasons why the route should not be
Cecil Township. Some suggestions were:
  1.  Cecil Township residents do not want this road to impact us.
  2.  B2 route - not beneficial to go through slate dump.
  3.  B1 would still benefit Robinson Twp., sewer lines, and
development.
  4.  B1 is closer to Allegheny County.
  5.  B1 is ½ mile shorter.
  6.  Old garbage dump is located on Rt. 980.

Meeting was adjourned at approximately 4:15 p.m.