THE BOROUGH BULLETIN

Digital Newsletter
March 2025 Edition

SPRING CURBSIDE BRUSH CHIPPING

STARTS MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2025

The chipping service for brush and tree trimmings only. The Public Works Department will pass through the Borough one time to chip any brush/tree trimmings residents have placed at the curb. All brush must be at the curb by 7:00 AM Monday, April 7, 2025.

To avoid a large amount of wood waste from accumulating at the Yard Waste Site in Blueberry Hill Park while the curbside chipping is taking place, we ask that you please utilize the curbside service during the scheduled collection.

Any brush placed at the curb must be 1/2" to 4" in diameter only. Please cut and place your brush perpendicular to the curb (see above photo) with the butt-end out. No thorn bushes will be accepted. If you have a tree or trees to dispose of, you must contact a private contractor. Borough crews will not spend more than 15 minutes at your home. Depending on the amount of brush placed at the curb it could take the PWD several days to collect the entire Borough. The chips are available for free to Franklin Park residents only and located at the south end of Blaine’s Way in Blueberry Hill Park, near McDevitt Road. For more details view the Brush Chipping page of our website.

SPRING CURBSIDE LEAF BAG COLLECTION

BEGINS THE WEEK OF APRIL 7, 2025

Week 1 - April 7
Week 2 - April 14
All dates are subject to change.

All bags must be at the curb by 6:00 AM on Monday of each scheduled week.

Residents must place their leaves in brown biodegradable paper bags for collection by our refuse hauler. Leaf bags that contain anything other than leaves will not be collected.

Depending on the number of bags out it could take a few days for Waste Management to cover the entire Borough. The refuse hauler will make one pass through the Borough each week. Leaf bag collection does not necessarily coincide with your weekly scheduled trash collection day. DO NOT place leaf bags out the same day as your trash, they must be out by 6:00 am on Monday morning of each collection week.

Biodegradable bags are available at the municipal building at a cost of a $2.00 for a bundle of five (5). Please do not place grass, sticks, rocks, etc. in the bags and do not close the leaf bags with duct tape. For more details view the Leaf Bag Collection page of our website.

🚨 New Pennsylvania Law Bans Handheld Phone Use While Driving 🚨

Starting June 5, 2025, a new Pennsylvania law—Section 3316.1.1—will make it illegal to use an interactive mobile device while driving. This means no texting, emailing, browsing, or holding your phone to talk while behind the wheel.

📵 What You Need to Know:
✅ Drivers must use hands-free technology if they need to make calls.
✅ No holding, supporting, or manipulating a mobile device while driving.
✅ Violators face fines and potential points on their license.

🚔 Why This Law Matters:
Distracted driving is a leading cause of crashes in Pennsylvania. This law aims to reduce accidents, injuries, and fatalities by keeping drivers focused on the road.

👮‍♂️ Stay Safe & Stay Legal!
If you need to use your phone, pull over to a safe location. Let’s work together to make our roads safer for everyone.

For more details, visit Distracted Driving | Department of Transportation | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

"GREEN UP" DAY
Saturday, March 22, 2025 @ 10:00 AM

The Franklin Park Environmental Advisory Council will be leading its annual “Green-up” Day on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at 10AM along Little Sewickley Creek. The crew will meet at Acorn Park located at 2357 Magee Road, Sewickley, PA 15143. This year we will complete a riparian restoration project to plant buttonbush and black willow along Little Sewickley Creek. Riparian forest buffers help protect against flooding, filter pollution for cleaner water, and stabilize streambanks to prevent erosion. If you can help, please RSVP to dplatt@franklinparkborough.us or call the office at 412-364-4115, Ext. 302 to let us know you can attend!

Spring Roadside Litter Cleanup
Saturday, April 26, 2025 @ 10:00 AM

The Franklin Park Environmental Advisory Council will be leading its annual Roadside Litter Cleanup event, rain or shine, on Saturday, April 26, 2025 at 10AM along Nicholson Road between the Baierl YMCA and Concordia of Franklin Park. Police traffic control, safety vests, work gloves, and garbage bags will be provided. If you can help, please RSVP to dplatt@franklinparkborough.us or call the office at 412-364-4115 to let us know you can attend!

IMPORTANT PROPERTY OWNER SIDEWALK MAINTENACE OBLIGATIONS

Borough of Franklin Park Chapter 180 Streets and Sidewalks, Article II Removal of Snow and Ice; Maintenance of Sidewalks defines obligations that property owners have to maintain any sidewalk fronting or abutting any side of their parcel. This maintenance includes but is not limited to:

Clearing the snow and ice from the sidewalk or sidewalks within a reasonable time not exceeding 24 hours from cessation of any fall of snow, sleet or freezing rain. (180-5 Responsibility for removal of snow and ice from sidewalks.)
Maintain all sidewalks fronting or abutting the parcel in a safe passable condition free of tripping hazards and obstructions. (180-8 Repair required A.)
Repairing the sidewalk when necessary, conditions requiring repair of a sidewalk are outlined in 180-8 Repair required B.

With spring soon arriving, this is a good time to assess your sidewalks, and to take advantage of the borough brush pickup by trimming trees and shrubs that intrude into the pedestrian path provided by the sidewalks.

Link to code: https://ecode360.com/5134285.

THE JARED BOX PROJECT

March 1 - March 31

Lifting the spirits of ill children is the goal of the Jared Box Project. A Jared Box is a small storage box (shoe box size) filled with toys, games, and activities. The boxes will be given to children at hospitals when they receive medical treatment. Please consider making a donation to help North Allegheny students with this community project. Any donation is greatly appreciated. Click here to view the Jared Box Project flyer for more information regarding their collection and suggested items. Donations can be dropped off at the Franklin Park Borough building's upper-level lobby between the hours of 8:00 am – 4:30 pm through March 31st.

PAPER SHRED EVENT

Saturday, March 22, 2025

10:00 am - 11:30 pm

State Representative Arvind Venkat will be sponsoring a paper shred event at the Franklin Park Borough municipal building at 2344 West Ingomar Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15237, on Saturday, March 22, 2025 from 10:00 am to 11:30 am. For more information call 412-348-8028.

Message from the

Allegheny County Health Department

The Allegheny County Health Department would like to share some important information about Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1.

What is happening?

H5N1 bird flu affects wild birds worldwide and is causing outbreaks in poultry and dairy cows in the U.S. There have been several recent human cases in U.S., with one death reported. While the current public health risk is low, the health department is watching the situation carefully and is working with state and federal partners to monitor people with exposures to infected animals. Although bird flu has been detected in animals in Pennsylvania, including in Allegheny County, no human cases have been reported.

What is the health department doing? Bird Flu (H5N1) Information - Allegheny County, PA

The health department advises that people avoid direct contact with wild birds and other animals infected with or suspected to be infected with H5N1 bird flu. In addition to working with state and federal partners to monitor people with exposure to infected animals, the health department is ensuring that healthcare providers have the information that they need to identify individuals who may be infected and ensuring that people who have a higher risk of exposure have the resources they need to stay healthy.

What can partners like you do?

The health department encourages municipal partners to share factual information with municipality staff and residents, especially those that may have a higher risk of exposure. People should avoid handling sick or dead birds. If staff must handle these animals, we encourage the use of personal protective equipment, like masks, gloves, and eye protection. Residents and staff should report of sick or dead wild birds to the Pennsylvania Game Commission at 833-742-4868 or pgc-wildlifehealth@pa.gov. If your municipality allows poultry in residential areas, residents should be advised to report ill flocks to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture at 717-772-2852.

"Green-Up" Day - March 22nd
Shred Event - March 22nd
Curbside Brush Chipping Begins - April 7th
Curbside Leaf Bag Collection Weeks - April 7th and April 14th
Spring Roadside Litter Cleanup - April 26th