Ashland borough to apply for grant for Little League field improvements

July 13--ASHLAND -- The Ashland Little League plans to make improvements at its fields in Eureka Park, with Ashland Borough Council working with the organization to obtain a state grant.

The borough council approved a resolution for a grant application for $110,500 on behalf of the Little League at Wednesday's meeting.

"The application will be made to the Commonwealth Financing Authority using the Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program," borough Manager Ray Jones Jr. said.

If the grant is approved, the Little League plans to:

- Replace existing deteriorated bleachers with new secure elevated bleachers.

- Install a 30-foot high safety net along the shared lines between the fields.

- Remove existing infield and replace it with new infield mix and sod.

- Install a parking area with handicap access.

- Construct a 50-by-96-by-16 dual-purpose storage building with batting cage structure.

The grant includes a requirement for local matching funds.

"The Little League will pay the cash match of $23,050 and in-kind services of $3,050 should the grant be awarded," Jones said.

The application deadline for the program is July 21 for consideration at the Nov. 20 CFA board meeting. Grant funds can be used for planning, acquisition, development, rehabilitation and repair of greenways, recreational trails, open space, parks, river conservation and beautification projects. Grants can be awarded to eligible applicants for projects that do not exceed $250,000.

In other business, the borough council:

- Acknowledged a letter from the Ashland Public Library for the borough's annual donation of $2,500.

- Gave permission to advertise for a part-time police officer.

- Gave permission to Jones to pursue the demolition of 1011 and 1013 Market St. through the county demolition program, replacing the proposed demolition of another property on the same street.

"Last meeting we discussed the demolition of 1830 Market St., but that deal fell apart," Jones said. "There are taxes owed on that, and if we took possession, we'd be on the hook for the taxes. Council voted at this month's meeting to proceed with those two addresses. One has already partially collapsed. Actually, the property is one house with an addition, which is the part that collapsed last summer. It's on the repository list so there shouldn't be any issues in obtaining the property."

- Approved the collection of Aflac premiums for employees who are interested in securing the company's insurance coverage that is not provided by the borough.

"We have some employees wanting to join Alflac. We're just collecting the premiums out of their checks and paying them to the company," Jones said.

- Approved a health care leave of absence policy involving health insurance for non-uniform employees.

"We had to pass the leave of absence policy for our health insurance for different reasons, such as an employee taking military leave, how long we're going to continue it," Jones said. "Our insurance carrier made the recommendation that we needed to have a planned document."

Jones said there was another change to the health care document.

"The change was that upon the death of an employee, we added a two-month window of coverage so that the spouse could find coverage," Jones said. "The exception is the police department because we're contractually obligated to provide the coverage for the spouse for life."

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