Six hopefuls are running for four, four-year seats on Baldwin council.

Incumbents Marianne Conley and John Egger are facing newcomers Erin Brown, Raymond “Butch” Dee, Rebecca Conley and Michael Stelmasczyk.

Here are the candidates and the answers to the questions posed by South Hills monthly.

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Erin Brown

Age: 43

Political party: Democrat

Education: Bachelor of Science in biology, registered nurse

Occupation: Assistant director of nursing, Advanced Home Health

If elected, what are two short-term goals? To keep the borough residents informed on issues that are affecting the borough – for example, to increase attendance at council meetings. To implement the Route 51 Overlay Ordinance whose purpose is to enhance the appearance and safety of the businesses along Route 51 that are in Baldwin Borough.

If elected, what is a long-term goal? To improve the relationship between the borough government and the community-based sports organizations – assist with updating the fields, concession stands, et cetera.

How do you plan to communicate with constituents and involve them in the decision-making process? By increasing public attendance at borough council meetings via the website by livestreaming them and having question and answer availability on the website.

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Marianne Conley

Age: 68

Political Party: Democrat

Education: Diploma graduate of Southside Hospital School of Nursing

Occupation: Retired registered nurse

If elected, what are two short-term goals? The Baldwin Borough swimming pool has had many problems over the past several years. Despite a major repair in 2021, it still leaks. The pool is 50 years old and in great need of a major overhaul. We are in the midst of applying for grant money to help offset a much-needed renovation, tentatively planned to start after the 2022 season.

As always, keeping up with our aggressive road program. Baldwin Borough paved 13 streets this year, plus coordinated with the utility companies to pave an additional dozen roads that the taxpayers did not have to pay for. Also, we need to upgrade the surface of the newly renovated Colewood Field.

If elected, what is a long-term goal? Without a doubt, my long-term goal is the ongoing federal stormwater management mandate requiring very costly infrastructure updates but no federal funding. The Storm Water Authority was established to dedicate funds to required projects, as well as addressing and upgrading the aging stormwater infrastructure. The fees that were set are more equitable by having every property in the Baldwin community with impervious surfaces to share in the cost, including commercial and nonprofits — not just the taxpayers.

How do you plan to communicate with constituents and involve them in the decision-making process? I strongly encourage everyone to come to the council agenda meetings (second Tuesday of each month). That is when all the work is done in the public forum. There are opportunities for questions and comments by the public for their input, which is vital. It is best to get this information first hand and not from third-party means. When there is a major change such as sewage rates, stormwater fees, trash collection changes, an informational letter is sent out to all households and placed on our website and the social media pages of the borough. Also, I can be contacted directly by email or phone if there is a pressing issue.

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Rebecca Conley

Age: 30

Political party: Republican

Education: Baldwin High School class of 2009, bachelor’s degree from Mercyhurst University class of 2012

Occupation: Administrative assistant in cardiology and weekend hospice

If elected, what are two short-term goals? My main goals are keeping our residents safe and building our fiscal stability as a community. Our local government cannot continue to impose fees and taxes to fill funding shortfalls and address growing funding constraints. With the prices of basic needs such as food, shelter and fuel increasing, elected officials need to be mindful of the struggles some community members may already be facing keeping their household running. By taking a closer look at possible revisions to the stormwater fee as well as putting together a review of capital improvement projects, I would work to levy federal infrastructure legislation funding to better our community.

Secondly, keeping our residents safe and providing our public safety officials with the resources they need should be a top priority of council. Local municipalities like ours are being asked to do more with less, which is why I view the role of a council member so critical to the success and advocacy of our community. I would continue dialogue with state and federal officials that have brought growth to our community, to lessen the potential negative economic impacts of covid-19 on borough residents. It is through these networks and relationships we can bring new programs to our residents while capitalizing on grant opportunities that lessen burdens on taxpayers and build good working relationships.

If elected, what is one long-term goal? I would like to create a plan and better process by which we can address property blight, absentee landlordism and delinquent real estate. Regardless of whether you are a renter or property owner, delinquent real estate has a negative impact on our financial stability. Furthermore, blighted property poses a great danger to our public safety officials should they need to respond to a location that is dilapidated and could prove to be a hazard to surrounding properties.

How do you plan to communicate with constituents and involve them in the decision-making process? I believe it is important to engage the younger generation in government affairs and community development while ensuring the health of community members. Balancing work and family commitments can be difficult, especially on weeknights, and some people are not comfortable attend public events or meetings due to covid. These obligations and personal preferences should not be a barrier to people wishing to participate in local politics. I would work to have our current in-person monthly council meetings shared virtually so we can bring the meetings to the community and reach more people. In addition, I would work to have a few of the regular monthly public council meetings hosted in different locations of the borough instead of always being held at the Borough Building; this would also give council members the opportunity to see more than just the same area of our community month-to-month.

There has always been a lot of negativities in politics, but I don’t think it has to be that way. Everyone deserves an opportunity to have their perspective heard and our community deserves a leader who is willing to listen respectfully and do what is best for the community, not a specific interest group or ideology. Creating an environment whereby community members feel valued and encourage to share their views either in writing or in-person is the best way to start encouraging civic engagement.

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Raymond Dee

Age: 61

Political party: Democrat

Education: 1978 Graduate of Baldwin High School, 1984 Graduate of Triangle Tech HVAC program, 1991 completed four-year HVAC Service Apprenticeship with Steamfitters Local Union 449

Occupation: HVAC service technician with Ruthrauff Service, apprenticeship instructor at Steamfitters Local Union 449, HVAC instructor at Community College of Allegheny County

If elected what are two short-term goals? As a 44-year member, 20 years as fire chief with South Baldwin Volunteer Fire Company, I will work to preserve the volunteer fire service in Baldwin Borough. Volunteer firefighting ranks are decreasing at an alarming rate and the cost of running a volunteer fire company is always rising. I will use my fire service experience to team with firefighters and leaders of Baldwin Independent Fire Co. #1, Option Volunteer Fire Company, South Baldwin Volunteer Fire Company and community leaders to provide solutions to manpower issues and funding to preserve our volunteer fire system.

I feel that we are behind on our road repaving program. I will work with other elected council members, our mayor and employed leadership to gain an understanding of the current situation with our roads and finances and work to complete resurfacing of our roads at a cost-effective price. I believe that the utility companies must return our roads to an acceptable standard as soon as possible following repairs to limit interruptions to our residents. I will gain an understanding of the process that the utility companies must follow and work to improve the speed to which the surface of the road must be put back to an acceptable condition.

If elected, what is one long-term goal? I will work to develop a plan with timelines and I will work to secure any grants that may be available to continue to improve and upgrade our parks. I believe that our parks are a place to bring our community together, which I feel is important to community living. I would also like to see us work to provide all-weather surfaces at our baseball, softball and soccer fields to provide maximum opportunities to our youth and families to minimize game cancellations due to weather, provide a safe surface to play on and improve the quality of these facilities for our residents.

How do you plan to communicate with constituents and involve them in the decision-making process? I believe communicating with constituents is the most important part of serving on Baldwin council. I will listen to residents and gain an understanding of the needs and issues of the residents of Baldwin and will welcome suggestions and possible solutions to issues that any resident would have. I will develop a process for residents to contact me so I can be available to serve.

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E. John Egger

Age: 69

Political party: Democrat

Education: High school and two years at Computer Systems Institute

Occupation: Real estate agent with the Albert Ott Agency, licensed since 1992

If elected what are two short-term goals? Increase financial support for our volunteer fire companies and make improvements to Colewood Park, to make it the gem I think it could be.

If elected, what is one long-term goal? My long-term goal is to start planning a new municipal complex, keeping it on Churchview Avenue – even in the same location, but this building has outlasted its usefulness.

How do you plan to communicate with constituents and involve them in the decision-making process? I plan to put out a quarterly newsletter for the residents, keeping them informed about issues in the borough.

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Michael Stelmasczyk

Age: 70

Political party: Registered Democrat and Republican party write-in candidate

Education: Graduate of Baldwin High School, earned a degree in electronics engineering from Penn Technical Institute

Occupation: Retired telecommunications manager

If elected, what are two short-term goals? Fiscal responsibility will be one of my prime goals. Infrastructure improvements to roads, buildings, stormwater and sewage systems, and parks. Areas prone to flooding need to be addressed.

If elected, what is one long-term goal? The borough uses outside firms for legal services, civil engineering, delinquent real estate and sewage tax collection and financial investment of the pension funds. I will press council to assess the performance and cost of all of these contracted firms and replace them if there are other firms that can do the job more effectively and for less cost.

How do you plan to communicate with constituents and involve them in the decision-making process? When I was on council in the past, I always was prompt in responding to telephone calls, texts or emails from residents. I would continue to quickly respond to questions or concerns from residents. Additionally, while council holds two meetings each month that are open to the public, I think we should look into using Skype or Google Meet to make our meetings available to anyone who wants to attend via the internet. This was done on an emergency basis during the pandemic in 2020 and I see no reason that this could not be continued.

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