With Avonworth High School’s unused metal shop equipment on its way out, the school board has authorized a contract with an architect to reconfigure the empty space.

The district will enter into a contract with Timothy Morgan to redesign the area. He will be paid $9,800.

Although the motion was approved unanimously, some board members voiced concerns. Board members Lynn Evans McGrath and Marybeth Sommers agreed that it seemed that the board had rushed the decisions to get rid of the shop equipment and redesign the room.

Solicitor William Andrews told Avonworth School Board members at their April 13 meeting that delinquent tax collection has increased from last year.

Andrews said that $18,000 more was collected this year.

Andrews also said that the district's tax assessment program is moving forward and has resulted in 68 new residential assessment appeals for the 2009 year. Appeals are filed when the sale of a home is more than $15,000 higher than the assessed value, he said.

History comes from any number of sources -- good teachers, good books, the History Channel. And sometimes it comes directly from those who lived it. Students in Jeff Boggess’s U.S. History classes at Avonworth High School recently completed a project that made them the historians as they interviewed individuals who experienced World War II, both as civilians and as military personnel.

Now in its fourth year, the project parallels class study that includes discussion and debate of the more controversial aspects of the war, such as the dropping of the atomic bomb and Japanese internment.

A new assistant code enforcement officer (CEO) for the Borough of Bellevue was hired at Council’s May 4 meeting after two executive sessions were held to interview candidates for the position.

Hired was James Delcroix of Bellevue, who CEO Mike Lutz said recently returned to his hometown after working in Texas. According to Lutz, Delcroix has an extensive background in lighting and related electrical matters.

The hiring of Delcroix was approved by Council in an 8-1 vote, with Council member Joe Scioscia opposed to the hiring of any additional full-time employees by the borough.

The union representing Avonworth School District teachers called together community leaders last week to urge the adoption of "behavioral expectations" for students.

Avonworth Middle School teachers brought together school board members and district administrators, along with parents, police and other community leaders, in an effort to stem a growing tide of minor disciplinary problems before they become a flood.

Bellevue Council voted last week to approve expenditures for equipment for the Borough’s fire department.

Council approved the purchase of three hose nozzles at a cost not to exceed $2,600, and a Kussmal auto charger for a fire engine at a cost not to exceed $1,600.

A new ACORD Park agreement could be approved by local officials by July if representatives of the five member communities can agree on a voting structure for major park decisions and what park improvements should be made.

Bellevue Council has rejected an effort by new member Joe Kovacs to expand the list of expenses for which the borough will pay when Council members attend conferences.

The Council members remaining after nearly five hours at the regular meeting on Tuesday, May 4, voted 4-3 against Kovacs’ motion to reimburse Council members for mileage at 37.5 cents per mile, as well as for tolls paid, when they travel to conferences.

An amendment to Bellevue’s parking ordinance was tabled during Council’s regular meeting on May 4 after it was determined the proposed amendment eliminated more parking spaces than desired.

The Safety Committee had proposed the elimination of one parking space on Lincoln Ave. near the Port Authority bus stop at Burnside Ave. in order to give buses room to pull over when stopping for passengers. The amendment presented to Council eliminated all parking spaces between Burnside and the High Bridge.