Meeting Minutes
Mercer County Regional Planning
Commission
TUESDAY, September 27, 2005
7:30pm, MCRPC Office, Hermitage
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MUNICIPALITY
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PRESENT
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ABSENT
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FARRELL CITY
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William Morocco
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Jerry Miller
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HERMITAGE CITY
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Rita
Ferringer
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James Pat White |
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James A. Rollinson
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SHARON CITY
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Stephen Theiss
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Vic Heutsche
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Darin Flower
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CLARK BOROUGH
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Richard Dunlap
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James Carucci, Sr.
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FREDONIA BOROUGH
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Ron Boyd
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Patricia McAdams
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GREENVILLE BOROUGH
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Lisa Schrader
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Robin Douglas
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GROVE CITY BOROUGH
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Clifford McCandless
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JACKSON CENTER BOROUGH
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Debbi
Stevenson
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Marvin
R. McAfoose
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JAMESTOWN BOROUGH
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Darryl Pinney
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Doug
McElhaney
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MERCER BOROUGH
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Jerry Johnson
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Jim
Carnes
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NEW LEBANON BOROUGH
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Janice Good
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SANDY LAKE BOROUGH
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Robert W. Kaltenbaugh
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Brad
Martin
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SHARPSVILLE BOROUGH
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Bob Piccirilli
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Alex Kovach
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STONEBORO BOROUGH
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Samuel A. Scott
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WEST MIDDLESEX BOROUGH
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Tracy Thompson
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Mark David
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WHEATLAND BOROUGH
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Thomas R. Stanton
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Bob
Davis |
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COOLSPRING TOWNSHIP
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Robert L. McGhee |
Robert M. Addison
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DELAWARE TOWNSHIP
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Donald Kremm
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EAST LACKAWANNOCK TOWNSHIP
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Nancy Givens
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FAIRVIEW TOWNSHIP
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Jane Clark
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Mont Clark
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FINDLEY TOWNSHIP
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John B. Courtney
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Elliott Lengel
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HEMPFIELD TOWNSHIP
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Pamela Brown
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Russell L. Dawes
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JACKSON TOWNSHIP
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Linda L. Baun
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Mary Gealy
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JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP
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Richard H. McCullough
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Bert Weston
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LIBERTY TOWNSHIP
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Dave Beatty
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Ron Faull
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NEW VERNON TOWNSHIP
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John Martin
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OTTER CREEK TOWNSHIP
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Paulette Young
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Richard Straub
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PERRY TOWNSHIP
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Richard Marshall
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PINE TOWNSHIP
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H. Thomas Paxton
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Fred
Brenner
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PYMATUNING TOWNSHIP
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Walter L. Weir, Jr.
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Richard Witten
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SHENANGO TOWNSHIP
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Charles Gilliland
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James
Eakin
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S. PYMATUNING TOWNSHIP
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David
Lapikas
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Mike Nashtock
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SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP
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Judy
L. Hassler
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Larry T. Gruntz
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WILMINGTON TOWNSHIP
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Charles Garrett
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Jeff Hoy
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WOLF CREEK TOWNSHIP
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Mark Smith
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Ray Penland
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MERCER COUNTY
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Jean Hodge
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Julie Widel |
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James Hughes |
Patty McClusky
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Jeff Fiedler
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Larry McAdams
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James L. Hogan
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BOROUGHS ASSOCIATION
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David George
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SUPERVISORS ASSOCIATION
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Robert Birtciel
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COUNTY COMMISSIONER
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Michele Brooks
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STAFF
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OTHERS PRESENT
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Dan Gracenin, Executive Director
Carmen
Reichard, Assistant Director, Admin.
Jeremy
Coxe, Assistant Director, Planning
Andrew Dash, Planner
Matt
Stewart, Planner
Don Blakesley, Senior Program Administrator
Jill Boozer, Program Administrator
Margaret
Heldorfer, Associate Planner |
Robert
Kochems, Solicitor
Barb Brown, Springfield Twp.
Phil & Mary Yasnowsky, Shenango Twp. residents
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CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Tom Stanton, Chairman,
called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
PRAYER AND PLEDGE OF
ALLEGIANCE
Mr. Mark Smith, Vice-Chairman,
led the Commission in the prayer and Pledge of Allegiance.
ATTENDANCE SIGN-IN
An attendance sign-in sheet
was passed around and representatives present were asked to mark their
attendance. A quorum was present.
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ANY AGENDA
ITEM
There were no public comments.
RATIFICATION OF ACTIONS TAKEN
WITHOUT A QUORUM AT AND MINUTES OF THE MAY 24, 2005 MEETING
A motion was made by Ms.
Ferringer and seconded by Mr. Beatty to ratify the actions taken without a
quorum at and Minutes of the May 24, 2005 meeting with no additions,
corrections, or deletions. The motion passed.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
A motion was made by Mr.
Johnson and seconded by Ms. Young to approve the August 2005 Financial
Statement as presented. The motion passed.
STAFF REPORTS
Mr. Gracenin, Executive
Director, welcomed everyone back from their summer recess and hoped that
everyone had an enjoyable one. He explained that he attended a FEMA/PEMA
meeting this afternoon in Oil City concerning the municipality’s Hazard
Litigation Plans that are required. Out of the 48 municipalities in Mercer
County, 39 municipalities have plans that are approved and adopted. FEMA/PEMA
is pushing the county planning agency to push the other 9 municipalities in
adopting the plan and provide data to the communities, if needed. Should a
disaster strike, each municipality should make sure that they have a hazard
plan in place in order to receive dollars from the State through FEMA/PEMA. He
noted that he has not seen a list of those municipalities that have adopted or
have not adopted their plans yet. As more information becomes available, he
will keep the Commission informed.
Mr. Gracenin explained that
the transportation enhancements, home town streets/safe routes to school
program grant applications are due Friday, September 30th.
Mr. Gracenin stated that he is
working on the preliminary budget for 2006. The Finance-Personnel Committee
will present their report to the Commission at their October meeting. He
explained that there are no increases planned for member municipality fees for
next year. Also, he would like to have the final budget presented at our
November meeting. He noted that the Commission staff would like to switch
their health care to a January 1st start date, in order to budget a
little better.
Mr. Gracenin next informed the
Commission that our annual dinner in December will be held at the Immaculate
Heart of Mary Church in Mercer. Further information will follow.
RATIFICATION OF COMMITTEE
ACTIONS DURING SUMMER
Mr. Dash explained that the
Zoning & Subdivision Review Committee met during the months of June, July
and August (a summary sheet of committee actions is attached to and made a
part of the permanent record of Minutes), and the Commission would need to
ratify the actions taken by the Committee on behalf of the full Commission. A
motion was made by Mr. Scott and seconded by Mr. Paxton to ratify the
Committee’s actions during the summer. The motion passed.
Mr. Gracenin explained that
the Finance-Personnel Committee met on June 13th to discuss the
hiring of a Planner. Three people were interviewed for that position and after
the committee discussed the qualifications of each candidate, recommended
hiring Matthew Stewart. Mr. Stewart accepted the job and started employment on
July 1st.
Also at the June 13th
meeting, the committee discussed a couple of options regarding the open
position of assistant director. The decision was made by the committee to
recommend that the position be filled by someone from within the MCRPC, and
that an advertisement not be placed. The committee interviewed candidates for
Assistant Director. The committee discussed the possibility of splitting the
duties of the Assistant Director and made an offer to Ms. Carmen Reichard for
the position of Assistant Director in charge of Administration and Mr. Jeremy
Coxe for the position of Assistant Director in charge of Planning. The
positions were offered on a trial basis until the end of the year and both
received an increase in pay.
Mr. Gracenin explained that
the Committee also met on September 20th to discuss another
personnel issue. One person on staff was planning on leaving the office. The
committee discussed this issue and did not want to loose that person. Based on
the discussion, an offer was made for an increase in salary to that individual
effective October 1st. This increase in salary also included the
potential pay raise that typically the staff would receive at the beginning of
the year. A motion was made by Mr. Faull and seconded by Mr. Beatty to ratify
the Committee’s actions during the summer. The motion passed.
REPORT OF 2004 MCRPC AUDIT
Mr. Gracenin presented the
audit report prepared for the Commission by Black, Bashor & Porsch. He
noted that the audit was clean and no significant findings were found. He
noted that there was an increase in the audit fee due to putting the
Commission in compliance with the GASB 34 requirements. He explained that the
Commission is in compliance with the GASB 34 requirements. He also noted that
a copy of the audit was mailed to each member municipality for their review
and file. There being no discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Scott and
seconded by Mr. Garrett to approve the 2004 MCRPC audit. The motion passed.
ZONING & SUBDIVISION
REVIEW COMMITTEE REPORT
Mr. Dash noted that the
Committee met last week, a quorum was present, and took action of the
following item:
1. Mercer County Subdivision
and Land Development Ordinance Update
– Mr. Dash explained that the Committee had approved the "revised"
ordinance during the summer and approved holding regional meetings around the
county in order to inform citizens and to get some feed back on the ordinance.
Four comments were received from these regional meetings and the Committee
discussed the comments made after the regional meetings. The Committee
recommended allowing for some flexibility in curbing by allowing rolled
curbing as well as the concrete curbing. The Committee recommended allowing
for some flexibility in the placement of street trees, allowing them on either
side of the sidewalk. There being no discussion, a motion was made by Mr.
Scott and seconded by Mr. Garrett to approve the two changes as noted above.
The motion passed.
PROGRESS REPORT
Mr. Gracenin distributed the
progress report which describes the progress on MCRPC projects. (A copy is
attached to and made part of the permanent part of the Minutes). Staff members
highlighted on some of their work.
Mr. Stewart explained that he
has been working with Senior Planner, Brian Barnhizer on housing
rehabilitation programs in Wheatland, which entailed interviewing people to
determine their eligibility. He noted that he has been entering income survey
data for a perspective competitive CDBG grant recipient in Pymatuning
Township, to determine if they meet the LMI eligibility.
Mr. Dash explained that he has
been working on the Mercer County Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.
He noted that he has been working with the City of Sharon, Greenville Borough,
Shenango Township, City of Farrell, Jamestown Borough, Otter Creek Township
and Coolspring Township on various aspects within each of their zoning
ordinances. Also, he noted that he had been involved in the Shenango Valley
Multi-municipal comprehensive plan during the selection process for a
consultant. A committee had selected the consulting firm of Spotts, Stevens
and McCoy from Reading, PA, which is teamed with Pashek Associates of
Pittsburgh.
Mr. Coxe explained that he has
been working on the County comprehensive plan for the last two years and work
is approximately 90% done. The County plan also included the Long Range
Transportation Plan, the Greenways, Open Space & Rural Recreation Plan and
the Rural Sewage Facilities Plan. The final draft of the County plan should be
ready by November. He noted that the Greenville-Hempfield multi-municipal
comprehensive plan was completed and adopted by both municipalities last year
and is working with the municipalities to start implementing the plan. The
Grove City region multi-municipal comprehensive plans is complete and has been
adopted by 3 of the 5 municipalities, with consideration for adoption by the
other 2 municipalities soon, then begin working with the municipalities
jointly on the plan implementation. He explained that he has been working on
the Sharpsville area multi-municipal comprehensive plan. The draft plan and
public review has been completed. A public hearing is scheduled for October,
with consideration of adoption by the 3 municipalities sometime in November.
The Mercer Area multi-municipal comprehensive plan has developed a draft plan;
a public hearing is scheduled for November, with consideration of adoption by
December or January 2006.
Mr. Blakesley explained that
about a year ago, the MCSWA started construction of a $2 million recycling
center at Jackson Commerce Park. This project was funded by the Pa Department
of Environmental Protection and is scheduled for completion soon. They are
planning on holding a ribbon cutting dedication sometime in October. Next, he
explained that the MCSWA applied for a grant to purchase and install a 9th
depot site at the Perry Township Municipal Building. Grand opening of this
depot site will be held sometime in October. He also noted that the MCSWA
completed a Strategic Plan and implementation of the plan to start in October.
Ms. Reichard updated
Commission members on the various CDBG projects that are going on throughout
Mercer County. Next, she explained that Mercer County designated its 2003-2004
Brownfields for Housing funds for housing rehabilitation in Jackson Center
Borough, Jackson Township, Fredonia Borough, Fairview Township, Wheatland
Borough and West Middlesex Borough. Also, the 2004 Jefferson Township HOME
Program has been ongoing. She explained that she is planning on getting in the
mail soon the 2006 CDBG funding information packet so that municipalities can
propose what they would like to see get funded next year.
Mr. Gracenin explained that we
are currently in the process of updating the State Transportation Commission’s
12-Year Program. Last week, he explained that he attended the STC hearing
supporting projects of significance for Mercer County. He noted that the Long
Range Transportation Plan continues to be developed in coordination with the
County Comprehensive plan update. Also, coordination efforts have been ongoing
with the Youngstown MPO. Discussions are still being addressed regarding the
funding split for 2005, with discussions starting in the Fall regarding the
2006 funding split. Also, he noted that work is moving ahead with the
Geographic Information System (GIS). A work group was established and a second
phase of the project is underway to prepare a pilot area. Next, he explained
that the MCRPC Annual Dinner scheduled for December 20th will soon
be approaching and if anyone would have a suggestion for a speaker to let him
know.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business or
discussion, the meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
Submitted and Certified By:
Patricia McAdams, Secretary -
MCRPC
Mercer
County Regional Planning Commission
2491 Highland Road, Hermitage, PA 16148
mail@mcrpc.com www.mcrpc.com
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