Richard Olasz/target

==West Mifflin meeting halted by dispute==
:February 18, 2009 By Margaret Smykla for the Post-Gazette
The West Mifflin council legislative meeting last night was adjourned after 25 minutes following a barrage of shouts and accusations between Councilman Richard Olasz and President William Welsh at the start of proceedings.
Councilman Regis Stephenson suggested a five-minute recess to "cool down." While Mr. Olasz remained in the room, Mr. Welsh and the other council members left.
When they returned, Mr. Welsh said he and the others agreed that Mr. Olasz, who he had ruled 'out of order' four times minutes earlier, had to leave the meeting or it would be adjourned.
When Mr. Olasz refused to leave, the meeting was adjourned.
The fiery exchange between the two men was ignited by a question from resident Diane Stanesic about funding to construct a retaining wall on Webster Avenue in the wake of a 2006 landslide.
At issue is whether borough or state grant funds will fund the project, which was halted after soil tests revealed evidence of a previous landslide.
The total cost is estimated at $400,000. Borough Manager Howard Bednar said the borough is $155,000 short of the estimate. It may have to redesign the work to conform to its finances. Funds also may be available in the federal stimulus package.
The initial work on the project, he said, was paid from the borough's capital projects fund. However, the borough is counting on reimbursement through the state Department of Environmental Protection's Growing Greener program.
No date has been set for resuming the meeting.