Politics & Government

Bridgeville and Upper St. Clair Locked in Battle Over Bedner's Farm Entrance

Some Bridgeville residents are worried that legal maneuvers by Upper St. Clair are intimidating their town's officials who are trying to block an entrance to Main Street.

Some Bridgeville residents are worried that legal maneuvers by Upper St. Clair are intimidating their town’s officials .

Main Street resident Cee Cee McNulty told Monday night she thinks Upper St. Clair is bullying Bridgeville after it began working to close a small section of the road that leads to the Bedner’s Farm.

Ever since the council voted in April to initiate removing the end of the street from the borough’s road map, lawyers from the neighboring township have warned Bridgeville against making that move and attended the last two council meetings.

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“I’m very concerned about what is happening to my neighborhood,” McNulty said. “I will fight with my last breath to stop it. How much more money do you need to put people in a poorer neighborhood at risk?”

attended Monday night’s voting meeting, asking whether the decision on Main Street would be added to the agenda. The borough council took no action on the issue, which raised the ire of some residents.

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Neil Lyons, , said he found it “hard to believe” that lawyers from Upper St. Clair weren’t dictating the process. He also found it “disturbing” that the opinions of Bridgeville residents weren’t immediately being acted upon by the council.

“I feel like as a taxpayer and a citizen, I did everything that needed to be done,” Lyons said.

Bridgeville officials previously said they’re examining the situation to make sure they’re on firm legal ground before making a decision. Councilman Bruce Ghelarducci urged him to “be patient” and let the process continue.

“It doesn’t mean your voice doesn’t matter,” Ghelarducci said. “We have to make sure we’re doing things right when going against the people we’re going against. This council doesn’t want to make a mistake.”

Some residents are concerned the more affluent community will force Bridgeville to endure costly legal challenges. Richard Ferris, who is Bridgeville’s lawyer, said they have to “carefully consider” all legal ramifications before moving forward.

“This council is not going to fold,” Ferris said. “It’s going to make a decision in the best interest of the community. This council is a good council and has (Bridgeville’s) best interests in mind.”

Borough Manager Lori Collins said preliminary findings from a recent traffic study in that area could be back later this week. That report could be another important piece to Bridgeville’s plan to block the Main Street entrance.

“Council is not intimidated ever,” Council President Nino Petrocelli said. “We confront many, many cases. If we’re cowards, we should not be here.”

Still, residents like McNulty want to make sure that Bridgeville isn’t pushed around by another community.

“We’re not going away,” she said. “We’re not going to forget. It’s time for Bridgeville to win something.”

with entrances to Main Street, Cook School Road and Scarlett Drive.


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