ZELIENOPLE — Borough council Monday, March 13 continued its push to acquire public parking ahead of upcoming community events.

Council approved a lease agreement between the borough and St. Paul Lutheran Church on North Main Street to use its parking lot.

The agreement states that for a $3,000 annual contribution to the church, the public can use the church’s parking lot during the day and for community events.

“With the revitalization of Main Street, there’s been a committee that’s been working to garner additional spaces on Main Street and in the corridor,” assistant borough manager Andrew Spencer said.

The $3,000 contribution would offset potential financial losses to the church, as it used to rent parking spaces to the public during events.

According to Council President Mary Hess, about 40 parking spaces will be available for public use.

Spencer said the church has asked for nine parking spaces to be reserved for its staff and for tenants in a nearby rental property, to reserve the lot for Sunday morning service and for the borough to pay for any snow removal from the lot.

Due to updates to civil service rules and regulations, the borough now can hire for full-time positions. Previously, only part-time positions could be given. With these changes, a full-time position can be given by promoting a part-time employee.

“The biggest highlight is we’ll be able to maintain civil service hiring part time and full time and a couple of internal promotions will be handled quicker than before,” Police Chief Jim Miller said.

Additionally, Andrew Chiapusio was sworn in as a new civil service board member and is the third member to be added to the civil service commission.

In his role, Miller said, Chiapusio will assist in hiring and promoting police officers by evaluating possible hires, assessing them and organizing plans in a nonpartisan group. Once possible officers have been assessed, the list is given to the borough for hiring.

“If there is a problem, like a labor issue, any kind of firing or disciplinary action like a suspension, if they want they can have a hearing in front of civil service,” Miller said.

During its Main Street revitalization efforts, borough council is asking residents to report any issues they see in the community, such as uneven sidewalks and other construction issues.

The best way to report these issues is through the Zelienople App, SeeClickFix, a mobile app that residents can use to take photos of an issue, tag the report with a specific location and upload it directly.

“When you file a complaint, it pings us until it is completed,” Hess said. “It is a great asset to us, but it also lets council and staff know, especially whatever department is responsible for the issue. It lets them know, unrelenting, that that issue is out there.”

Council vice president Drew Mathew said residents can report anonymously or they can provide contact information.