Council, earlier this month, appointed Sgt. Larry Heidenreich to serve as interim chief for recently retired chief Chris Kelly. A search is under way for a chief for the 24-member department.

Sgt. Heidenreich, with 23 years service, is the most senior of three sergeants in the department. He was selected after a 4-0 vote following an executive session Aug. 6.

He will be paid $90,262. His salary as a sergeant was $68,000.

A professional police consultant has recommended forming of a committee to direct the process, which could take three months.

At a meeting held last week council President Jay Lieb addressed residents' concerns about the borough's construction of a new salt dome.

"There have been questions as to why the borough spent over $300,000 for a new salt dome in the park area," he said.

Mr. Lieb listed four reasons for the project, including the deteriorating condition of the old dome, the need for the borough to comply with environmental regulations regarding salt storage, the rising cost of road salt and the need to keep it dry and easier access to the salt for public works department.

The borough is considering adopting a code that would limit solicitation. The ordinance, announced by Richard Bender, chairman of the public safety committee, would seek to allow residents to limit solicitation to their homes. The borough solicitor said he would review legal issues on solicitation law.

Borough Manager George Zboyovsky announced the borough is considering the use of Web-based software that would allow residents to file complaints, such as zoning violations, through the borough Web site.

The software would allow the borough to better track the resolution of the complaints, Mr. Zboyovsky said.

The software would cost approximately $8,000 over five years, and has been successfully used in other towns such as Peters, Mr. Zboyovsky said. "It's vital to providing quality public service," he said.

Council Monday approved a 10-year cable franchise agreement with Verizon. The agreement means that residents, for the first time, have a choice in their cable providers. Comcast has been the only cable provider for many years.

Attorney Dan Cohen, who represented South Hills Council of Governments in the negotiations, said that as part of the agreement, Verizon will provide local schools, libraries and municipal facilities with free basic cable services and will provide as many as six PEG channels (public, educational and government) for the COG's use.

Bill Carney, of Verizon, said service lines already had been installed in most areas of the borough and that residents can be connected to the service within the next 30 to 60 days,

• Council passed a resolution approving participation in a multi-municipal comprehensive plan involving the Route 51 corridor that state Rep. Chelsa Wagner, D-Brookline, has initiated to obtain state and federal funds for improvements.

• The police department's annual school crossing guard seminar held last Wednesday, had 90 participants from 13 municipalities, said Mayor Warren Bourgeois. It was the 15th year for the program, which, he said, has become a model for others throughout the state.

• Following safety concerns raised by residents, the borough's public works supervisor will inspect a damaged concrete sidewalk near the municipal park .

• Saint Elizabeth will hold a get-acquainted picnic for families of preschool children Monday at the South Park children's playground, 10 a.m.-noon. Call 412-881-2958 for more information.

The borough is hosting its 60th Anniversary Community Day celebration from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the municipal complex, 100 Borough Park Drive, across the street at Snyder Park. The day kicks off with a 5K race at 9:15 a.m.; prize is $2,500. The day will feature food, music, inflatables, rides, games and prize giveaways. There will be appearances by Bill "Chilly Billy" Cardille and the Ultimate Steeler Fan. For more, contact recreation Director Kelly Joyce, at 412-334-5646.

At its meeting this week, the school board authorized the creation of a "senior card" which would allow those 65 years and older to attend all district events, excluding the school play, for a discounted, fixed price. Exact details, including the price of the card, are still being worked out.

The cards would be available for purchase in the district offices.

• Rates for admission to football, basketball, volleyball and swimming events will be the same as last year. Football and basketball admission will be $4 for adults, $3 for seniors (those without a senior card) and $2 for students. Volleyball and swimming charges will be $2 for adults and $1 for seniors and students.

The board approved the employment of Casey Phillips as the assistant athletic director at a salary of $3,100 per year.

• The board also approved improvements to district property. The district's telephone systems will be upgraded at a cost of $34,160; the middle/high school fire alarm system will be upgraded at a cost of $48,800; and the middle/high school HVAC controls system will be upgraded at a cost of $38,413.

• The district is also advertising to hire a special education/mid-level English teacher; a high school special education teacher; an elementary technology teacher; and a four-hour custodian.

• The Continuous Improvement Plan and Pandemic Influenza Management Plan were approved and are available for public inspection at district offices. A records management policy was also adopted.