Shadyside Council commends residents for respectful behavior

TL Photo/GAGE VOTA Shadyside Police Chief Don Collette gives his department report and commends the village of Shadyside for going full force to raise money for Brody Beckett.

SHADYSIDE – The Village Council held a brief meeting Monday evening with members considering whether to reduce the number of meetings.

The meeting lasted just over 20 minutes and officials discussed the possibility of moving the bimonthly meetings to once a month.

Council Member Melaine Haswell asked if the council would be interested in meeting once a month during the winter season to better accommodate member Brandon Parr, the Shadyside High School girls basketball assistant coach. She said several communities in the Ohio Valley hold monthly council meetings, and she believes the council should meet once a month during the winter months. Although all members agreed to the switch, nothing was officially changed. It was then unanimously decided by the council that for November and December the council will meet on the third Monday of the month, with the next meeting on November 18 at 6 p.m.

Shadyside Police Chief Don Collette then gave his department report and informed the council about a fundraising event that took place Saturday in front of Center Grill.

“Adam Lucci recently had a fundraiser for a sick child, and it went off without a hitch.” Collette said. “Everything went well and they raised money for the sick child.”

He added that the fundraiser had applied for and been approved for a liquor control permit, adding that everyone involved followed the rules and the event was successful, resulting in zero issues.

The event was to raise money for Brody Beckett, a 12-year-old boy who was recently diagnosed with a rare neurological condition.

Haswell added that she and council members Sam Carpino and Parr attended the fundraiser and that she was proud of the village of Shadyside for coming to an event to raise money for a good cause.

“Adam said 727 dinners were sold, 90 cases of beer, which amounts to 2,160 beers, and he only found three beer cans. There were two on his ledge and one on a curb,’ Haswell said.

Carpino added that he was happy to see everyone in attendance cleaning up after themselves.

Haswell used that example to argue for the creation of a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area.

“As long as I’m on this council, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that DORA rule.” Haswell said. “If you were there on Saturday, everyone was gone and everyone stayed in their little ticket area and no one went outside of that. I just don’t understand why this is something we can’t do.”

Parr added, “It’s something that no one has ever pursued before.”

Haswell responded that she believes a designated outdoor refreshment area is something the council should pursue. She said she saw zero examples of people being combative during the event, adding that if a DORA were formed and someone became combative, he or she could easily be arrested.

“I just think it’s something we really need to look at. Brandon and I have been wanting to do a fall festival in Shadyside, we’re hoping for maybe next fall,” Haswell said. “I just think it will be a success if it’s followed correctly.”

Carpino added that he recently attended a DORA event in Bellaire and the police presence was noticeable, adding that officers were routinely in the area to continue checking and ensuring everything was going smoothly.

‘I would rather spend my money here than have to go to another city’ said Carpino.

The meeting ended with Mayor Robert Newhart reminding everyone that Shadyside will celebrate Halloween with trick or treating on Thursday from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM, adding that it is a rain or shine event, but he believes the rain should hold off until 8:00 PM o’clock.

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