Latest news with #JohnstownRedevelopmentAuthority
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Former U.S. Rep. Mark Critz selected as JRA's next executive director
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Former U.S. Rep. Mark Critz will soon begin a new role in his lengthy public service career as executive director of the Johnstown Redevelopment Authority. JRA board members Chairman Mark Pasquerilla, Vice Chairman Richard Truscello, Bruce Haselrig and Sherri Rae approved hiring Critz for the position during a regular monthly meeting Tuesday. Laura Huchel was absent from the meeting and vote as she was busy campaigning in her race for Johnstown mayor on Election Day. 'When I saw this come up, I thought, 'You know, I'm getting up in years, and this is a place where I can finish my career and do something really strong for my hometown,'' said Critz, 63. 'Sometimes things – you want to call it 'providence' or whatever – this happened. And I thought, 'Mark, this is for you. Get in there and do what you can for the city.' ' Critz currently works as the western regional director of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and executive director of the state's Rural Development Council. He is scheduled to begin as JRA's director June 30. 'I have a lot of obligations at the state for my bosses that I'm intertwined and entangled in that we have to unwind over the next six weeks or so,' Critz said. Critz was selected to succeed former Executive Director Melissa Komar, who resigned effective April 4 to take a job in the private sector. 'I think he's really qualified,' Pasquerilla said. 'Besides being a congressman himself, he was (the late U.S. Rep. John) Murtha's district director, which is a pretty big deal. His work for the state has been, I think, stellar. He has a lot of contacts in the state, so he kind of has that two lives. "I think he's going to be a good addition. We had a great director with Melissa Komar, but I think he's fit for this job. He's a Moxham resident and he wants to make a difference here in Johnstown. I'm very pleased about it.' Along with Critz's hiring, the board promoted Finance Director Cheryl Labosky to the position of deputy executive director/finance director. 'I look forward to the opportunity to work with Mark Critz in the next chapter of the authority,' said Labosky, who has been with the JRA for 11 years. 'I appreciate the continued support of our partners and stakeholders as we move forward together. I look forward to working with Mark and our dedicated team.' Together, Critz, Labosky and other JRA members will continue ongoing efforts on numerous projects, including the regional sewer system and land bank. A few of the major initiatives were updated during Tuesday's meeting. The board approved awarding a $1,271,070.24 contract to A. Liberoni Co. for the construction of a connector road for the Johnstown Urban Industrial Park that will be located in the Minersville neighborhood. The authority also voted to accept a $200,000 state grant for environmental cleanup at the former Cambria-Rowe Business College building, located at 221 Central Ave. in Moxham.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cambria recreation authority hires maintenance specialist, transfers city lots to JRA
EBENSBURG, Pa. – Maintenance motions topped the agenda at Friday's meeting of the Cambria County Conservation and Recreation Authority. The group approved the hire of a new maintenance specialist, Vincent Heiss, and transferred five properties along Somerset Street in Johnstown's Kernville section to the Johnstown Redevelopment Authority. CCCRA Executive Director Cliff Kitner said the actions will be a benefit to the organization, both in helping with workload and in alleviating property care stress. 'Obviously, with all the trail we're building, I want to eliminate some of our maintenance,' Kitner said. The five Kernville properties were donated to the authority years ago as part of the Urban Connectivity project that aims to connect pathways through the city. Kitner said there are some structures on the lots that still need to be removed, but it's unclear if that might happen. When Vision Together 2025 approached the authority about acquiring a lot to build a home there, it made sense to offer all five to the JRA so the properties could be put to use, Kitner said. He added that hauling the authority's equipment to work in that area can be difficult, as well. Board member Brad Clemenson suggested a right-of-way be recorded on the deeds during the transfers to allow for the potential development of a trail in the future. It has been proposed, as part of the connectivity project, that a trail follow Somerset Street along the river. 'Something to talk about,' Clemenson said. 'I don't think we have to resolve it right now.' Kitner told him that's a discussion that can be had with the parties involved. As for Heiss, Kitner said he'll be a 'tremendous asset' to the organization. Following the retirement of longtime maintenance specialist Bruce Eash in January, the authority was left solely with specialist Alex Cruley. Kitner said it made sense to have two specialists to help take care of the trails, due to the amount of county-owned and maintained trails doubling since Kitner's start more than 10 years ago. In other business, the board was updated on the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization grant project for the Ghost Town Trail extension. Next week, bids will be put out for two bridges between the North Street trailhead in Blacklick Township and Nanty Glo, where the path will meet the Ghost Town Trail C&I Extension and complete the largest rail-trail loop on the East Coast once finished. Kitner said all the permits are in place and that loop will be completed this year, which is a relief. He compared the feeling to nearing the end of a marathon and getting a burst of energy out of excitement to finish. 'When you start something and you think it's going to be forever, but now you see the light at the end of the tunnel, it's like, 'Wow, we're going to cross that finish line,' ' he said.
