At Washington City Council’s monthly business meeting, City Council approved the purchase and installation of 26 trees at a cost of $10,400 with a vote of 4-1. The expenditure was the result of replacing damaged trees in the business district of the city. Trees were damaged primarily due to salt used to treat sidewalks and roads during the winter as well as some vandalism. City Councilman Matt Staniszewski cast the sole ‘No’ vote citing the expenditure was “an excessive waste of taxpayers’ money.” “Money doesn’t just grow on trees,” Staniszewski stated. Staniszewski also reminded city council that salt killed most of the trees before. “How can you be certain this won’t happen again? The city could find itself in the same boat again two years from now,” Staniszewski stated. Other members of council indicated they had an engineer spec out the trees. Staniszewski contends a previous administration also had an engineer spec out trees the first time and “look what happened as a result. They’re spending $10,400 today,” Staniszewski stated. Proponents on city council for the trees indicate the cost will be split with the Business District Authority; an authority set up under the umbrella of the city. It generates revenue by imposing a service fee on local businesses within the district. Staniszewski contends “at the end of the day it’s still all tax payer money no matter what shell game they play.” The members of city council in favor of the purchase also indicated replacing the trees is a difficult task because of the weight of the trees and removal of the damaged ones. Staniszewski, who also oversees the city’s public works bureau and street department, believes differently. Staniszewski indicated an individual could purchase more affordable trees at local outlets and the street department has the equipment to help remove and install trees. “I can go to a local store right now and for $29.95 I can buy a tree. Do the math. In addition, civic organizations and the boy scouts could partner with our street department to do this project. It’s a win-win situation at a significant fraction of the cost,” Staniszewski presented as an alternative solution.

A skeleton of what officials believe to be a Horse’s head was found Monday in the middle of the City of Washington. City Councilman Matt Staniszewski, who also serves as the City of Washington’s Public Works Bureau Director, was contacted around 6:00PM on Memorial Day with the news. Staniszewski first arrived at the scene where it was located in an alley off of Third Street and only 2 and a half blocks from Jefferson Avenue (State Route 18); a heavily populated residential section of the city. “The odor was unbearable as soon as I got out of my car. In my six years of serving on City Council, this is a first. I’ve received strange phone calls in the past but this takes the cake so far to find a horse’s head here in the heart of the city,” Staniszewski stated. Staniszewski indicated the remains were immediately and safely removed from the area. Staniszewski is asking for any witnesses or anyone with any information to please contact the Washington Police Department (724.223.4226) or Staniszewski’s office at 724.225.2781. UPDATE - City Councilman Matt Staniszewski spoke with a resident near where the remains were found a short time ago. Staniszewski said the resident told him they saw a suspicious white pickup truck circling the block numerous times over the weekend. They did not get a license plate.

Using common sense and rolling up their sleeves, City Councilman Matt Staniszewski and the Washington Public Works Bureau solved the notorious flooding problem at the intersection of South Main Street and Park Avenue for less than $5,000 and potentially saved the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars while making the intersection safer for commuters.

Two-term City Councilman Matt Staniszewski, a life-long resident going back three generations of steel and mine workers here in Washington County, stated he has "the experience, education and competence to bring Washington County into the 21st Century." Graduate from California University of Pennsylvania, Staniszewski is the only candidate with a Baccalaureate Degree in Computer Science with additional studies in organizational psychology, business and finance. He is also a certified grant writer and previously a federally licensed financial planner. Staniszewski is the only candidate who not only wants you to be able to view documents online but he also wants to enable you to submit civil complaints and other requests online 24 / 7 from your office or home. Using his experience in the public and private sectors, Staniszewski plans to create an efficient, effective, friendly and convenient office for the public while lowering the taxpayers' costs. Being a councilman for a city with significant financial challenges, he understands what it means to be mindful of the taxpayers' pocketbooks while creating innovative methods to continue to provide the public needed services. Eventually, as part of Staniszewski's vision for modernizing the Prothonotary's office, Matt will "have the app for that."