The public hearing previously advertised and scheduled for Monday May 10, 2021, by the Forest Hills Borough Zoning Hearing Board has been canceled.  The hearing was previously scheduled to consider an application filed by the Oxford Life Insurance Company for a use variance to establish self-storage units on property located at 2400 Ardmore Blvd., Pittsburgh PA 15221 and 21 Yost Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15221.

 CC Mellor Memorial Library (CCM) is seeking applicants for their Adult Services Department and Communications Specialist positions.  Application information is available below.

Adult Library Assistant Job Posting

Communications Specialist

Thank you to everyone who participated in any way this past week in cleaning up the borough!  Your time and effort is appreciated and was a demonstration of your commitment to the environment.  We received photos of our neighbor Gary Morse doing his part by clearing trash Saturday from the Ardmore Run tributary of the Turtle Creek Watershed located in Forest Hills Park. If you have a photo of yourself cleaning in the borough send it to EAC@ForestHillsPA.org.

In early February a mailing was sent for the 2021/2022 Woodland Hills EMS Subscription Drive.  Subscription coverages go from June 1, 2021 to May 31, 2022.  We count on your support to help us to keep Woodland Hills EMS up-to-date on training and equipment.  Member benefits also help you when you need it the most.  Questions regarding our Subscription Drive should be forwarded to 412-351-9111 or whems340@gmail.com.  You can also view a copy of the mailer which includes complete information by clicking here!

Click here for Subscription and Billing information.

Help us help you!!  Donate today!

Please take a few moments to view this educational video.  It includes guidance on following the stormwater requirements of the federal Clean Water Act as administered under the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer (MS4) Program.

The Allegheny County Sanitary Authority has created the Clean Water Assistance Fund to help families pay their sewage treatment bills. This program serves low-income homeowners in the 83 municipalities that ALCOSAN serves. It is administered by Dollar Energy Fund.  Learn more here.

Please note that all Forest Hills Borough Parks are now OPEN. 

My decision to re-open our parks is based on guidance from the CDC, Allegheny Health Department and, our Emergency Management Coordinator.  While this is a positive step towards increasing recreational activities please remember to continue to wear masks as required and practice appropriate social distancing.  Thanks in advance for your understanding and cooperation.
Be sure to check out my page on the Forest Hills Website for additional information and resources related to COVID-19.
Please call or email if you have any questions or concerns at 412-351-7330 ext. 240 or porco@foresthillspa.com

Frank Porco, Mayor

Forest Hills Borough is developing an Active Transportation Plan to encourage pedestrian and non-motorized ways of moving from place to place.  We are especially focused on making non-motorized forms of transportation safer and more convenient in Forest Hills, especially in the business district, and in areas around the parks.  We are also interested in ways to improve access to public transit and bicycle options.  Please look at the interactive map here and note specific areas where you have a concern or have observed safety issues.  You can add your comments in the feedback box found on that page.  This information will be used to shape our Active Transit Plan.”  Click this link for the Interactive Map.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, is in the process of preparing highway construction plans for Ardmore Boulevard/Lincoln Highway within Wilkinsburg Borough and Forest Hills Borough. Construction is anticipated to start in the summer of 2021 and finish in the spring of 2023.

The project begins near the intersection with Brinton Road in Wilkinsburg and extends east to the Lenox Avenue intersection in Forest Hills. The primary project scope of work calls to mill and resurface the existing asphalt roadway along with the replacement of three culverts under Ardmore Boulevard. The majority of culvert construction activities will be restricted to occur daily from 6 A.M. to 10 P.M. in an effort to reduce construction noise at night for Borough residents. The majority of the paving will occur during night-time or weekends. Night-time work can occur between the hours of 7 P.M. and 6  A.M. Weekend work could occur starting at 7 P.M. Friday until 6 AM Monday. Full details regarding this project can be found here.

The recent Tree City Times had an error in the opening date for the pool.  The correct opening date is Saturday May 29^th.

UPMC has an on-line sign up process at https://Vaccine.UPMC.com

If you have limited access to online services or technology – like a computer or smartphone – or you need assistance in registering, you can call 844-UPMCVAC (844-876-2822) between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m, seven days a week. An operator will register you over the phone, and then you will be contacted about scheduling an appointment when vaccine is available.

Allegheny Health Network (AHN) communicates through their “My Chart” electronic system.  You can sign up for My Chart at https://mychart.ahn.org/.   Once  you have a MyChart account, AHN electronically alerts you when you’re eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.

Council approved the preliminary budget as final on December 16, 2020.  A final updated copy with year end actual numbers for each line item will be prepared and posted here as final once accounts have been closed for 2020.  In the meantime, the budgets provided here may be considered final for all to view.  The Borough’s Budget for 2021 is available for review at this link: https://foresthillspa.org/budget-and-finance-2021/

For a limited time only, the Allegheny County Vacant Property Recovery Program will be accepting applications to acquire vacant properties for side yards to an owner-occupied primary residence or blighted structure remediation at a reduced cost to the applicant. Under the 2020 Side Yard and Blighted Structure Program, we will waive our standard parcel fee of $3,000 for applicants for a side yard to their primary residence and applicants proposing to demolish a blighted structure. We will reduce the fee to $1,400 for applicants proposing to rehabilitate a blighted structure. All applicants will also be responsible for the appraised value of the property, a good faith deposit, and closing costs. The application, which contains additional details about the Program guidelines, can be accessed at our website: www.alleghenycounty.us/VPRP. We are excited to announce that we will now be accepting electronic submissions to VPRP@AlleghenyCounty.us, as always, all required materials must be submitted at time of application.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and in response to federal and state emergency management restrictions and recommendations, notice is given that all regularly scheduled and advertised meetings of the Council of the Borough of Forest Hills will be modified as follows until further notice. All Council Committee and Business meetings will take place as scheduled at 7:00 p.m. prevailing time. The meetings will remain open to the public but will no longer be conducted at the Forest Hills Borough Building, which is temporarily closed to the public.  Instead, the meetings will be conducted by remote audio and video conference services (Zoom).  Registration information for the audio and video conference registration will be posted on the website and also be posted on the front door of the Borough Building, 4400 Greensburg Pike, Pittsburgh, PA 15221.

If you have an issue that you would like council or the Mayor to address but cannot attend a meeting, please submit your concern or idea to council by calling the borough office at 412-351-7330 and speak to staff or leave a detailed message. All messages submitted will be presented to council for review either in committee or at a business meeting or both. You may also submit your concern or idea to council by completing the form found here.

The crisis also means that council’s meeting schedule may change and that an advertised meeting by council or one of its appointed boards may be cancelled. We will try to keep you updated on that via the website but you should also feel free to call the office at the above number. And please call the office if you have any questions.

As a proactive measure due to the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) crisis, the Forest Hills Borough office will close indefinitely to the public and non-essential personnel. The borough does this reluctantly but feels it is necessary to contribute to the self-distancing effort stressed by the CDC and state and local health department officials. The borough’s recreation lodges are also closed.

Staff will continue to work as long as they remain in good health and the borough encourages the public to continue to contact the office during business hours at 412-351-7330 with issues or questions that may arise. The borough continues to provide its usual full services including public safety services and the public works crew will continue its normal duties.

Permits and inspections have been curtailed in compliance with the Governor’s order.  Residents may call the Borough Office to get information however, with limited staff we will do our best to fulfill requests but implore your understanding that it may take time to to answer those requests. Citizens may continue to contact the police department for both emergency and non-emergency matters by calling 911.  At this time the borough council meeting remains scheduled for 7 PM on March 25^th.

A drop box is located at the main entrance to the borough building for payments by check or money order and the borough encourages citizens to continue to use it. Other documents for the borough may be placed there as well. An online payment option is also available through the website.

Forest Hills appreciates your understanding during this difficult time and reminds all to safely check on neighbors and friends.

The following is a link to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) with the latest information on the Coronavirus.

Coronavirus Disease

If you feel ill and are concerned about your health the CDC has provided a tool to help you make decisions about seeking appropriate medical care. The following link will take you to “What To Do If You Are Sick”. Once there click the “Self-Checker” yellow box on the right of the screen. You will answer several questions which will help you to evaluate your situation.

What To Do If You Are Sick

The following is a link to the Allegheny County Health Department with the latest information on the Coronavirus.

COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

ATTENTION!

Mayor Frank Porco has declared a disaster emergency in Forest Hills.  Read the Public Service Announcement from Mayor Porco regarding  the Covid-19 Virus.  This Declaration of Emergency is effective immediately and shall remain in effect until the Declaration is terminated in writing by the Mayor of Forest Hills. The Declaration may be viewed at this link.

During this time of crisis many of our elderly neighbors are unable to leave their homes to shop for food or get their medications.  Please check on your elderly neighbors and see if they need help.

This link contains organizations and programs that deliver resources to those who contact them or enroll in their program.

The Allegheny County Area Agengy on Aging,  offers home support services such as shopping and light housekeeping.  Seniors (60 & older) should call  the DHS Senior Line at 412.350.5460 to register.

A local resource for referral is Eastern Area Adult Services which offers services to seniors.  Their contact information is:

Eastern Area Adult Services
Keystone Commons
607 Braddock Avenue
Turtle Creek, PA 15145

Website: https://eaas.net/

Phone: (412) 829-9250
Email: eaas@eaas.net

This map link displays locations of free food resource distribution sites in the region if your family or someone you know is experiencing food insecurity.

This link contains organizations and programs that do not have a “pick up” location, but rather delivers resources to those who contact them or enroll in their program.

Rumors and misinformation can be destructive and can even cause harmful behaviors that increase personal and public health risks. The following links address rumors and any misinformation.

Link to FEMA  https://www.fema.gov/coronavirus-rumor-control

Link to Allegheny County  https://www.alleghenycounty.us/Health-Department/Resources/COVID-19/Rumor-Control.aspx

Pick up one of our Centennial mugs while supplies last!

Centennial Mugs are available at the borough office during business hours for only $10 (proceeds used to support the Centennial celebration).  You can purchase by check payable to Borough of Forest Hills or, with cash (exact amount) for the mug only.

Start your day off right! Sip from this great looking mug and support this once in a lifetime event. Get it while it’s hot!