The wrecking ball has moved away from a house at 612-6121/2 Boquet Street and appears to be headed for 121 Court St.

Officials unanimously approved the switch June 22 after learning that a buyer may have been found for the Boquet Street house, which suffered major damage in a November 1997 fire. The owner has struggled to complete the repairs and some neighbors have grown weary of the delay.

Last month, owner Mike Charles agreed to a series of measures that officials liked, such as listing the home with a Realtor and securing building permits to complete the renovation work. Also, there may be a buyer for the property.

• Council tabled a request for Allied Waste Services to change some addresses to front street curbside pickup.

Though council members agreed using narrow alleys for backyard pickups can be difficult, as well as hard on the streets, they also had concerns about having garbage on the curbs of major thoroughfares like Washington Avenue.

"We're trying to clean up Carnegie and make it look better," said Councilman Pat Catena, who along with other officials wanted more information from the hauler.

n Council authorized a $3,771 payment to the U.S. Treasury to reconcile a federal tax liability. Council member Dorothy Kelly explained that the federal government mistakenly sent the borough a refund, which then incurred penalties when it was not returned within the specified time frame.

• Before the meeting, officials held an executive session to discuss whether Councilman Fred Carini should be removed because he missed the previous two voting meetings on May 11 and June 8.

Mr. Carini attended June 22 and council President Mike Sarsfield reported at the end of the meeting, "It was the decision of council that we were happy with his explanation [for his absences]."

Council is reviewing a preliminary draft agreement with NorthWest EMS, and a change in the borough's ambulance service could occur at Wednesday's council meeting.

According to Manager Doug Sample, who presented the document to council June 24, the borough must have an ambulance provider selected by Aug. 5, the date the contract with the Robinson Emergency Medical Services expires.

In April, council directed Mr. Sample to negotiate an agreement with NorthWest EMS, which serves 14 communities in Allegheny and Washington counties and operates base locations in Bellevue, McKees Rocks and North Fayette.

Council had voted to terminate -- within 120 days -- its contract with the Robinson EMS, which has provided ambulance service for the borough since 1998.

A desire to have a 24-hour service provider was a major factor in council's actions. Robinson maintains an ambulance and its crew in the borough from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m. daily and provides coverage from its Robinson base overnight.

Mayor Susan O'Connell again requested that council renew its contract with Robinson EMS because its new contract proposal provides for an emergency medical technician to be available in the community between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Councilman Jim Bloom argued that this coverage still falls short of the 24-hour advanced life support services the borough requires.

Council Vice President Dan Cindric raised concerns over a 120-day termination clause and the need to have an ordinance in place to control the selection of an ambulance provider.

• A rainstorm June 17 washed away half of Marian Street, prompting council to authorize the Public Works Department to remove the paving bricks and store them for future use on other streets.

The borough engineer was directed to seek bids to pave the damaged 200-foot section of the street. The project is estimated to cost approximately $40,000.

Manager Joseph Kauer has received the Distinguished Service Award from the Pennsylvania Association of Boroughs.

Wendy A. Nickerson, the association's outreach training consultant, presented the award June 23 to Mr. Kauer for his contributions to the community since he was hired in 2005.

"I'm humbled and honored to receive the award. It's a really special place here," Mr. Kauer said. "It's like a family."