Air, Wood, BBQ: PA American Tradition or Crime Scene

Canonsburg mayor reverses BBQ order

By Chris Togneri, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
July 13, 2007

He couldn’t take the heat.

Saying Thursday that he made a mistake, Canonsburg Mayor Anthony Colaizzo rescinded an executive order banning the use of grills after 8 p.m.

His order — issued at a Canonsburg council meeting Monday night — unleashed an angry public outcry. One resident compared the town to “Socialist China.” Others vowed to grill illegally.

“I’m glad I wasn’t grilled,” said Colaizzo, 77.

“I go to bed early so I didn’t know people grill so late,” he said. “I recognize my shortcomings on that executive order. And I’ve rescinded the 8 o’clock curfew.”

In his executive order, Colaizzo temporarily outlawed all burns at any time of the day. That will not change until council considers the matter Tuesday night, he said. First-time offenders will be given a warning, and repeat offenders could be fined up to $300.

Colaizzo said he never intended to target family barbecues. But many people were abusing the city’s smoke ordinance by burning trash on their property under the guise of a legal “recreational burn,” he said.

“They’d be burning wood, branches, even garbage,” Colaizzo said. “When police would go, they’d get a hot dog or a marshmallow, put it on a stick and say it’s a recreational fire. And police would have to back off.”

The smoke created a health issue, Colaizzo said.

“We have an elderly population. A lot of folks have pulmonary conditions, and a lot don’t have air conditioning because they can’t afford it,” he said. “They couldn’t sleep with their windows open because of the stench from the fires.”

Borough officials did not expect the angry backlash.

The council called an emergency meeting at noon Thursday to discuss the issue, but Colaizzo rescinded the edict at 11 a.m.

A day after publicly questioning the mayor, many residents offered praise.

“Tony does so much for the town, and I think his heart was in the right place,” said Robert Luksis, 41, who planned to grill steaks last night in protest. “But things got out of hand rather quickly. I don’t think he, in his wildest dreams, thought it would grow like it did.”

“Ah, the sweet scent of democracy and barbecue lives on!” said Teresa Matuska, 53, who had called the ban “a joke.”

Colaizzo said the no-grilling edict was his most controversial move since he took office in 2000.

But he stood by its intent, and promised to continue the crackdown on illegal burns.

“I’ll take the heat for the grilling,” he said. “But I’m glad I did what I did. It’s for the betterment of the health and wealth of our citizens.”

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The Grill: American Tradition or Crime Scene?

Backyard grilling curtailed by Canonsburg mayor

July 12, 2007
By Chris Togneri, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
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The backyard grill: American tradition or potential crime scene?

Canonsburg Mayor Anthony Colaizzo issued an executive order this week banning the use of grills — propane, charcoal and wood — after 8 p.m. in this town of 8,825 known for its grandiose Fourth of July parades.

He outlawed all recreational fires “until further notice,” according to the edict posted on the borough’s Web page. First offenders will be given a warning, and repeat offenders could be fined up to $300.

The mayor’s ruling: wildly unpopular.
“What is this, Socialist China?” said Teresa Matuska, 53.

“This must be a joke,” added Rose Terkay, 51. “There are many more things that need to be watched other than if I make a hot dog or a piece of kielbasa after eight.”

Colaizzo did not return calls Wednesday night, and nobody was at his home.

Lou Marra, 72, who attends every council meeting, said the mayor issued the order Monday night after Canonsburg resident Dave DiTullio complained that a neighbor constantly starts fires next door, sending smoke onto DiTullio’s property.

While many residents said they sympathize with DiTullio, they questioned the mayor’s decision to punish everyone for the habits of one.

“Now you can’t even eat a weenie at night! You’ve got to eat your weenies before eight,” said Barb Mavrich, 58, a librarian who said the ruling was the talk of the town. “What are they going to do? Pour water on the coals? Take your grill away?”

Other residents vowed to defy the no-grilling edict.

“I will grill illegally,” said Robert Folk, 22, as he stood next to the family grill in his backyard. “It really blows my mind. I’ve seen a lot of strange things here — we have a singing Perry Como statue in town. But this … I find it to be very, very stupid.”

Folk and others said they have called the mayor’s office to complain. But Colaizzo did not answer, and they could not leave a message because his voice mailbox is full.

“I’m assuming I’m not the only one who is outraged,” Folk said.

Colaizzo and council will hold a meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday to discuss the matter.

He may face a firestorm in front of council chambers — literally.

Matuska is calling on unhappy residents to bring their grills downtown to protest.

The message, she said: “Here’s my grill. You want it? You can have it.”

“I actually know the mayor,” Matuska said, “and he’s a nice guy, but I just can’t believe they would spend their time and energy on this.”

Chris Togneri can be reached at ctogneri@tribweb.com or 412-380-5632.