Mar. 27--New Castle City Council approved an agreement last night regarding the former Shenango China property.

The agreement and consent order with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection grants the state access to the property to monitor redevelopment of the area and to make sure contamination on the land is contained.

Council approved the purchase of the 34-acre property along Grant Street in September 2007 from David Choi, doing business as Realties USA Inc., for $850,000.

City solicitor Michael Bonner said paperwork still needs to be done, and the sale should be completed by the end of April.

Once the city takes ownership, it plans to use a state grant to demolish the vacant portion of the plant and make it available for industrial development. Resco Products Inc., a refractories company, occupies part of the building.

Council also approved a 63-month lease of a postage meter with Pitney Bowes. The city's cost will be $147 a month.

A proposal from Neopost, which has the existing agreement that expires June 14, offered a price of $172 a month.

Council also approved the appointment of Anna Lepore Conte to the Zoning Hearing Board of Appeals for a term to expire Dec. 31, 2013. She replaces Harry DeRosa, whose term has expired.

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