Jones said she has to sign forms after the men do the work as does the borough supervisor who has directed the work.

“I have nothing bad to say about Gateway; they keep tight controls.

“In the beginning, there were some concerns, but (Gateway) has worked well with us ... and (inmates) don’t cause any trouble. They help staff parades and community days.”

Foster said the Braddock community, through church and other groups, supports the men, especially at Christmas with donations of gifts and clothing.

Larry Morley, New Brighton borough manager, said Penn Pavilion residents do work that otherwise might not get done, such as grass cutting, weeding, picking up trash, painting fences — “anything a bunch of guys working together can do.”

He said there has been no rise in crime and no incidents in which people have been threatened by those at Penn Pavilion.

“The staff up there wouldn’t tolerate that,” Morley said.

Penn Pavilion, a former nursing home, was approved by borough council 17 years ago as a conditional use in the institutional zone under New Brighton’s zoning ordinance.

Wayne Township has no zoning ordinance.