CLEARFIELD – Clearfield Borough Council continued to work though suggestions presented by a recent financial study, including the suggestion that the borough and surrounding Lawrence Township should consider consolidation.
The council met Thursday night to look at some of the suggestions made by Michael Weir of Local Government Solutions LLC of Pittsburgh.
A suggestion was made to ask Lawrence Township supervisors whether they would be available to meet with the council on Sept. 27.
The council also discussed a suggestion — made through the study — to attend the township’s meetings.
Councilman Mike Errigo suggested that with eight council members, it works out to three meetings per member each year.
Borough Secretary Pam Peters said that the study suggests actively combining services between the borough and the township, prompting Councilwoman Susan Reed to suggest a “sit-down” meeting between the two municipalities.
Mayor Patty Gilliland said she received a telephone call from an unnamed group gathering information about the two municipalities’ possibility of merging. She said there could be a possibility for Clearfield and Lawrence to be used as an example for future projects.
“I don’t think anybody is against the consolidation,” said Errigo. “It’s just a matter of if it would work.”
Council President Jim Leitzinger agreed, stating that the concerns with any possible merger would be the fairness of the change for taxpayers and employees.
Leitzinger noted that the police department was studied in the past to determine whether a merger was possible there, but he said steps now are looking at “the whole picture.”
Reed noted that the borough and the township already share services in one department, namely the animal control officer.
Council also examined changing fees and fines during the session.
The borough receives an estimated $100,000 annually from these types of charges, but Weir’s study said the money coming in should reflect actual cost of providing services.
“I think that’s one thing we should look very seriously at,” Leitzinger said.
The discussion resulted in the suggestion that when a property’s grass has to be mowed or a sidewalk must be cleared, fees for doing so should be increased.
“I think if we make it a big enough deterrent, people will take it seriously,” Errigo said.
Peters noted that the current ordinance for property maintenance such as grass trimming or snow removal states that notification can be made in person or via regular mail. She said the ordinance should be changed to allow for notification by certified mail, thereby giving the borough a guarantee that the letter was received and the ability to record the date of receipt.
Leitzinger said the solicitor would have to advertise the proposed change.
Council considered changes to payments made in lieu of taxes Thursday night.
The Clearfield County Housing Authority pays about $15,000 per year to the Clearfield Area School District, the borough and the county in lieu of taxes for the high rise property downtown, according to Peters. Of that, the borough received $2,950.48 last year.
Recently, the authority expanded the amount of property it owns near the high rise.
Council will discuss possible changes at the next committee meeting, scheduled for Aug. 9 at 6:30 p.m.
Also under discussion was the possibility of changing Clearfield Hospital to a payment in lieu of taxes designation.
The property of Grice Gun Shop in downtown Clearfield also came under discussion when Peters noted that the borough pays school and county taxes for a section of Healy Avenue the company was permitted to block in order to receive deliveries.
“We’re promoting economic development, so why should we be punished for it?” asked Peters.
The alley was permitted to be blocked in the early 1990s, according to Leitzinger, so that the company could more easily receive deliveries and as an incentive to keep the business in the borough.
It was suggested to request a tax appeal hearing on both the housing authority and the Grice properties.
Council’s next regular meeting will be Aug. 16 at 7 p.m.
Council members John Naddeo, Joan McMillen, Rodger Baumgardner, Larry Mack and Barry Reddinger were absent from the session.
