CLEARFIELD – Money concerns came up at the Clearfield Borough Council meaning when discussing agenda items to vote on next week.
The issue first came up when Police Chief Jeffrey Rhone informed the council and mayor about two training classes for which police Officer Farley was eligible. Rhone would have notified the mayor in advance, but had only learned of the two courses himself around 3 p.m.
The first was level 3 traffic collision reconstruction and an 80-hour course. Farley would be considered an expert in post collision reconstruction if he received this training. The course is only available every three years, but Farley already has level 1 and 2 certifications.
The second course focuses on sobriety check points and would only last one day.
Both courses are free to take, but the borough would have indirect expenses.
For the traffic collision course, it would be the cost of providing Farley a place to stay and eat while completing the training. It would cost $72 a night just for a place to stay. For the sobriety check point it would be mileage and lunch.
The members of the council who voiced an opinion decided that it would likely be best for the borough to put off the reconstruction training till the 2012 class.
Other expenses that came up were $1,046 for a new leaf vacuum, $2,016 for 12 manhole risers for the paving project, and $1,233 to Penn Central Door for temporarily fixing and then replacing the garage door on the borough’s garage.
Council Member Fred Wisor voiced concern over the council approving to move the items for voting next week without discussing if the costs were needed.
The manhole risers were discussed in the public comment period by Dave Gallagher.
The leaf vacuum needs replaced as it has worn out due to age. When asked about the garage door, Fire Chief Todd Kling explained to Wisor that the track and door are thirty years old. Some of the bolts are beyond the point of repair and needs replaced.
“Is it the track or the door?” asked Wisor as the expenditure request named the door as being replaced.
“It’s an old wooden garage door. I don’t want to get in trouble when we replace the tracks and the wood falls apart,” said Kling trying to say the door is fine for now, but uncertain for how much longer that will be the case.
“It’s nice to have new-,” began Wisor.
“This isn’t a question about wanting new, but securing Power Avenue and the equipment,” interrupted Borough Operations Manager Leslie Stott.
Stott then said she’d check to see what the cost difference would be between just replacing the track and replacing the track and door.
“Twelve [manhole risers] isn’t enough. You’ll need about a hundred,” said Gallagher in the public comment.
Gallagher came to the council to complain about the potentially dangerous road conditions on Turnpike Avenue from storm drains beneath the crown of the road. He asked about the prospect of getting more and with the risers needed else where the possibility of a bulk rate.
“None of us realized how bad the roads were in getting crowned,” said Stott.
The borough had attempted to mill the roads down to minimize the need for risers, but ran into problems. Instead of buying risers for streets such as
Turnpike Avenue, Guelich and Kerr Addition the borough is currently planning on pouring their own.