CLEARFIELD – Clearfield Borough Council held the second public hearing in the Community Development Block Grant application process Thursday before its committee meeting.
Council reviewed the proposed projects for the funding application, which is to provide improvements to the police and fire station. Funds being sought for the project total $99,427; $81,531 for the improvements and $17,896 for program administration.
A draft copy of the application will be available for review after Nov. 5. Borough will vote on the application on Nov. 20. The application is due to the state Department of Community and Economic Development by Jan. 3, 2015.
At its committee meeting, council heard from a resident who was a tenant of the condemned apartment building on Water Street. The resident spoke for the other evicted tenants who are mostly individuals on disability, including veterans.
She said the six to seven households were given 30 days to move, with no assistance or even reparation for utilities. While acknowledging the failure lay with the landlord, she asked if there’s anything that could be done for these residents, and expressed her disappointment with the community and the local government for the lack of concern or support.
Councilman James Kling later acknowledged the resident’s plight, saying he was soured over the similar evictions taking place at the mobile home park in State College, and now here in Clearfield. He said nothing could be done retro-actively to change the situation, but he agreed something should be done to help these people.
Another resident on Third Street asked if sidewalks were going to be replaced between Pine and Locust streets, which she said were promised since the completion of the sewage project.
Borough Operations Manager Leslie Stott said the current sidewalk replacement project being funded with a CDBG grant wouldn’t reach that far. She noted they were doing everything they could to stretch the funds and extend the sidewalk replacement as far as possible.
Stott also pointed out sidewalk construction and maintenance are generally the responsibility of the property owner, noting as an example the sidewalk in front of Zalno’s Jewelers that was replaced by the business owner.
The Public Safety Committee approved a recommendation for installation of a street light around 595 E. Eighth St.
Kling raised the issue of existing lighting that’s blocked by trees, making them of no use, and actually burning for 24 hours because of blocked sunlight from the trees, costing more money. Kling said the situation should be fixed – either by trimming the trees or removing the lights that are ineffective to save the cost.
It was noted property owners are responsible for the tree-trimming, but they usually don’t have the ability or the resources to do it.
Borough Solicitor F. Cortez “Chip” Bell pointed out once a tree is touched, the action opens liability issues, making the person or group that did the trimming responsible. Bell further noted if an accident occurs with a tree that hasn’t been trimmed, it’s considered an act of nature in the eyes of the insurance companies.
Kling acknowledged there are already ordinances in place regarding the care and maintenance of trees in the borough, but only wanted to see something done about the street lights that serve no purpose.
Code Enforcement Officer Larry Mack gave an update on the Planning Commission’s actions regarding the Clearfield County Economic Development Corp.’s Riverfront Development plans for downtown Clearfield. Mack said the commission recommended moving forward with plans to make Water to Locust Street one-way and to vacate the right-of-way on Water Street to allow for on-street parking.
Mack said the commission is still reviewing the proposal to expand the downtown business district, with plans to make a decision in November.
Kling asked about progress on the parking situation for the fire department, noting he’d like to see this resolved before it’s carried into another year.
Stott reported there’ll be information regarding this at the regular meeting. She noted the Street Department had been busy with the line-painting for the parking lot, and hopes to combine it with other line-painting projects.
Street Leadman Todd Kling said he and Stott had discussed this and other street issues and said with the winter season coming up, it’d give them six months to plan all the street painting projects, including cross walks, parking lots, etc. so that they can all be completed at one time.