CLEARFIELD – On Thursday night, Clearfield Borough Council authorized Borough Operations Manager Leslie Stott by way of a resolution to take steps toward exploring the possibility of a merger of the borough and Lawrence Township.
Council members Wade Cowder, Tim Winters, Lewis Duttry, David D. Gallaher, Heather Bozovich, Richard Stewart Jr. and Brian Lytle voted in favor. Councilman Jim Kling voted in opposition.
Prior to the vote, Stott said a grant through the state Department of Community and Economic Development is being made available to fund a study of the operations of Clearfield Borough and Lawrence Township. It will also include other related entities determined by borough council and the township supervisors, she said.
The study, she said, will include the feasibility of a merger or consolidation of the borough and township into one municipal government and a proposed home rule charter. She said it will be funded entirely by DCED with no cost to the borough or to the township.
By giving approval, Stott explained that council was authorizing her to prepare a request for proposals for a consultant to perform a feasibility study upon notice of a resolution of support from the township supervisors.
She said it was also authorizing her to apply to DCED for a grant through its Early Intervention Program for an amount equal to the cost of the proposal submitted by the consultant chosen to do the study.
“This is merely a study,” stressed Stott. “This isn’t anything that’s a deciding factor. It’s just to see if there is a reason for joining of municipal governments.” She noted that a municipal merger involves a “long process” and must be approved through a voter referendum.
Winters issued the following statement regarding the merger feasibility study. He said, “This study is the first step towards what may be a great opportunity for Clearfield and the surrounding area, having it paid for in the form of a grant is a huge savings to area taxpayers.”