CLEARFIELD – Last night, the Clearfield Borough Council approved to publicly display the proposed 2015 budget and for the tax rate to remain at 25 mills.
The proposed budget is $2,320,123.05, an increase from the 2014 budget of nearly $50,000. According to the proposed budget, a majority of the increased revenues will come from anticipated increase in Local Earned Income Tax and Local Services Tax of $25,000 each.
Major changes in expenditures include increases of $25,000 in public safety, $11,000 in executive and administrative costs, $25,000 in employee retirement funds and an offset of $10,000 less to be transferred to the borough’s sinking fund.
Council awarded bids for winter road materials as follows:
- HEI-WAY LLC, Sarver, for super stock patch – $98.87 per ton;
- HRI Inc., State College, for standard stockpiled cold patch – $93.80 per ton;
- Bucktail Excavation Inc., St. Mary’s, for 2A gravel – $11.67 per ton, and for 6S antiskid – $14.42 per ton
- Centre Concrete, State College, for Class A concrete – $101.85 per ton.
Borough Operations Manager Leslie Stott said she was disappointed there was only one bid received for concrete, as the borough had awarded to Centre Concrete before and there were issues with delivery times, plus they refuse a performance bond. Stott said the borough has had to get emergency orders of concrete from Dubrook Concrete and felt they were more reliable.
Council passed resolutions required for the 2014 Community Development Block Grant application. Clearfield Borough’s entitlement for 2014 is $99,427.
Council passed an ordinance for traffic flow modification that will make Water Street and one block of East Locust Street one-way.
They also passed a zoning change that will extend commercial zoning for properties on both sides of the Market Street Bridge. The zoning change will be presented to the County Planning Commission in the next phase of the change process.
Both decisions are in preparation for the Clearfield Community and Economic Development Corp. (CCEDC) Riverfront Project slated to begin in 2015.
Joe Marino spoke to the council regarding his property on Third Street that he wants to develop into a parking lot.
He said he spent $3,000 to meet the permit requirements in having the 86 by 50 foot lot surveyed. He said after six months, he read in the newspaper that his permit had been approved by the borough and County Planning Commission, but he has not received official word on the permit.
Code Enforcement Officer Larry Mack said he had the information on his desk and was waiting for signatures. He assured Marino that he would get things finalized tomorrow and would call him.
Mack reported the Planning Commission has approved a draft of a liquor license transfer ordinance that will be presented to council for action at their next meeting.
Council President Wade Cowder presented parking decals to the fire department for volunteers’ vehicles for permitted parking for fire calls.
Stott reported that the parking meters on Cherry Street will be removed soon to provide emergency parking for the fire department.
Stott also said the Street Department will be finishing up with the leaf vacuum this week, but leaves may be bagged and taken to the local composting sites.
Council passed a resolution for revisions to the borough’s Civil Service Commission’s job requirements, as required by the Pennsylvania Civil Service Commission. Solicitor F. Cortez “Chip” Bell said this is necessary so that the commission can proceed with compiling a new list of job candidates for the police department.
Fire Chief Todd Kling announced the Santa tour is scheduled for Dec. 20. He also reminds residents to keep their houses “fire safe” by checking smoke and carbon dioxide detector batteries, displaying house numbers and keeping sidewalks cleared for emergency personnel.
