CLEARFIELD – The Clearfield County Commissioners answered questions about the sheriff’s posse and discussed changes to the hotel tax law at yesterday’s commissioners’ meeting.
Charlie Lombardo asked the commissioners about the recent training exercise and why activities of the posse continue without liability insurance. He expressed concern that if someone is hurt, it will come back on the county.
Commissioner Mark McCracken explained first that the posse is not affiliated with the county, and he would appreciate the media only referring to it as the Sheriff’s Posse.
He then explained that the commissioners sent a letter to Sheriff Wes Thurston. It stated that the county’s insurance company couldn’t provide the liability insurance and advised him to find insurance elsewhere, but to their knowledge that has not happened.
He also said the commissioners are not being kept in the loop as to what is going on as it is not a county-related activity but something the sheriff is doing on his own.
Solicitor Kim Kesner added that the situation puts the county in a difficult position. He said the commissioners are not managers or supervisors of other elected officials, though the actions of elected individuals could ultimately involve the commissioners.
Kesner also said that the sheriff behaves as if the commissioners are opposed to his project and that is not necessarily true, but the commissioners do want the project to proceed with caution.
The commissioners also stated that it is unfair for members of the public to come to them with these concerns, and they should instead be directed at Thurston.
Kesner added that no initiative is totally bad or totally good, but unfortunately it’s a litigious society where people will sue over almost any matter. Therefore, he said it is important to measure risks and attempt to limit problems.
Later in the meeting, the commissioners discussed changes to the hotel tax law in the state, which took effect in April. Counties can now levy a 5 percent tax as opposed to 3 percent if they desire.
McCracken said the ordinance for the county hotel tax, which funds the county’s tourism promotion agency, Visit Clearfield County, was passed in 2003 and does need to be “refreshed.”
The commissioners want to sit down with each other and with VCC’s board, Clearfield County Recreation and Tourism Authority, and discuss what the TPA has accomplished, where they are going, and other matters.
One item the commissioners brought up was whether the board should continue as a management board or shift to an advisory board, which would put certain mundane jobs back on the county to care for.
Commissioner Tony Scotto added that the board appears “bogged down” in management when they need to focus on promoting the county’s attractions.
Commissioner Chairman John Sobel said that creating entities such as CCRTA or the solid waste authority or economic development authority allowed the county to delegate responsibilities, but also limited how much control the county has over them. If the public is upset at one of the entities, there is little the commissioners can do.
After some more discussion, the commissioners agreed that this is going to be an ongoing discussion for several months. McCracken suggested Sobel and Kesner meet with CCRTA’s chairperson and solicitor and open dialogue about the future of VCC and related matters.
In other matters, the commissioners approved the agreement with the Clearfield Area School District for the school-based probation/safety officer.
The commissioners then heard from Dawn Graham of the county election office concerning the polling location for Morris Township’s second ward.
Graham explained that both wards had been voting at the township building, but it was often overcrowded with little parking. The owner of Long Motor Buses then contacted Graham and offered a bay at his business along Troy-Hawk Run Highway.
She and Sobel visited the business on June 8 and found it will be a cleaned, heated bay with separate entrances and handicapped parking. If there are no objections from the public, the commissioners will formally vote on the change on July 12.
Sobel also stated that the commissioners and Graham visited the DuBois Senior Center at the request of city council to see if it could serve as a possible polling place.
The commissioners also approved agreements between the county and Avanco and a lease agreement with Ricoh for a copier to be used by planning and the controller’s office.
Liquid fuel disbursements were approved: Brady Township, $5,643.14; Jordan Township, $3,764.82 and Westover Borough, $3,000.