CURWENSVILLE – During the committee meeting for Curwensville Borough Council Monday night, council discussed a phone vote taken in regards to purchasing a 2008 Dodge Charger police vehicle from the Morris-Cooper Regional Police Department for $3,000.
Because it was a time sensitive matter, the vote was taken by phone to be reaffirmed at the council meeting.
At the time, the borough police car was being repaired and another vehicle was needed and will be kept both as a spare vehicle for similar circumstances and also to allow the police to occasionally overlap shifts.
Council member Tom Carfley asked council why the vehicle was purchased. He said they have a truck in the garage in need of nearly $6,000 in repairs and there have been concerns about the state of the budget.
Council President Sara Curulla replied that he had been willing to vote yes for it at the time and he replied that it was because the idea was “sprung on him” and he didn’t have time to think about it.
Curulla said that if finances get tight, they can always sell the car, and Carfley replied that finances are tight now.
Carfley then motioned to have the current work being done to replace decals on the car stopped, and the vote was three to three with Mayor John Adams breaking the tie to allow the work to be completed.
In regards to the truck, the quote to repair it was $5,900 and the work crew believes they can do the work for less. Council voted to reject the quote and allow the employees to do the work.
Council heard from resident Ron Deluccia, who said he has talked to borough street crew leadman Dennis Curry regarding a water issue on his property.
He said the water appears to be coming from a neighboring property uphill from his and over time he has needed to dig a ditch around his yard to contain the water. Deluccia said this year the water has been so bad the ditch hasn’t been enough.
Curry responded by saying that he recently checked at the sewer plant and learned the borough has received 57.68 inches of rainwater this summer and it has created problems for everyone.
He said there is an area with a borough easement that he can take the backhoe and clean out, but he cannot do it until the ground dries up more. Regardless, the real issue is between two property owners and the borough cannot get involved.
In other matters, council: approved contacting Penelec about additional lighting on River Street near the intersection; voted to create an ordinance making the pavilions at Irvin Park “no smoking” areas; and will contact the state Department of Transportation to have a site study done on various intersections in the borough.
Council also learned that the Curwensville Regional Development Corp. voted to assist with the cost of a stormwater project on Thompson and Walnut streets.
The projected cost of the project is $40,000 and CRDC is providing the borough with $20,000 towards the project.