DUBOIS – The Gray Family Foundation will host a meeting with the Pennsylvania Economic League on Oct. 12 regarding the proposed consolidation of DuBois City and Sandy Township.
The meeting will be held at the DuBois Country Club, located at 10 Lakeside Ave., DuBois, PA 15801. It will begin at 6 p.m. and is open to the public, Sandy Township Supervisors reminded Monday.
PEL also hosted the original public meeting when the two municipalities initiated the consolidation process. The current consolidation effort is citizen-driven and will be decided by voters Nov. 2.
The Oct. 12 meeting will follow a similar format, but the PEL will present data regarding the proposed consolidation of DuBois City and Sandy Township into a third-class city.
The municipalities considered consolidation under a home rule charter. “The ballot question is not the same as recommended,” said Jason Gray, foundation rep, “and they will address that.”
If consolidation passes, the new municipality will initially be bound by the voter referendum, which itself was bound to follow the citizen-circulated petition.
Residents can submit their consolidation questions in advance by e-mailing study@duboispa.gov. Or, attendees can fill out a question card before the meeting.
Anyone who can’t attend in-person can watch a web stream at: https://vcloud.blueframetech.com/broadcast/embed/304666?autoplay.
There were also concerns. Supervisor Jim Jeffers said because people were required to submit questions in writing, it may discourage those who prefer to participate orally.
Supervisor Kevin Salandra said while questions were being accepted before the meeting, he hoped there would also be an opportunity for questions afterwards.
Also, on Monday night, the Sandy Township Supervisors invited members of the public to express their views on the proposed consolidation at their next meeting.
To allow more people to attend and participate in public comment, the supervisors will hold their Oct. 18 regular meeting at the West Sandy Fire Company.
Supervisor Mark Sullivan noted that residents have approached him personally, and requested a meeting to express their thoughts and opinions on the consolidation process.
When asked by Supervisor Bill Beers, Sullivan said he was under the impression that residents wanted a meeting to “talk to each other … and to ask questions.”