DUBOIS – The DuBois/Sandy Joint Consolidation Board met Wednesday night for the first time since last spring.
The board consists of city council members, township supervisors and the city/township managers, and they reviewed several milestones that must be accomplished before Jan. 1, 2026.
- Jan 1, 2024: Both municipalities must approve the hiring of any full-time employee.
- June 1, 2024: The Joint Board must recommend its plan for consolidation of city/township staff and establish an organizational chart.
- 2025: It must begin merging accounting systems and develop a joint budget for the new consolidated City of DuBois.
- Feb. 1, 2025: The Joint Board must reveal the consolidated city’s tax structure and rates.
- May 2025: During the Primary Election, voters will select their nominees for the seven elected positions in the consolidated city.
- November 2025: During the General Election, voters will determine the candidates who will occupy the elected offices of the consolidated city.
- End of 2025: The DuBois City and Sandy Township police departments will merge to form a joint police force.
We must navigate these steps over the next two years, said Interim City Manager Chris Nasuti, noting that “they’re approaching quickly.”
As DuBois and Sandy move forward, their Joint Consolidation Board meetings will happen every third Wednesday, beginning at 6 p.m. at the city offices.
It was noted there’s been a pause on the forensic audit of city finances that was initiated after the arrest of suspended city manager, John “Herm” Suplizio.
The city, however, has turned over “every bit of information” that was requested by auditors by its June 30, 2023 deadline.
The audit was paused as the state Attorney General’s office has declared some seized data as sensitive information.
Officials say the information necessary to complete the audit isn’t likely to be released until the resolution of Suplizio’s case.
Township Manager Shawn Arbaugh provided an update on the township’s legal matter against the consolidation process.
Currently he said it has no impact on the process, itself, as it remains dormant until the supervisors decide to take further action.
The supervisors have three options: do nothing; terminate the legal action; or move forward with the legal action.
“There is some benefit to having the lawsuit in a dormant status,” Arbaugh commented, as it affords the opportunity to subpoena more information.
At the last township meeting, Supervisor Bill Beers did call for the supervisors to determine whether they planned to proceed or terminate their legal action.
The next Sandy Township meeting is Feb. 5.