DUBOIS – The DuBois/Sandy Consolidation Joint Board has resumed work to help establish a vision for the new city’s fire departments.
This week the board voted to resume the consolidation’s Fire Subcommittee, as well as to have the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development complete a fire study.
This isn’t final yet as Joint Board members must still confirm their decisions during a public meeting of their municipality.
It was noted that the fire chiefs from both DuBois City and Sandy Township had requested the resumption of the Fire Subcommittee, and that if there were no plans of that nature, the board needed to have a fire study completed.
The board approved both.
The chiefs said the board needs to resume the subcommittee afresh with new members. Other key requests included to:
- cap membership at nine people, with one representative from each department in Sandy Township and DuBois City.
- prohibit any elected officials from membership.
- permit the two fire chiefs to co-chair the subcommittee.
The board noted that the fire study will be 100 percent funded by the DCED.
Special Counsel
The board also retained McNees Wallace as special counsel for the consolidation process. It had approached five law firms in all.
But, McNees Wallace had a “favorable recommendation from DCED, according to Interim DuBois City Manager Chris Nasuti.
The firm will handle pensions and other contractual matters with relation to the consolidation of the two municipalities.
Counsel from McNees Wallace are “experts” with years of experience, noted Township Manager Shawn Arbaugh, which includes prior consolidation work involving a police force.
Facilities
The board also plans to begin addressing facility matters including consolidation of police forces and administrative staff. Some options that were noted include:
- locating the police department in Sandy Township and having the administrative staff in DuBois City.
- expanding the DuBois Municipal Building to house a larger police force.
- expanding the second-floor of the DuBois Municipal Building for administrative areas, leaving the remaining space for the police department.