CLEARFIELD – Clearfield Fire Department matters topped discussion of the Clearfield Borough Council committee meeting Wednesday evening.
Fire Chief Michael Yankevich praised the department and mutual aid companies that helped extinguish a small fire Sunday, June 23 at J.G. Food Warehouse, Clearfield.
Yankevich said first-arriving units discovered the store full of smoke, and further investigation determined an electrical short caused the underside of a cooler to catch fire.
Most damage was caused by smoke that had engulfed the store, Yankevich said, noting the grocer suffered an estimated $15,000 loss as a result.
In addition, the department wants to organize a “Quick Response Team,” which would be of no cost to the borough with the department covering related expenses.
Yankevich said the department currently has five members who are nationally registered for emergency medical response, with five additional members completing training for certification.
Council President Steve Livergood asked if the department would continue to add team members, and Yankevich indicated it has plenty but may possibly expand team membership later.
The lone sticking point involved the re-purposing of a retired police vehicle, which Yankevich had previously requested to be redone into a fire response unit.
Clearfield Regional Police Chief Vincent McGinnis noted the vehicle, a 2016 Ford Explorer, has almost 150,000 miles on it.
In order to pass inspection, he said it would need some repair work, noting the repairs and inspection would be around $2,000.
McGinnis also mentioned that it would not take much effort to make lighting and some interior changes for it to be used as a fire vehicle.
Livergood, along with Finance Committee Chair Barbara Shaffner, agreed that before any consideration of its use, the vehicle should first be made road-worthy.
McGinnis reported that in June, the police department had 1,060 incidents, including 118 traffic stops, 11 drug arrests and another 55 criminal arrests.
He noted that there would be some additional aggressive driving enforcement such as speeding, failure to signal, tailgating, aggressive lane changes and so forth.
Code Enforcement Officer Brett Stewart announced there would be a public meeting with landlords, tenants, etc. on Tuesday, July 9 at the borough’s administrative offices.
The meeting is slated for 5:30 p.m., and will address all ordinances with relation to registration and inspection of rental properties within Clearfield Borough that will take effect next year.
Under personnel, the committee discussed provision of a “healthy environment” for employees and visitors, with a focus on the issue of smoking/vaping in borough buildings and vehicles.
While use is already prohibited within borough buildings, it was recommended that council revise its policy to include all tobacco products, not just cigarettes, and to expand it to include all indoor/outdoor areas.
It was noted that during the recent Riverfront Festival—held downtown in Lower Witmer Park—there was a lot of tobacco smoke in such a small area.
Council said the borough will be instituting policy to prohibit the personal use of borough-owned vehicles and or equipment under any circumstance.
There will also be policy that prohibits employees from the personal use of cell phones while operating borough-owned vehicles and equipment.
Council will hold its regular voting meeting Thursday, July 18, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
