The Street Department highlighted both planned projects and some major needs when Clearfield Borough Council met on Thursday evening, as Todd Kling spoke on multiple items that the area will be needing done, both in the works, and expected to start soon.
Kling mentioned how he met with FEMA engineers to plan out both the Stinky Run and Oars Run projects, but he wanted to make it a priority with the Stinky Run project that the borough needed to be aware about their responsibility.
“We have a financial responsibility from the borough to help fund this project. I’m pleading with council to be aware of this in order to find the finances to help move the project forward,” he said, “We need to have this in order long before any equipment arrives.”
One of the other major hurdles that Kling was speaking about was the fact that two of the current trucks in the fleet used for winter plowing could be on their way to being unable to be used. He noted that the wood in the back of the truck was worn out, and had already been replaced, but also noted the floors themselves in the cabs and in the bed were rusting out. Kling already noted how they used old stop signs and other metal to replace what they could, but outright admitted he anticipated both trucks failing inspection when the time comes.
“If both fail, we will be down to only three trucks to plow streets this winter,” Kling said. “We have used less trucks, and also front end loaders, but it can cause an absolute mess.”
Finance chairwoman, Barbara Shaffner, asked Kling about the bucket truck that they have been waiting on, but he admitted it has continued to be a waiting game as the needed equipment is from North Carolina, but being that they are just one town, and other areas that are larger in size and population are hard to compete with.
“We can only shout so loud,” Kling said, with Shaffner acknowledging that they can only do so much.
Shaffner also noted when Borough Vice President, Stephanie Tarbay, asked about new business before council that they are now on a tight deadline about ordering new computers for the office. She noted that the current computers that are being used are running on Windows 10, and will not update to the newer Windows 11 operating system. Council was given quotes on new equipment, however she noted that the quote was only good until May 22 as the prices will likely increase due to tariffs being implemented on the units.
Tarbay quickly asked what would be needed, and Shaffner said approximately three desktop/All-In-One units along with three monitors, plus a couple of laptops, would be necessary.
Council noted they will have to quickly look into what would need ordered, and also get with their I.T. specialist to see if any items can be updated or if the entire office would need to have new items. Code Enforcement Officer, Brett Stewart, mentioned that he would not need one as his current laptop that he uses is all he would require and it was already up to date.
Clearfield Borough also accepted two resignations from their board, as Vince DelBrugge resigned as the representative for First Ward, and Clifford Miller resigned as meter attendant. Both positions were accepted to begin advertising, and council will have 30 days to fill the position before it moves into the Vacancy Board. If the Vacancy Board does not fill the positions within 15 days, Council must then submit a letter to the Court of Common Pleas to fill the vacancies.
For the summer months, Clearfield Borough will hold their monthly meetings still on the first and third Thursdays of the month, with the first being the committee meeting. However, as voted on during Thursday’s meeting from the Personnel Committee, these meetings will start a half hour earlier, at 5 p.m. This will only be between June and August, and will be reevaluated at the end of summer. The lone exception to this change will be the regular meeting for June.
Due to the Juneteenth holiday, June 19, being on the third Thursday of June, the Borough Office will be closed. Council agreed that the regular meeting for June will happen the day prior, June 18. The start time will remain the same.
Council reconvenes on Thursday, June 5, for their committee meeting beginning at 5 p.m.
