Participants in the Jan. 2 meeting of the Meshoppen Borough Council included (above, from left) councilman Jack Vaow, mayor Bruce Marshall, council president John Bunnell, secretary Phyllis Adams, treasurer Christine Swilley, and council members Doris Pickett, Mike Voorhees, and Bruce Priestner. (Absent from the reorganization meeting were council members Mike Lloyd and Herb Bevan)
Photo and Story by Rick Hiduk
(As published in the Jan. 4 edition of the Rocket-Courier)
No major changes were announced at the reorganization meeting of the Meshoppen Borough Council on Tuesday evening. Mayor Bruce Marshall swore in reelected council members John Bunnell, Jack Vaow and Bruce Priestner, after which Bunnell and Vaow were reelected by the full council as president and vice president, respectively.
The council enters the new year with an approximate budget of $520,000, including the sewer and water companies, which are $38,000 and $35,000 behind in collection, respectively. No new taxes have been proposed.
The water company was cited by PA DEP in 2017 for a number of violations that Marshall says have been met, but DEP still considers the matter to be open. Vaow suggested composing a letter confirming that the agency’s concerns have been addressed, and Priester noted that adding photos to the report should satisfy DEP’s request.
The board voted to retain Lochen & Chase as its auditors for the water and sewer companies. After it was noted in the Rocket-Courier that the borough would be seeking a new company due to a $3,500 increase, council related that the company lowered its rate by $1,500 to a total of $3,000 for both audits.
That matched the only other new bid received by the board from Snyder & Clemente. Bunnell bulked at the perception that Lochen & Chase intended to overcharge the borough for a service that could apparently be performed at a lower cost, but the council opted to remain with the firm on the grounds of familiarity.
Under new bills, it was noted that health insurance for police chief John Krieg has risen $200 to $669 per month because he turned 50. A new radio and center console have been ordered for the new police cruiser, a black Dodge Charger, which is now on the road.
In correspondence, the borough received a letter from Atty. Jonathan Foster Sr. noting that, while he has stepped down as Bradford County solicitor, he is maintaining his practice and wishes to keep Meshoppen Borough as a client.
The Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau invited the borough to submit information for its Calendar of Events. Board members recommended passing the solicitation on to Cindy Cona so Meshoppen Community Day, which is tentatively scheduled for June 30, can be included. The borough also needs information from Cona on the costs of playground equipment, so the board can submit a $5,000 application for a Marcellus Legacy Grant.
Wyoming County EMA has offered to make photo ID badges available at no cost to elected and appointed officials, as well as other approved individuals who would be helpful in the event of an emergency. The project was spearheaded by Wyoming County operations training officer David Carichner and Kenneth Johnson, who serves as treasurer for Windham Township and Laceyville.
On the ongoing topic of demolition of the former B&H Pizza building, council members maintain that the only information they are getting about grants available to them from the Wyoming County Housing & Redevelopment Authority are through the media. Borough secretary Phylls Adams exhibited an email sent to her by HRA grants administrator Lisa Hahn dated Dec. 24, which was not only Christmas Eve but a Sunday, informing them of a public hearing would be held on Dec. 26 at which additional funding for the project would be proposed.
Hahn did propose to the Wyoming County Commissioners on Dec. 26 the modification of a 2014 contract in order to make an additional $14,000 available for the Meshoppen project. It was unanimously approved by the commissioners, but the borough council has had no official communication from HRA regarding the matter.