EMPORIUM — A tax ordinance and budget were passed at the Emporium Borough Council’s regular meeting held Monday night
A balanced budget was passed for the coming year, with revenues and expenditures expected to come in at $1,250,560. Ordinance 499 was also approved, setting the 2018 property tax at 16.91 mills. Borough Manager Don Reed noted that borough residents have not seen a municipal tax increase in 14 years.
Cameron County District Attorney Jeanne Miglicio presented information on new equipment available for Emporium Borough Police Department officers. Miglicio worked with Chief Dave Merritt on a grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency that netted the department two taser units and related equipment and vests for three borough officers.
The grant covered the purchase of the two tasers along with holsters, batteries, cartridges and other necessary components, which would have cost the borough $4,022.31. The fitted vests were covered at a cost of $1,603.13.
Earlier this year, officer body cameras and systems to record traffic stops from police vehicles were also purchased, and the units are currently in service. Those items were paid for using $3,485 from the Asset Forfeiture Fund.
Tom Gavlock, the borough representative on the Cameron County Ambulance Service board, gave an update on ongoing operations. Gavlock stated that as of April, the Sinnemahoning Ambulance Service will no longer be in operation, with the territory previously covered by that agency to be split between CCAS, Renovo and Austin, and possibly additional services. It is unclear at this time where the new boundary lines will be. More information is expected as plans develop.
Gavlock also stated that the financial situation at service is better than it has been in previous years. This year, it will likely break even or possibly show a little revenue. Final numbers will not be available until February.
Borough council members voted to accept a bid placed sometime ago by Northern Tier Community Action Corporation for a home located at 129 East Fifth St. and currently held in the county repository. A competing bid has also been entered around the same time but it was later withdrawn. An additional bid of $50 was placed recently, but the interested party has not come to the area to view the residence or speak with officials. The home partially burned several years ago and has suffered repeated water damage at that time. Repairs were never made, and the home has stood empty ever since.
The next meeting of the Emporium Borough Council will be a Reorganizational Meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 2. The reorganizational meeting will be followed by the first regular meeting of council. New board members Mike Stuaglicio and Garrett Ramsey and new Mayor Justin Zimmer will become part of the board at that time.
Outgoing members Rick Bauer and Dave Hallowell were thanked for their service, as was retiring Mayor Bruno Carnovale, who served the borough for the past 52 years.
