SMETHPORT — Smethport Borough Council voted Monday night to delay action on filling a two-year vacant council seat until receiving information from their solicitor about several matters.
Council has invited all four candidates — Eve McAnallen, “Fella” Wright, Jim Stein and Leo Church — for interviews at an adjourned meeting at 7 p.m. on Feb. 12. According to Pennsylvania’s Sunshine Law, all interviews and voting must be done at an open meeting.
At the general election last November, Councilman Ryan Herzog, who won both the two-year and four-year terms, opted for the longer term, thus creating the vacancy.
Council President Greg Rounsville, said, “It’s been a long time since we’ve had four applicants for this kind of vacancy.”
In other news, council discussed some fees charged to borough utility bills and agreed unanimously to increase the deposit for all new and future electric customers from $65 to $130, effective immediately. The borough will keep this deposit for one year for all customers in good standing.
Smethport Borough is one of a small number of Pennsylvania municipalities that owns its electric department.
Council also proclaimed April as “Pennsylvania 811 Safe Digging Month,” an initiative supported by Pennsylvania 811, a utility notification information center that is marking its 46th year of continuous service.
This service provides a one-call notification about excavation projects that may endanger workers and jeopardize utility lines while promoting workplace and public safety, reducing underground utility damage and minimizing utility service interruptions while protecting the environment.
Borough Safety Director Bob Funk reported on a meeting he and Tom Coldren, park supervisor, had with McKean County Planning Director Jeremy Morey to discuss grants for purchasing a zero turn mower and kayak launch and repairs to the walk bridge in Hamlin Lake Park.
Council provided their choices for the mower and kayak launch for research purposes.
Coldren said that while the walk bridge is safe now, council should begin planning for major repairs to the structure.
In personnel matters, council approved the reappointments of Tabatha Dart, Shane Locke, Anne Holcomb and Jody Holmberg as directors of the Hamlin Memorial Library. Also gaining the OK were two new directors: Tammy Nolte and Patti Taylor.
Mike Dodge was reappointed to another term on the Hamlin Lake Park Municipal Authority.
Council met in an executive session for 45 minutes.
