MOUNT JEWETT — The Mount Jewett Sewer Authority met one last time prior to the end of the year to fill two vacancies created by the resignation of authority president Patrick McGuire and the term of Scott Hungiville, which will be vacant as of the beginning of next year.
The sewer authority met to fill these vacancies so they could be approved at a special session of borough council, which was held shortly after the conclusion of the sewer authority's meeting.
Gary Geer was selected to fill the one-year term left by McGuire and Nate Myers will fill Hungiville's vacancy.
Others who submitted their letters of intent were Francis Auriemmo Jr. and Jeff Wolfe. Auriemmo previously received an appointment by the sewer board twice within the last six months, but his appointment failed to be approved by borough council.
Wolfe, who was in attendance at the meeting, is a Smethport native who moved to the borough with his family approximately a year and a half ago. Wolfe is currently a member of the Clermont Volunteer Fire Department after serving with the Smethport Fire Department for 27 years. He is also a life member of the Smethport department.
McGuire, in his last meeting, recommended Mike Wennerstrom as vice chairman of the sewer authority board. McGuire noted Wennerstrom previously served on the board and also has experience in conducting the meeting as he has done so in McGuire's absence during his last term on the board. The motion carried unanimously.
After the sewer authority adjourned, borough council convened its meeting shortly before 5 p.m. The first order of business for borough council president Brett Morgan was to pass the budget for the coming year.
The motion carried 5 to 1, with only Councilman Chuck Paar casting a vote against it.
Paar adamantly opposed the budget as it eliminates funding for a borough police force. He said the move in January to eliminate the full-time officer in favor of two or more part-time officers would have increased the amount of police coverage in Mount Jewett from 40 to 50 hours weekly.
Paar said the taxes were increased in 2013 to fund a full-time officer. He noted the current budget not only eliminates funding for the borough police department, but also dispersed the funds intended for the police to the fire department and salary increases for borough employees.
Paar would like to see a minimum of 30 hours per week in borough police coverage, but after council adopted the budget without any police coverage, he said to council the move could prove to be detrimental.
“I hope you're not coming back in a couple of years seeking a tax increase to reinstate the police department,” Paar said.
Council’s reorganizational meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Jan. 4.
