MUNCY - Muncy Borough Council has a slight change in membership for 2012 with the arrival of a new member at its reorganization meeting Tuesday evening.
Newly appointed council member Matilda "Tillie" Noviello was sworn in by Mayor Edward Dannemann. Noviello was appointed to replace Brandy Kift, who had been appointed to replace Vivian Daily after Daily moved out of the borough last year.
In other business, council agreed in a 7-0 vote to contract with Codes Inspections, Montgomery, as its zoning officer, which is expected to result in a $5,000 savings to the borough.
Instead of paying the county for a zoning officer, Codes Inspections would consider the permit fees as their payment.
Codes Inspections already enforces the borough's building codes, and council agreed that the two functions go hand-in-hand, and it would be more convenient for those seeking permits to go through one source instead of two.
Council also agreed to keep the borough employee's health insurance contribution at 10 percent and endure a rise in the cost of insurance. Employees will will not see a raise in 2012.
Jamie Brelsford, of the Muncy Area Volunteer Fire Co., told council that the company re-elected its 2012 officers with no changes from 2011.
Brelsford also said the company received a grant for new pumps and it liquidated its old pumps and Engine 139 for future apparatus purchases.
The company has applied for another grant to be used for debt reduction, replacement of breathing apparatuses and equipment supplies, he added.
Council continues work on a $5,000 PA Wilds grant that involves the Veteran's Park on South Main Street.
Muncy Bank and Trust has donated $2,500 toward the required cash match portion of the grant, leaving a balance of $2,500 to be raised.
Council unanimously voted to amend the articles of incorporation of the Muncy Borough Municipal Authority to reduce the authority board from seven to five members.
That was done in anticipation of the takeover of the Muncy's sewer facilities by the West Branch Regional Authority. The water system will remain with the municipal authority.
Dannemann offered closing suggestions to the new borough council including:
Council should think about developing a new committee to look into bringing more revenue to the water fund by possibly selling water to the gas companies to help pay for the $142,000 that the water fund still owes to the general fund.
With the mold and radon problems in the borough office, trying to fix them might be a waste of money, and the borough may be better off demolishing the building.
