Locally elected and appointed officials voted on the following matters in the past week:
Federal
The House passed the Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act. The bill opens up development of hydropower in canals and ditches and exempts small hydropower installations from environmental review. U.S. Reps. Glenn "GT" Thompson, R-Howard, and Thomas Marino, R-Cogan Station, voted yes.
State
The Senate passed a measure that amends the Action to Quiet Title law. The bill assists landowners who cannot gain ownership of their subsurface mineral, oil and gas rights. It provides for a "rebuttable presumption" that mineral, oil and gas rights have been abandoned in favor of a surface owner after a 50-year period of nonuse. State Sen. E. Eugene Yaw, R-Loyalsock Township, voted yes.
The Senate passed a measure requiring voters to show photo identification at polls. Yaw voted yes.
County
The Lycoming County commissioners approved an agreement with attorney Donald Martino, who will review cases in which convicted defendants allege inadequate legal representation during their trial. Commissioners Jeff C. Wheeland, Tony Mussare and Ernie Larson voted in favor of the measure.
The Lycoming County Water and Sewer Authority agreed to give contractors a notice to proceed with work associated with the construction of a new administration building and equipment garage. The action is contingent on the contractors officially agreeing to about $141,000 in proposed reductions in construction costs. Mary Bennardi, Jan Ransdorf, Paul Wenzler, Donald Konkle Jr., Richard Haas, James W. Carpenter, Charles Hall, Robert Hippenstiel and Scott Slocum voted in favor of the measure.
The Williamsport Regional Airport Authority approved a fixed base operator agreement with Bylerly Aviation. Voting in favor of the agreement were Mark Murawski, Michael Hughes, Rebecca Burke, Christopher Logue and Ats Welker. Ryan Tira abstained. William Martin was absent.
Municipal
Montoursville Borough Council voted down a request to meet March 19. Voting no were Robert Brobson, Kim DiRocco, Ron Shearer and Gary Marshall. Voting yes were Dennis Holt and Mark Tillson.
Montoursville Borough Council rejected Wal-Mart's land development request. Voting to reject were Robert Brobson, Kim DiRocco, Ron Shearer, Gary Marshall and Mark Tillson. Voting to accept was Dennis Holt.
DuBoistown Borough Council agreed to remove heavy truck traffic from most municipal streets. Voting in favor were James Barger, Michael Caschera, Norman Cowden, Mark Schultz, Michael Rogers and Paul McKinley. John McCormick was absent.
Muncy Council unanimously agreed to pay $56,178 for general cash disbursement. They also approved a motion to guarantee 46 percent of interim debt for the construction of the West Branch Regional Authority's new sewer treatment plant. Voting against were Tillie Noviello and Linda Stein. Voting in favor were Edward Danneman, Galen Betzer, Richard Baker, Dana Bertin and John Ort. Elaine McAler was not present.
City Planning Commission voted 7-0 and gave a positive recommendation for Ozzie and Mae's Hacienda, 45 W. Fourth St., to put a sign up. Voting were Carolyn Bullock, Christopher E. Keiser, Tom Hunsberger, Harry Sechler, William R. Rischar, Theresa Williams and Charles Plankenhorn. Absent were Sam Washington and Marvin Staiman.
City Council voted 7-0 to approve Ozzie and Mae's Hacienda, 45 W. Fourth St., for the business sign at the Mexican restaurant and cantina. Voting in favor were Bill Hall, president; Bonnie Katz, Liz Miele, Jonathan Williamson, Don Noviello, Randall J. Allison and N. Clifford "Skip" Smith.
School district
Williamsport Area School Board approved Plancon Part A, project justification, and Part B, schematic design, for the high school renovation project. Voting in favor were board members Lori Baer, Thomas Zimmerman, David Stone Jr., Jerene Milliken, Karen Harris, Brette Confair, Jane Penman, Jay Shultz and Dale Vollman.
South Williamsport Area School Board unanimously approved the Intermediate Unit 17's 2012-13 general operations budget of $2.1 million. Voting in favor were Jerry Broskey, Sam Burch, Gregg Anthony, Gregg Balawajder, John Engel, Mary Ann Cowden, Don Lowe, Sue Davenport and Chris Branton.
