(EDITOR'S NOTE: Each Monday, the Sun-Gazette summarizes major votes of the past week and, more specifically, how our locally elected and appointed officials voted on each matter. Watch for it each Monday in the Sun-Gazette.)
Locally elected and appointed officials voted on the following matters in the past week:
Federal
The House adopted a $3.5 trillion budget plan calling for major cuts in Medicare and other federal programs. The House budget resolution includes $5.3 trillion in spending cuts over the next decade. U.S. Rep. Thomas Marino, R-Cogan Station, and Glenn "GT" Thompson, R-Howard, voted yes.
State
The Senate passed a measure to ban the use of carbon monoxide for the euthanasia of animals. The legislation requires animal shelters to administer a barbiturate approved by the Federal Drug Administration whenever a dog, cat or other animal must be put down. State Sen. E. Eugene Yaw, R-Loyalsock Township, voted yes.
The Senate passed a bill to allow shipment of domestic wines directly to homes. It would allow ordering by Internet or by mail or phone as many as 18 liters of wine, or 24 bottles, per person per month from wineries in the U.S. Yaw voted yes.
The House voted for funding to fix bridges damaged in last year's flooding. The funding covers dozens of projects in 14 counties in eastern and central Pennsylvania and includes repair, replacement, clearing blockage, debris removal and relocating a stream back under a bridge. Projects will be paid for with $50 million from the state's Motor License Fund, supplementing federal support. State Reps. Rick Mirabito, D-Williamsport; Garth Everett, R-Muncy; and Matthew E. Baker, R-Wellsboro, voted yes.
Municipal
Loyalsock Township supervisors voted 4-0 to apply for a state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant to extend a township bike path. The township would be responsible for up to $18,500 in a matching grant with DCNR. Voting in favor were: John Bower, Virginia Eaton, Marc Sortman and Jeff Rauff. Rick Wheeland was absent. By the same margin, supervisors awarded a $28,530.48 contract for street light maintenance.
Williamsport Municipal Water and Sanitary Authority voted to implement a lower user rate for municipal swimming pools and to begin using the city fueling depot. Voting 9-0 were Thomas A. Frazier, William E. Nichols, Eiderson A. Dean, William Ertel, Dean P. Muller, Thomas Marnon, Johnny R. Meyer, Dr. Marshall D. Welch and Matthew Rebeck. Gregory Zeitler was absent.
School district
Jersey Shore Area School Board voted 6-3 to approve a one-time newsletter that will be sent to all taxpayers. The newsletter will include information on construction projects in the district. Voting in favor were board members Robert Pryor, Shelley Helm, Craig Allen, Karen Stover, Denise Smith and Heather Williamson. Voting no were board members Harry Brungard, Harry Miller and John Shireman.
Loyalsock Township School Board voted 8-1 to approve a new grade-point average system that would move from a 5.0 to a 4.0 system. Voting in favor were board members Edward Ade Jr., Sheila Yates, Stephen Dewar, Maureen Carey, David Hornberger, Christina Kiessling, John Raymond and Paul Young. Board member William Carlucci was the only no vote.
East Lycoming School Board voted 8-0 to approve Jacob King as an assistance baseball coach for the 2012 season. Voting in favor were Donna Gavitt, Richard Bradley, Dr. Amy Rogers, Kellie Shaner-Gordner, Richard L. Michael, Debra L. Sherlinski, Diane Santo and Lea Ann Hawk. Renee Laychur was absent.
