Locally elected and appointed officials voted on the following matters in the past week:
Federal
The House passed a bill renewing the Violence Against Women Act for protecting victims of domestic abuse. The House bill omits three provisions of a Senate measure passed last month. One would allow American Indian tribal courts to try certain non-Indians accused of committing crimes of domestic violence on reservations. Another would expand the number of temporary visas for illegal immigrant victims of domestic violence. The last would extend protections to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender victims of domestic violence. U.S. Reps. Glenn "GT" Thompson, R-Howard, and Thomas A. Marino, R-Cogan Station, voted yes.
The House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act. The measure authorizes $642.5 billion in defense spending next year. Thompson and Marino voted yes.
State
The Senate and House were not in session during the week.
County
Lycoming County Commissioners voted 2-0 to purchase a new 2012 Caterpillar landfill compactor from Cleveland Brothers Equipment Co. Inc. for $1,086,730. Voting in favor were Jeff C. Wheeland and Tony R. Mussare. Commissioner Ernest P. Larson was absent.
The Lycoming County Planning Commission voted 5-0 to approve land developments at three natural gas drilling sites for production buildings to be constructed. Those voting in favor were Joseph N. Neyhart, Larry Fry, Cindy Bower, James Dunn and Howard Fry. George Logue Jr., Robert E. Bauder, William Parsons and Ann S. Pepperman were absent.
Municipal
The Williamsport Planning Commission recommended approval of a certificate of appropriateness for outdoor seating for the Alabaster Coffee and Tea Co., 410 Pine St. Voting in favor of the certificate were Marvin Staiman, Harry Sechler, Christopher Keiser, William Rischar, Sam Washington and Theresa Williams. Carolyn Bullock and Charles Plankenhorn were absent.
By the same vote, the commission approved the installation of a mural at 36 W. Fourth St.
Jersey Shore Borough Council hired Charles Construction for paving of streets at a cost of $119,685. Voting yes were John Pisarcik, Wade Snyder, Deborah Colocino, Janet Barnhart, Mary Greene, Marguerite Dyroff and Kenneth Scheesely. Sean Simcox was absent.
Old Lycoming Township Supervisors voted 3-0 for a $111,000 road resurfacing contract that will be done by Midland Asphalt Co., of Tonawanda, N.Y., in conjunction with Eldred and Lycoming townships. Voting in favor were John W. Eck, Janet C. Hall and Linda Mazzullo.
City Council approved a surveillance camera bid for $389,804 with CSI of Allentown by a vote of 5-1. Voting were Bonnie Katz, Liz Miele, Don Noviello, Randall J. Allison and N. Clifford "Skip" Smith. Jonathan Williamson voted no. President Bill Hall was absent.
City zoning hearing board Chairwoman Mary Lou Baldys, and members Tom Shivetts and Linda Crockett granted variances to Brett Lukenbill to operate a retail store at 159 Washington Blvd., Hope Enterprises to put up a business sign at 625 W. Edwin St., to Brian Osenbach of 107 Chiswick Road, for a pool setback and Jennifer Houseknecht, 632 Seventh Ave., regarding height of a fence.
School district
Montgomery Area School Board approved its preliminary budget for the 2012-13 school year with a 0.28 millage increase. Voting in favor were Adam Diggan, Gary Yocum, Gabriel Blasi, Augustine Spizzirri, Chris Johnson, Jody Budman, Paul Stryker Jr., D. Todd Baker and Todd Woodling.
Muncy School Board voted 9-0 to approve a $15.1 million preliminary budget for the 2012-13 school year. Voting in favor were Thomas Gardner, Brian Krah, Carla Auten, Lisa Sleboda, Dr. Mary Bennardi, Scott McLean, Danielle Baum, William Schneck and Robert Titman.
Williamsport Area School Board voted 8-1 to approve a proposed final budget for the 2012-13 school year with a 0.339 mill tax increase. Voting in favor were Lori Baer, Thomas Zimmerman, David Stone Jr., Jerene Milliken, Karen Harris, Brette Confair, Jay Shultz and Dale Vollman. Board member Jane Penman voted against the budget.
The board also voted 8-1 to hold high school graduation in the stadium, weather permitting. Voting in favor were board members Baer, Zimmerman, Stone, Milliken, Confair, Shultz, Vollman and Penman. Voting against the motion was board member Harris.
Loyalsock Township School Board voted 5-3 to approve a proposed final budget for the 2012-13 school year with a tax increase of 0.25 mills. Voting in favor were board members Edward Ade Jr., Sheila Yates, David Hornberger, John Raymond and Paul Young II. Voting against the budget were board members Christina Kiessling, Stephen Dewar and Maureen Carey. Board member William Carlucci was absent from the meeting.
The board also voted to raise the adult admission price for varsity and junior varsity athletic events $1. Voting in favor were board members Ade, Yates, Hornberger, Raymond, Young II, Kiessling, Dewar and Carey.
