WELLSBORO - The borough offices here will move into new digs sometime within the next several months, following action by borough council Wednesday.
Council voted 3-2 to purchase property at 16 Crafton St.
Voting for the $290,000 purchase from the Stony Fork Association were Councilmen Mike Wood, Joan Hart and John Wheeler. Voting against were Councilmen John Sticklin and Ron Bower. Terry Bryant abstained from voting.
According to Borough Manager Dan Strausser, the search for a bigger location has been under discussion since he came on board Jan. 1.
"Right now we have 560 square feet," he said, and that doesn't count council's meeting room, which also is very small and can be cramped when large numbers of visitors attend meetings.
The total square footage of the new space is 5,900, including the space now occupied by a Wine and Spirits store, which will continue to lease that space from the borough, Strausser said. The borough offices will occupy 2,900 square feet.
The borough received a $15,000 grant from Growth Resources, of Wellsboro, to put toward the purchase, he added. The remainder will come from the general fund.
Borough police will take over the vacated space at the municipal building, Strausser said.
The building, which last housed a title search business, will need some renovation before the move can take place, he added.
In other business, council voted in July to award Glenn O. Hawbaker the street contract for $173,000.
They also approved a resolution removing Sam DeLosa from employment as a police officer for the borough. DeLosa had been on suspension for more than a month and the matter now will go into arbitration.
Strausser said he could not comment further on the matter.
