City Council will be asked Thursday night to authorize a lease agreement with River Valley Transit to bring a portable compressed natural gas fueling station to its garage on West Third Street.
The proposed monthly rental is $8,500 with Mansfield Gas Equipment Systems, Ontario, Calif.
The station would be temporary as the facility at 1500 W. Third St. undergoes a two-phase project to build a permanent station for buses and other vehicles and a separate fuel island for public use, said William E. Nichols Jr., general manager of River Valley Transit.
The lease is for nine months and then month-to-month until a fast-fill facility is completed, Nichols said.
Known as a "time fill" station, the tanks will be available to a limited number of the bus company's compressed natural gas partners, such as the Genetti Hotel, 200 W. Fourth St.
The city has received state and federal grants to pay for the installation. Mayor Gabriel J. Campana said Tuesday the goal for RVT is to reduce fuel costs by as much as $500,000 annually by transitioning over to the less-costly and cleaner natural gas.
Nichols anticipates the public portion of the project to be ready by next year.
Police hiring
Brian McGee is expected to be the next police officer to be hired by council.
McGee's family has been a legacy within the police department.
His father, uncle and great uncle are retired city police officers. His grandfather and another uncle were state troopers.
McGee's expected hiring brings the police complement to 51 officers, city Police Chief Gregory A. Foresman said.
Foresman also will ask council to authorize the purchase of one police vehicle.
Surveillance equipment
Council will be asked to approve agreements in preparation of CSI Inc., of Allentown, installing seven surveillance cameras, splitting camera installation at Flanigan Park, on Little League Boulevard, and Memorial Park, on West Fourth Street.
The agreements are between the city and American Rescue Workers, 643 Elmira St.; Lycoming County Housing Authority, which operates Flanigan Park; and Williamsport Elderly Housing Association, 798 W. Edwin St.
Several radio frequency repeaters need to be placed at the above locations in order for the radio signals from the cameras at the parks to be transmitted back to City Hall, Councilman N. Clifford "Skip" Smith said.
Smith anticipates they might be mounted and ready for service before the end of the year.
A U.S. Department of Justice grant the city received pays for the installation and operational costs associated with this round of mounting, camera purchases and equipment installation, he said.
