CHERYL R. CLARKE/Sun-Gazette Crystal J. Smith, Mansfield’s new borough manager, sits at her desk in her new office in the borough building on South Main Street.

MANSFIELD —  New Borough Manager Crystal J. Smith made her first appearance at a Borough Council meeting here Wednesday, thanking council and members of the borough crew and office staff for making her feel welcome.

“You have all been amazing,” she said.

She went on to make her first recommendation in her role as borough manager, the purchase of an $84,000 dump truck.

“Shawn (Forrest) and I have been working on this and I would recommend we purchase the F550 from COSTARS,” she said.

“With the service, local maintenance, durability and availability, six-week turnaround, we could have it in February,” Smith said.

Forrest, codes and public works administrator, said the truck includes the box, plow and stainless steel spreader.

“The other one, from A and H Equipment, is the same piece of equipment but with an aluminum box,” he said.

A price quoted in August was $77,391, a $6,000 difference, but the truck would not be available for six months.

“I still think we are dollars ahead going with stainless, so I make that motion,” said Councilman Robert Strohecker.

Council also approved a request from Sue Sticklin, director of the Tioga County Partnership for Community Health, to establish a “Walk Works” walking route in Mansfield as part of a two-year state Department of Health program.

“This is a two-year project in six locations, Wellsboro, Blossburg, Mansfield, Elkland, Westfield and Lawrenceville,” she said.

The History Center on Main Street already has a historical walking tour in the borough that includes Smythe Park, but because there is no sidewalk in Smythe Park, the state would not approve it to be part of the project.

“What we ended up with starts at the plaza, goes to Warren L. Miller Elementary School and back,” she said.

Mayor Tom Wierbowski provided Sticklin with a brochure from the History Center outlining points of interest in its historical tour along the same route. The brochures are available to the public at the History Center, he added.

In other business, council:

• Heard from Forrest that the Recreation Committee has received an $80,000 grant from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for the renovation of the Academy Street playground.

• Unanimously approved advertisement of an ordinance establishing the new downtown central business district boundaries, parking and setbacks.

• Approved intervention and adopted preliminary objections by borough solicitor Terra Keornig in the WPAX Ltd. tax appeal to try to lower the real estate tax assessment of Hampton Inn, Microtel and Perkins Restaurant in the I-99 Business Park with Rob Fitzgerald abstained.

• Approved the updated joint comprehensive plan between the borough, Richmond, Covington and Putnam townships.

• Designated Northwest Savings and First Citizens National Banks as depositories for the borough.

• Approved the appointment of Wayne Evans to the zoning hearing board and Mark Eby to the Shade Tree Commission.

• Approved its annual banner permits resolution, with an addition from Mansfield University to hang a “Welcome back MU students” banner.