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Three months after releasing its former borough manager from his contract, the Muncy Borough Council has decided to hire a new borough manager under a part-time arrangement.
Charley Hall, a former 25-year district administrator to former state representatives Brett Feese and Garth Everett, will assume the $28-an-hour position and will work 20 to 35 hours as needed by the borough, according to Ed Feigles, the borough council president and acting borough manager.
The borough council voted to hire Hall unanimously after it parted ways with Dennis Holt as borough manager during an unadvertised meeting back in January.
The borough council later reaffirmed the decision in February after properly advertising the meeting; Holt had been responsible for officially advertising meetings, and the council did not advertise the January meeting after Holt was disallowed from conducting borough business in December.
Feigles said the borough has efficiently operated with a part-time manager in the past, and by not offering Hall employee benefits, the borough could put around $40,000 toward other projects -- such as hiring a third streets and maintenance employee.
As it stands, the borough has two street employees who are approaching retirement, according to Feigles. Feigles advised the board to explore hiring a third street employee to be able to learn the ins-and-outs of the job before the two current employees retire.
Feigles said the end goal is to equip the borough with two trained street employees after its two current employees retire.
In other news, the borough is in the early process of exploring options for a new borough building. The borough has not made any final decisions; it is currently researching costs for different options it will weigh at later meetings.
Muncy Borough decided to spend less than $10,000 for a wood chipper, leaf machine and leaf box. Feigles said through a Department of Environmental Protection grant, the borough was able to receive the items, which would normally cost around $98,000, at the cost of less than $10,000.
Finally, the borough unanimously decided to appoint John Gramling to the West Branch Council of Governments to represent the borough at its meetings.
The Muncy Borough is currently using a room in the upstairs of the Muncy Borough Volunteer Fire Company's hall to conduct its meetings to allow participants to social-distance.
The borough will next meet April 6 at 7 p.m.