News

Muncy again takes up borough manager question at meeting

Muncy Borough Council at its recent meeting took care of one important piece of business -- approval of the proposed 2024 budget -- but spent most of the session, again, considering the question of hiring a borough manager.

Council agreed to advertise the spending plan, which will maintain the real estate tax millage at 5.3, and includes a line item for filling the vacant borough job.

Voting in favor of the budget were Scott Delany, Thad Martin, Brooke Bishop, Richard Sutton, Steve Shank and Ryan Scruggs. Bill Scott was absent.

The spending plan will come up for final approval at the council's next meeting in February.

Support for putting in place a borough manager was heard from the public.

Among those arguing to fill the position was former borough manager Charles Hall, who was released from the job by council in October.

With the recent resignation of treasurer Jeff Sholtis, Muncy is left with a single employee, borough secretary Katie Hakes, to assume many more duties and responsibilities.

"Does the borough need a borough manager?" Hall asked. "Yes."

Hall said he felt the borough in recent months has felt the impact of not having in place someone to provide a degree of management and leadership.

He noted that the borough failed to apply for grants for upgrading the borough and maintenance buildings.

Without a borough manager to help with the budget process, the 2024 spending plan was initially approved by council to include a half-mill tax hike, despite a revenue surplus.

"Five members voted for a tax increase because the borough manager was not there to advise," Hall said.

The tax hike was later vetoed by Mayor Jonathan Ort, and the budget was subsequently reopened for consideration.

Former borough manager Bill Ramsey said Muncy needs someone to serve as the "first point of contact" with the many bodies of government and agencies connected to the community.

It includes working with county commissioners, the school district, PennDOT, the water authority, the fire department, as well as other agencies and organizations.

Managing grants, he said, is an important part of the borough manager's job.

"You need someone to do that. You can't manage a grant with a committee," he said. "Without a borough manager, it is a ship without a rudder."

Ramsey reminded borough officials that they "have a lot of stuff on their plate right now."

Former borough Councilwoman Linda Stein noted the importance of grant money for keeping the community sustainable.

"Our grants program is the elephant in the room," she said. "Someone has to ride herd on our grants program, and we don't have that right now."

The mayor noted that surrounding municipalities such as Hughesville have no borough manager and operate just fine.

Hakes, who sat silent through much of the meeting, was asked what she thought about Muncy not having a borough manager.

"In my opinion, we need a borough manager," she said.

Following adjournment of the meeting, council went into executive session to consider the matter.

Council is expected to vote on the issue at its next meeting.