Commission member Spendiff honored
Commissioners discuss borough situation during board meeting
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LEWISTOWN -- During the Board of Commissioners's Thursday meeting, Craig Bubb, executive director of the Municipal Authority of Lewistown, updated the board on their ongoing legal situation with the Borough of Lewistown. According to Bubb, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was drafted following discussions between attorneys representing both parties, and during a special meeting held by the Borough Council, they had chosen not to act on the agreement.
Bubb said the attorneys were "blindsided" by the nonapproval.
"The discussion between attorneys following the last Borough Council meeting indicated that there wasn't a single issue with the terms outlined in that document," said Bubb. "They presented the MOU anticipating that it would be approved because it worked for everybody. It ends the litigation. It gets the Authority back to their independence and autonomy, and it gives the county the opportunity to extend the purpose of the Authority. So they were surprised that Borough Council chose not to act on it."
He said that one of the terms of the agreement would expand the Municipal Authority board to 11 members to include representation from all eight municipalities. Bubb said he believes that all parties are interested in settling litigation before it moves to the Mifflin County Court of Common Pleas on Tuesday.
In their own special voting meeting later in the evening, the Borough Council voted 4-2 to approve a counterproposal to the MOU.
The commissioners also reminded Mifflin County residents to complete the 2020 Census.
"You can complete the Census either by phone or online and if field people come to your house, please cooperate with them," said Commissioner Rob Postal.
Postal said that grant funding for the county is based on results of the Census.
"If we don't get a full county, that means that Mifflin County is losing money."
In other news, the board recognized planning commission member James Spendiff with a proclamation, recognizing his more than 17 years of service and commending his leadership skills.
According to the proclamation, Spendiff has diligently worked with the Mifflin County Planning and Development Department and the Mifflin County Planning Commission to ensure proper coordination involving subdivision and land development activity in the county.
He "has been an invaluable asset to Mifflin County and has provided direction, leadership and respect through his dedication to his job and to the county," the proclamation says.
According to the proclamation, Spendiff worked with the Mifflin County Industrial Development Corporation by serving on the board for 17 years and spent 11 of those years on the executive committee.
Spendiff also donated his time and service to the SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority for seven years and has served on the United Way board for many years.
Additionally, he served as a key member of Team Mifflin County, a public-private partnership in Mifflin County.
He worked as the CFO and president of Standard Steel in Burnham and retired after 37 years.
Spendiff also served his county and country as a U.S. Army Ranger.
Mifflin County Planning Director Mark Colussy accepted a certificate of proclamation in Spendiff's honor.
"Jim has been a great person to work with. I really appreciate the opportunity that the planning commission and the Board of Commissioners looked to recognize someone who does do so much for the community."
The board also took the following action:
¯Approved a cooperation agreement for bridge replacement and rehabilitation with Armagh Township;
¯Approved the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency award notification for the $59,230 Mifflin County CJAB Coronavirus Emergency Supplementary Relief Grant for Jan. 20, 2020 to Jan. 19, 2020;
¯Approved purchase of service agreements with the following agencies if needed by Children and Youth: Harborcreek Youth Services, Children's Home of Pittsburgh, Children's Resource Center, Family Care for Children and Youth, The Summit School, Discovery Child Development Center;
¯Approved and agreement with J-Way Architectural, Summerhill, to assist with representation services for the Annex building renovations in the amount of $82,950;
¯Reappointed Robert Postal, of Lewistown, to the SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority for a five-year term;
¯Approved a Mifflin County Domestic Relations Constable Agreement with Travis Reik for Oct. 1, 2020 to Sept. 30, 2025;
¯Approved a request for exoneration of a 2020 country portion per capita taxes for a Newton Hamilton property;
¯Approved a request for exoneration of a 2020 county real estate tax bill to relieve the tax collector from collecting an $11.04 bill for a public utility in Burnham Borough.
¯Hired Elyse Baisey for Veterans Affairs Director, effective Sept. 1;
¯Amended the hiring date of Conner Dicken for part-time corrections officer from Aug. 24 to Sept. 8;
¯Promoted Robert Sidney from part-time to full-time corrections officer, effective Aug. 24;
¯Hired Ron Anders and John Appleton III for Children and Youth caseworkers, effective Sept. 8.