Meeting with engineering firm scheduled to continue dredging project

GALETON — The project to dredge the Galeton lake is still underway.

Borough Secretary Annie Caracciolo advised the borough council at the Feb. 12 general session that a meeting with the engineering firm, to continue the project’s efforts, is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 25.

“We’re getting the ball rolling on that,” borough President Joe Petrencsik said.

Petrencsik also inquired about using solar panels to power the Welcome to Galeton signs along Route 6. Council member Doug Droppa suggested looking to a grant, as there are grants available to pay for power car-charging stations. No action was taken, nor was the issue suggested for discussion at a later meeting.

Caracciolo further advised the council that the insurance provider for the borough presented an option for a cyber liability policy. The council requested Caracciolo get a firm quote and a copy of the policy for consideration at the March meeting.

Steve Benna approached the council during public comment, asking for permission to hold a combination 5K/half-marathon race during Fall Fest in September. Benna said the course for both races would begin and end at the school and asked the council to consider the theme of the event, for an associated gift idea for the runners. The council passed a resolution to support the 5K/half-marathon.

Under old business, council member Rob Pflug said he spoke to several borough residents about the issue brought up by Terry Sinclair in January. Sinclair expressed concerns about the present structure of the borough police department; with no chief and only a part-time officer, Sinclair suggested the borough consider utilizing the Pennsylvania State Police, rather than rely on and staff a borough police department. Sinclair suggested the Galeton Police Department could function as a satellite office for PSP and that using PSP would save the tax-payers money.

Pflug said every person he spoke to was in favor of keeping the borough police department.

Three ordinances were discussed during the solicitor’s report. Mike Plummer suggested adapting the swimming pool ordinance to comply with state regulations, regarding fencing and length addressed issues with the Federal and Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agencies regarding regulations for numbering houses to aide in emergency response efficiency. The council agreed to invite Will Hunt, with the county emergency management agency, to the April meeting, along with Galeton area firefighters, to discuss the issue further.The next Galeton Borough council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on March 11. Other items discussed at the Feb. 12 meeting included:

• The monthly police report, documenting more than 17 various calls made to the department.
• The highway report, including equipment repairs and street repair projects pending the break in winter weather.
• Other ordinance-related issues, such as whether or not camp fires are permitted in the borough and defining a person, as well as an abandoned house.

Source: tiogapublishing.com