|
![TMCNet: Saltsburg names Tax Collection Committee member [The Blairsville Dispatch, Pa.]](http://images.tmcnet.com/siteart/invisible.gif)
Saltsburg names Tax Collection Committee member [The Blairsville Dispatch, Pa.]
(Blairsville Dispatch (PA) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Jul. 10--SALTSBURG -- In a move to meet a new state regulation consolidating Pennsylvania's earned income tax collection, borough council selected William Greenacre to serve as the borough's primary voting delegate on the county's Tax Collection Committee formed under Act 32.
The new legislation, which was passed last summer, restructures the earned income tax collection process, creating county-wide tax collection districts.
Each state municipality and school district must name a primary voting delegate to represent them as the Tax Collection Committee draws up by-laws and chooses a tax collector.
"They're basically a governing body," Borough Solicitor Wayne Kablack explained.
According to the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors Web site, the Tax Collection Committee (TCC) is authorized to create a tax bureau, providing for its operation and administration; retain counsel, auditors and consultants to provide professional services; join with other tax collection committees to form a joint committee; accept grants for the TCC's purpose; and adopt, amend and repeal resolutions to carry out its duties.
Duties of the TCC include: maintaining a record of all votes and actions taken by the TCC; appointing, overseeing and setting compensation for a tax officer; establishing methods of financing for the TCC; and adopting, amending and repealing bylaws, policies and procedures.
The new act applies to all municipalities and school districts with the exception of Philadelphia, which already has a consolidated tax system in place, and Allegheny County, whose size and population requires four tax collection districts.
The new earned income tax collection system will not affect elected local real estate tax collectors.
Council members Paul Klucsarits and Michelle Jesko were named the first and second voting alternates, respectively.
Council discussed its options in regards to green yard waste stickers the borough sells for residents to dispose of brush, grass cuttings and other yard debris. Currently, the borough sells the stickers for $1 each, or 6 for $5, but Council President Elizabeth Rocco pointed out that the cost "does not even come close to paying for the Dumpster" set aside specifically to contain the waste.
Some borough residents also take advantage of the Dumpster and use it to dispose of everyday garbage. Borough employee Sam Eckenrode noted that some residents fill the bag half-full of garbage, then top it off with grass clippings. Borough employees then have to sift through the Dumpster to toss out the everyday refuse.
Council agreed to call Gordish Sanitation, the borough's waste management provider, to possibly arrange for pickup of the yard waste, allowing council to do away with the Dumpster. The board also discussed the possibility of selling plastic waste bags instead of stickers, to discourage the placement of anything but yard waste in the bags.
At last month's meeting, borough council tabled a $4,000-plus bid from local Trane supplier Greg Shirley, of Shirley Heating and Air Conditioning, for replacing a borough building furnace that had malfunctioned. Council decided then to solicit other comparative phone quotes.
Shirley has since contacted the borough again, stating that he was willing to lower the price of his services as well as donate $562 in parts. Since the cost of the furnace and installation comes in below $4,000, council does not have to solicit other bids for the work, and a motion was accepted and approved to allow Shirley to move ahead with the repairs.
Klucsarits suggested that the board write a note of thanks to Shirley for the donation.
Rocco encouraged all borough council members to complete their online National Incident Management System (NIMS) training.
Rocco and Police Chief Frank Stanley are updated on their training, but all council members are required to complete the online courses to become certified.
"If we don't have that necessary paperwork (stating that all members are certified), we won't be looked at for any grants," Rocco noted.
Stanley informed council that, despite being short-handed for the time being, the borough police have "been able to keep up with the complaints that come in." He said his officers responded to about 30 complaints in the last month.
Rocco suggested that residents who have a complaint call the borough office to find out whether or not an officer is on duty. She emphasized that she does not keep a schedule of on-duty officers on hand, so residents should not call her for that information.
Mayor Ron Wagner Sr. informed council that he has received three property complaints in the past few weeks, including a trailer park on Edgewood Drive that has junk vehicles visible, and two properties on Salt Street. One has a roof that has partially caved in, and the other has a sidewalk in disrepair and lumber, tires and various other car parts sitting in the yard.
A warning has already been sent to the trailer park resident, and Stanley said the next step will be to issue an ordinance violation.
In other business, borough council:
--Decided against entering into a service agreement with Chestnut Ridge Communications, which installed the borough building phone system a few years ago. The company had offered the borough a five-year contract at $24 a month.
--Granted a request to the Saltsburg Baptist Church for use of the canal for its Hometown Heroes Day, planned for Aug. 1.
--Heard from Mayor Wagner, who approached council about purchasing parking meters to install along Point Street. Council member P.J. Hruska said he would check prices.
--Took a 20-minute executive session, asking Stanley to join them, to discuss personnel matters. No decision resulted.
--Thanked the Canal Days Committee for another successful festival weekend.
[ Back To M2M Evolution Home's Homepage ]
|