×

Lyco Commissioners move funds for Habitat Humanity builds

WILLIAMSPORT — The acquisition of properties in South Williamsport for possible future sites of Habitat for Humanity builds is one step closer to reality as the Lycoming County Commissioners approved the re-allocation of some of the borough’s 2020 Community Development grant funds.

The funds, totaling $97,836, had been slated as part of the borough’s slum blight removal program, according to Kristen McLaughlin, a senior program analyst with SEDA-COG.

Multiple years of funding are still available for the slum blight program, but borough officials decided that funding should be re-allocated to acquire the land on Clark Street which could potentially be subdivided and used by Habitat to construct four homes.

The proposal to shift the funds will now go to the state for final approval, McLaughlin said. The monies do not go directly to Habitat, but will be used by the borough to purchase the property that will be used for the homes.

“Many communities are stuck with boundaries where they can’t grow, so the only way they can get more money is to tax” said Commissioner Tony Mussare, speaking about the proposed project, which has the potential to add properties to the tax roll in the borough.

“We need to honestly look at how we’re going to deal with this in the future for these communities, especially if you see an elderly population or one that has limitations on their economies,” he added.

A number of boroughs in the county have vacant lots, McLaughlin noted, but they are in flood plain areas and cannot be developed.

Approval by the commissioners of a subrecipient agreement with the West Branch Regional Authority will release $136,563 for a sewer lateral program in Muncy, Montgomery, Clinton Township and Muncy Creek Township.

There are income requirements for residents who qualify for help in funding sewer lateral work in those municipalities. McLaughlin told the commissioners that construction of a sewer lateral can cost between $3,000 and $5,000.

A resolution authorizing the submission of a municipal assistance program application to the state’s Department of Community and Economic Development for a $100,000 matching grant was approved by the commissioners. The funding would be used to update the zoning ordinances in county municipalities.

“We’ve mentioned often how having zoning ordinances for our municipal zoning partners who participate in the county that makes it easy for developers to come in and know where they can invest. Also, some of the changes that we’ve made over the years at the initiation of the zoning department so that we make areas attractive to business and to investment — that’s part of our goal here,” said Commissioner Rick Mirabito.

Updating the ordinance manual would make it easier for developers to understand, according Mark Haas, from the county’s Planning and Community Development department.

“It will also decrease the time necessary to process things because as they see it’s easier to understand, they’re going to submit a more complete and thorough proposal,” Haas said.

“What it does also, is it first of all it decreases the cost to the applicant. Instead of having to pay an attorney to go through a 250-page document, the applicant may actually on their own be able to initiate it,” Mirabito said.

“The other thing is can you imagine getting before the zoning hearing board and you think that you’ve met all the marks and then all of a sudden someone says, yeah, but on page 130 you forgot that you have to have bumper guards or something. It’s really an effort to try to bring us up to the 21st century,” he added.

Under personnel items. the commissioners approved: Christie L. Shimp, temporary sheriff’s office special projects, $24.55 per hour not to exceed 250 hours annually; Eric T. Spiegel, chief deputy sheriff, $60,231 salary; Tina L. Jedrziewski, administrative specialist in the commissioners’ office, $15.75; Jessica Segraves, director of human resources, $88,000 salary; Christopher Dreese, corectional officer relief, full-time, $17,90 per hour; Daniel Hartman, clerk III in register and recorder’s office, $14.99 per hour; Donald Barrett, assistant county detective, part-time, $23.66 per hour, not to exceed 1,000 hours per year; and Kaitlyn D. Corman, full-time domestic relations officer, $38,166 salary.

The next commissioners’ meeting will be at 10 a.m. Jan. 11 in the Commissioners’ Board Room, 1st floor, Executive Plaza, 330 Pine St.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $3.69/week.

Subscribe Today