Home Rule issue pushed off until Nov.

A second public meeting will be scheduled in the coming weeks to share more details on the proposal to dissolve the current county, borough and township governments and make Cameron County one large governmental unit.

Commissioners Tony Moscato, Patrick Rodgers and Glen Fiebig are pushing the plan as a long-term solution to the county's mounting economic problems. They're encouraging township and borough officials across the county to allow the issue to be put up for a public vote in November.

In the meantime, the commissioners and a paid consultant, Alan Kugler of PA Futures, are anxious to share information about their plan. Forecasts of its impact on real estate taxes and other economic implications will be aired at the next public hearing.

Last Thursday, about 90 people turned out at the Cameron County Courthouse to hear details of the plan and pose questions. The government structure foreseen in the home rule charter is unprecedented in Pennsylvania and has been met with skepticism.

Population losses, higher water and sewage rates, rising real estate taxes and declines in the business sector are stressing the Cameron County economy. The commissioners last month voted to hike real estate taxes from 21 mills to 25.

Emporium Borough Manager Rob Aversa challenged the commissioners' dire financial forecasts, calling the home rule charter the wrong way to control spending.

Emporium Borough Councilman Maxwell Narby called the plan "too ambitious." He said a Council of Governments might address some of the issues without depriving townships and boroughs of their independence.

The commissioners' plan calls for a nine-member governing body to be elected, with one representative from each of seven voting districts and two at-large. Starting salaries of governing body members would be $2,500.

Driftwood Borough, Grove Township and Gibson Township would form one district. Lumber and Portage townships would be another. Emporium Borough and Shippen Township would be divided to create the other five districts.

Five countywide offices would still be filled by voters: district attorney, sheriff, treasurer, coroner and a combination prothonotary, clerk of courts, register of wills and recorder of deeds. The following offices would be abolished: county commissioner, township supervisor, tax collector, borough council member, mayor, tax collector, county auditor, borough and township auditor and jury commissioner.

A county manager, chief of police, director of public works, chief assessor, chief clerk and solicitor would be appointed by the governing body.