Dead on arrival?

Barring any change of heart among a handful of elected officials, the plan to revolutionize local government in Cameron County is heading for defeat without the voters having their say.

The controversial home rule charter, which would dissolve the borough and township borders and operate Cameron County as one governmental unit, will apparently never make it to the November ballot.

A public meeting scheduled for 6:30 Monday night at the courthouse will determine the plan's fate. Borough councils from Emporium and Driftwood will join supervisor boards from the five townships to decide if the issue should be put before the voters.

If just one municipality decides not to let the voters decide, the home rule charter is dead in the water.

Based on informal surveys, supervisors and council members are split on the issue and at least three of the seven municipalities appear poised to shoot down the plan. Many local government officials have lamented the apathy they perceive among their constituents.

"Consolidation could work in my opinion, but I don't want residents to think it's the end of the world if it doesn't pass," said Cameron County Commissioner Glen Fiebig. "I have specific ideas on how we can get the county in a better financial situation."

Fiebig said those ideas have "sort of been on the back burner," as the commissioners have put their energy into the consolidation issues.

Fiebig, a two-term commissioner who will be on the ballot in November, said he'd like to see the issue be decided by the voters.

Phil Brown, a member of the Shippen Township Board of Supervisors, summarizes the frustration many elected officials are feeling.

"Not one person has come to a meeting or given me a call about this issue, and it has been in the works for a long time," Brown said. "You would think that, with something this important, a whole lot of people would want to become involved . . . Would the people really know what they're voting on?"

On the other hand, George Singer Sr., also a supervisor in Shippen, is leaning in favor of the plan. He believes a single government would eliminate duplicated services across the county and reduce taxes.

Driftwood Borough Council has already approved the joint agreement. Portage Township is also supportive, according to one of the supervisors. Emporium Borough Council is split. There's also no clear consensus in Grove Township.

Gibson and Lumber townships are apparently lining up against the plan, according to spokesmen from both boards of supervisors.

If the plan were placed on the ballot and approved by voters, a 9- member countywide council would be seated effective in 2010. That organization would appoint and supervise a county manager.

County commissioner, township supervisor, borough council member, mayor and several others would be eliminated. Elected positions that would remain include: coroner, district attorney, prothonotary/ clerk of courts, register of wills/recorder of deeds, sheriff, and treasurer.