Borough taxes will hold steady
Emporium council holds the line
By James Moate Endeavor News

Cathy Straub shared her experiences from a recent trip to the Ukraine during a recent Emporium Rotary Club meeting as guest of her husband and program chair Ken Straub. A slide show depicted many of the group's stops. Cathy said the nation has made much progress in agriculture to support its population of 49 million. She is shown with a "power stick" from Ukraine.

Members of the Emporium Borough Council gave indications this week that the real estate tax will not be raised in 2008.

A special meeting to discuss and approve the borough's 2008 operating budget is planned for Thursday, Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. in the conference room of the Borough Building. It's open to the public.

In response to concerns expressed by Sixth Street Extension resident Jeff Johnson at Monday's monthly Council meeting, Vice President LuAnn Reed said that no tax increase is anticipated. Johnson asked if the borough might be forced to reduce services in 2008 due to financial constraints, but Reed said that is unlkely.

She added that the borough had looked ahead and raised taxes three years ago to prepare for likely increases in expenses.

On a separate issue, Johnson asked the borough to crack down on people in his neighborhood who fail to maintain their properties, particularly their lawns. Unmaintained lawns represent a public safety hazard, he asserted.

In other business, Council announced there is no free parking in the borough during this year's holiday season. Cameron County Chamber of Commerce did not request that the borough bag the meters, Council members said. Additionally, some downtown business owners had complained that the free parking was being used more by store employees and residents, rather than shoppers.

Mary Loise Blumle was appointed to the Borough Zoning Board through 2009. There are still two vacant alternate seats, two-year terms, on the board. Anyone interested in serving should contact Borough Manager

Don Reed at 486-0768. Manager Don Reed and outgoing

Council member Pat Garrigan were appointed to the Mid-Cameron Authority. Garrigan is being succeeded on Council by Rick Vassallo.

Council approved a yearly, two-day "pay adjustment" for borough employees. According to council members, it is merely a coincidence that the two-day vacation occurs around Christmas.

It was reported that the Second Street Project was completed. Installation of storm sewers on Second, between Wood and Maple, was conducted by Bucktail Excavators Inc. of St. Marys. Payment negotiations have not yet been finalized.

The Street Committee will meet on Monday at 4:30 p.m. in the borough conference room to discuss the request for a handicapped parking space in front of a Fourth Street residence. Afterwards, at 5 p.m., the Personnel Committee will meet to deal with minor revisions to the employee handbooks and employee evaluation sheets.