CLARION BOROUGH COUNCIL

A special meeting of the Clarion Borough Council was held on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 at the Borough Offices. President Wilshire called the meeting to order at 8:04 a.m.

Council members present were: Mr. Zerfoss, Ms. Moore, Ms.Vavrek, Mr. Herman, Ms. Leonard and President Wilshire. Present by invitation were Robert Ragon, Police Chief Hall and Nancy Freenock.

Administration:

President Wilshire requested that the work session currently scheduled for Monday, February 26, 2007 be changed to a special meeting so that Council can consider the revised Consent Order between the Borough and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources among others.

Public Works:

Mr. Zerfoss stated that the PW Department is busy hauling snow out to Paul A. Weaver Park; the operation has been running 24 hours/day with the assistance of Mike Hindman and Hagar Paving.

Public Safety:

Mr. Herman reported that since the recent accident, the Police have been operating with two vehicles. Car #1 was totaled by the insurance company. Car #2, which is the remaining marked car, has 88,000 miles, and recently experienced mechanical problems. He and the Mayor are working on a plan to cooperate in the event that the Borough Police need vehicles.

Due to the foregoing, the Public Safety Committee is of the opinion that a new police vehicle is needed. The plan was to purchase a new car in 2008; however, the insurance proceeds are sufficient to cover the payments for this vehicle thru the end of the year. The financing that is in place for the purchase of the vehicle that was purchased from Clarion Ford will be used to obtain this car as well.

In addition, the 2007 budget did not include proceeds from the sale of a police vehicle. The plan is to sell Car #2 once delivery of the two new cars is made and they have been found to be acceptable.

Chief Hall has located a 2007 Police Interceptor available thru the state piggyback program and costs $100 less that the vehicle previously ordered. The car is available at Cherry Hill Winner Ford. It is equipped similarly to the one that was ordered by Clarion Ford. The 3 year/100,000 mile warranty should also be purchased. There will be a delivery charge ranging between $200-300.

A motion to purchase the 2007 Police Interceptor from Winner Ford, with financing from Farmer’s National Bank was made by Mr. Herman and seconded by Ms. Vavrek.

Mr. Zerfoss commented that he believes that the Police Department should be operating with 4 cars and 8 patrolmen.

Mr. Wilshire asked if the insurance proceeds could be placed in an earmarked account and be placed as a separate line item in the budget. Ms. Freenock will check.

No other reports were made. On a motion duly made and seconded, the meeting was adjourned at 8:25 a.m.

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Nancy K. Freenock, Secretary