California mayor not taking out-of-town job
CALIFORNIA – Mayor Casey Durdines is not moving out of California to take a job as a borough manager in Somerset County. Durdines Thursday squelched the rumor that he was about to resign as mayor.
“I’m sure that a lot of people read the article that I was hired to be borough manager for Windber, Pa. That’s true, I was offered the position; however, I won’t be taking that position. I’ll be here for at least the next year and a half,” Durdines said.
Meanwhile, borough council discussed the possibility of hiring its own borough manager. Councilwoman Sheila Chambers made a motion that the council immediately take action to advertise and hire a manager to start in January. She said that the successful candidate should hold a bachelor’s degree in municipal planning and have five to 10 years’ experience.
“I think our community is facing a lot of growth in the next couple of years, with a $12-15 million sewerage project, a new Wal-Mart and the development at Roadman Park,” Chambers said.
Councilwoman Shelly Roberts said she was surprised to see how much money had been left over in previous years from the Community Development Block Grant program.
“A borough manager would be keeping on top of all of this,” Roberts said.
Durdines noted that before the position can be advertised, it must be created by ordinance, which he suggested be done, even if the position goes unfilled at this time.
“I think the borough needs to look into hiring a borough manager, but at the same time we need to make sure in the budget that we can afford to fund the position at the start of the year.
Council voted unanimously to draft an ordinance creating the position of borough manager.
Council also voted to extend a letter of intent until Feb. 10, 2009, regarding the possibility of California Borough handling the sewage from the proposed Croftcheck development, including a Wal-Mart in West Brownsville. Chambers said the extension would provide the time necessary to negotiate various fees.
“I’ve been told we are the front-runner. We are the only ones with a sewage plant on this side of the river,” Chambers said.
The new development will be in the service area of the Center-West Joint Sewer Authority, but that authority does not yet have a treatment plant or collection system built.
In other matters, it was noted that several contracts have been closed out with companies that had been hired to upgrade California’s sewerage system. The borough has changed engineering firms and is changing the design to a less expensive system. Art Brower of Fayette Engineering said he would check with the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) to see if the negotiated settlements can be paid using PENNVEST funds.
Council voted to enter negotiations with Green Earth for a contract to accept gas well wastewater for treatment at the borough’s sewage plant. Engineer Art Brower said the arrangement could generate between $20,000 and $40,000 a month for the borough, though it’s not an amount that can be budgeted since it could change at any time.
In other matters, questions were raised as to whether council had authorized the preparation of 12 sets of 13 zoning maps by Fayette Engineering that were requested by solicitor Keith Melenyzer. Brower said his firm would withdraw the invoice.
Council will hold a work session on its zoning ordinance Aug. 19 at 2 p.m.
Thursday’s meeting was continued until Sept. 4 at 6 p.m., at which time council will consider a recycling ordinance and award a contract for municipal waste, leaf waste and recycling collection.