Towns discuss common issues
CONNELLSVILLE – Connellsville officials and workers and their counterparts from South Connellsville, Everson, Mount Pleasant and Scottdale boroughs will join together this week to discuss similar issues facing their respective communities.
Referred to as the G-5 Summit, the meetings on Thursday through Saturday will be held at Laurelville Mennonite Church Center in Mount Pleasant.
Connellsville Councilman Brad Geyer spearheaded the local participation for the summit.
“I believe this is a good opportunity for all of us to get acquainted and share information,” he said.
Hosting the meetings will be various community departments, including street, police, code enforcement and fire, along with administrative personnel and the elected officials.
Mount Pleasant Borough Manager Jeff Landy and Geyer worked together for the inaugural event held last year and Landy said he is pleased that South Connellsville and Everson have joined with the other communities.
“The meetings give us a chance to talk among ourselves in a quiet setting and away from the distraction of our offices,” said Landy.
“We all go to seminars and sit and listen; however, the best information is gotten during the breaks and over lunch.
“That’s what we want to provide at the summit.”
South Connellsville Borough Councilman Clyde Martz said that he is looking forward to talking with the other council members and learning about the issues that are of foremost concern and ideas as to how to resolve them.
“We wanted to get involved,” he said of the borough’s participation.
“I think it is a really good idea.”
Martz said that while officials are typically acquainted with one another, an extended opportunity to discuss issues rarely occurs.
“This will give us an opportunity to really get to know one another and then, when we need some advice or assistance, we’ll know who to call,” he said.
Several community employees will lead the sessions, along with guest speakers, including representatives from Smart Growth, Fay-Penn Buy Local program and the Pennsylvania League of Cities and Municipalities (PLCM).
Richard J. Schuettler, PLCM deputy executive director, will be the keynote speaker at the Saturday closing dinner.
Topics for the sessions will include grant writing, the development of main street communities, cooperative purchasing and new legislation that will impact smaller communities.
Geyer, meanwhile, said that the summit provides opportunities for communities to form partnerships.
“The city street department has implemented an even and odd snow removal program that has worked very well and that came out of last year’s meeting,” he said, adding that other initiatives implemented within other communities are being considered by the city.
“I see this as a great opportunity for all of us.”