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Mount Pleasant gets clean audit

By Rachel Basinger for The 3 min read

MOUNT PLEASANT — An audit of the borough’s 2016 finances has come back clean.

Certified public accountant Clayton E. Gregg IV with McClure & Wolf told members of council last week that the audit looked in order but got a qualified opinion strictly because the borough has not kept depreciating cost values on their fixed assets.

He added that this is normal for most small municipalities.

Also, the borough had some bank accounts “out of internal control,” which are the Mount Pleasant Glass & Ethnic Festival accounts that are currently being transferred out of borough control and into the glass festival’s own account.

Members of council agreed over a year ago to remove the festival out from underneath the borough’s umbrella.

“It’s good news about the findings, but finances can shift rather quickly,” said Borough Manager Jeff Landy. “It all depends on what happens in the borough, so we still need to be diligent. Remember, we are the holders of our residents’ tax money and we need to make responsible choices.

“I was here when there was no money,” he added. “It’s nice to hear that we’re doing well, and we are, but we’re doing well because we work at it.”

In other business, members of council passed a motion to advertise amendments to the borough’s noise nuisance ordinance.

The motion was brought to the table last month, after more than 10 calls were placed to the Mount Pleasant Police Department over excessive noise coming from a property on South Diamond Street. The current ordinance only classifies noise as a nuisance if it happens after 10 p.m. and this noise is happening before 10 p.m.

Currently the borough’s noise nuisance ordinance says it’s unlawful to operate or permit any sound device that makes loud, boisterous or unreasonable sound that disturbs or annoys nearby residents, worshipers or workers after 10 p.m. and before 6 a.m., except for a borough approved event.

Members of the ordinance committee presented amendments at that time that would remove the part that puts a time frame on it.

After Mount Pleasant Borough Police Chief Doug Sam said he didn’t feel the amendments would hold up in court, members of council decided not to take action last month.

Borough Solicitor Deanna Liptak said at that time that with the amendments, the borough at least has some teeth to do something about noise during the day.

“If you write a citation and the witness refuses to testify, then no one can come and complain to the borough that you’re not doing anything about the noise,” she said.

The amendments that were approved for advertisement on Monday were the same ones presented last month.

Councilman Fred McCloy said there are at least 25 other boroughs in the state that have the same ordinance.

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