[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6607947,"mediaKeyId","2945481-70ae62ac9f1a21923abb0403e83b907b","parentId",2945481,"title","Council approves two personnel actions including police hire split by 4-3 vote","audioSeconds",121,"startMs",5151000,"endMs",5272000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2945481-70ae62ac9f1a21923abb0403e83b907b&start=5151&end=5272","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2945481-70ae62ac9f1a21923abb0403e83b907b/thumbnail_5151000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6607947/Pennsylvania/Council-approves-two-personnel-actions-including-police-hire-split-by-4-3-vote","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6607947-97e82303fb41aa37bd57d55145c1bd41/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172803&Signature=k2aEPjPVfqp4yJ6mfeTkjlApbjZRiZY1ld9ZWPiziEaM2jgSONYEEh6Ht-HV6S~GoAyTS1iw095AZLzrnSAoVxBbYi2hqhbTrjM6zq0H-~e85bsPTlsx7ukncH-2Dgn0JDt30I~r41UI8NXKsr6SCqBXduNCLW7B4t~FPpupVDf-L9N9iinH9vmR-799wP6f4PhT-U0oxKx01vqP8-TJ5hwuhe3GeoJe932wo-U8HuVZuZcahK5gAzd2EheYC5CDcPXdm7-ou0xj4OkOblMwGHrGX2WLyjdTWYmtabgDw7QkmQzBmo~W9EKveCYWH1rZgTdNNDZrfe3T3MC8MDZBEg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Mifflin County SD","date","2025-04-10T13:45:38.487Z","article","Lewistown Borough Council approved two personnel actions during the meeting.

The council voted to move a named internal candidate (referred to in the meeting as \"employee A\") into the administrative secretary position (non-union). The motion to appoint that employee to the administrative secretary role passed by council voice vote.

Separately, council voted on hiring Joseph Laird (spelled in meeting as Joseph Laird / Leiter; transcript uses \"Joseph Laird\") for the police department conditional on a psychological evaluation. Roll call recorded a 4–3 result followed by the mayor casting a tie-breaking vote in favor; the clerk announced the motion passed 4–3. The hire is contingent on the standard pre-employment psych evaluation.

Why it matters: personnel appointments affect municipal operations and department staffing levels; council used its authority to approve the administrative appointment and to authorize a conditional hire for the police department.

Ending: both actions were approved and the police hire remains contingent on successful completion of the required psych evaluation and other pre-employment checks.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","04-07-25 Lewistown Borough Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Council approved two personnel items: moving an employee into the administrative secretary role (non-union) and hiring a police candidate contingent on psych evaluation; the police hire passed 4–3 with the mayor breaking a later tie as recorded.","taxTitle","Mifflin County SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",55226,"location","Pennsylvania","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6607952,"Council approves surge-protection, equipment amendments and related wastewater maintenance work",60,3288000,3348000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2945481-70ae62ac9f1a21923abb0403e83b907b&start=3288&end=3348","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2945481-70ae62ac9f1a21923abb0403e83b907b/thumbnail_3288000.jpg","/articles/6607952/Pennsylvania/Council-approves-surge-protection-equipment-amendments-and-related-wastewater-maintenance-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6607952-b8fad9f7e976b21393dfaf9c123f6d85/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172804&Signature=ka3jwMC-FfCf-9bUqDPz3XqBQjhlwSgwFQL1T8fE0X68~ferGoVpPt3t9lqgTAXkqZYGwPxq9E6Q~DWEpgn4ZUD8he6iIgZqiAWujhQnXetfLfjbBc0SrS-L1j2qEuKCzKN12FI4zVPc0gJfW-3yKwmvMO0YP5F3V~3Dmt9xuxQEQVJRMmMrlDmmZuJyiirFDc9vI4f5wywCLpnzouNNiqMvtWxswMkp9G6SfVqQdCGDfnj2G~1YRvd4~6Ot~pUqW7vmgQC438psICGv0z0X20jNW5UC0SPYx265gPUMB3~P1aCZoYkhRd0WcWLEYXtQPPOLzLyRf33L54yclGMM~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lewistown Borough Council approved several procurement and budget amendments for wastewater plant maintenance and protection, including replacement of surge-protection modules and amendments to capital line items.

Council approved a lower bid for surge-protection modules at $7,600 (staff had two bids and the council amended the agenda to use the lower price) and executed amendments changing two wastewater-related line items in the meeting agenda (one change reduced an item from $8,900 to $7,600 and another reduced a digester-related line to $1,309,300 from $1,409,300). Staff said surge protection will protect treatment-plant electronics during outages and that the amended digester award includes added equipment such as blowers.

Why it matters: surge protection reduces the risk of electronic equipment failure at the wastewater plant; budget amendments align procurement awards with current bid prices and with the vendor's revised scope for the digester project.

Administrative direction: council also authorized administration to sign contract documents after vendor and Heritage paperwork is returned, tying administrative signature authority to the documents presented to staff and council.

Ending: council approved the procurement items by roll call and asked staff to proceed with vendor coordination.","Council approved replacement of nine surge-protection modules at the treatment plant, amended two capital line items in the wastewater budget and authorized staff to sign procurement documents related to wastewater maintenance and the digester roof project.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6607957,"Lewistown reviews sewer delinquencies, shutoff schedule and new funding avenues including potential PennVest loans",226,2774000,3000000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2945481-70ae62ac9f1a21923abb0403e83b907b&start=2774&end=3000","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2945481-70ae62ac9f1a21923abb0403e83b907b/thumbnail_2774000.jpg","/articles/6607957/Pennsylvania/Lewistown-reviews-sewer-delinquencies-shutoff-schedule-and-new-funding-avenues-including-potential-PennVest-loans","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6607957-39223d65597cd6725de26c013366c3f9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172804&Signature=Pa~4BkcgJWC7enmd~gr5yCkta3F0nycRAFhav-nVeUWpWgIv8yXGPZGsMZyBowvzic9uJlnfqpIzDzSJIr-wrsS8wQlHNP0tK5Eiv9m~ql3mzWAPoMDS4r8wpUkZed1SSd70RQd7Rm2glvThozqRImTn70fs5iKWXrtmf5YjZPrsNlUrnjbVRpnFavYGY5o0HDh~QBcc7rPPbVeLD3L6I-5V8H0s4eQtVSGK7FEJcDvKJXgN7puxtL9gvm6y4qJJpme7VC41hKggWFU5iAmDqKm2AkSvTzG14Kn~RH3VmxJ8dEuNViJGYPcbXomhDUzZkvshl99RU2seqq-7K3fs1g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lewistown Borough staff reported on sewer billing delinquencies and on ongoing efforts to identify funding for sewer infrastructure projects.

Staff presented delinquency data for utility billing from Jan. 1 through April 1 showing the percentage of delinquencies moved from roughly 5.19% up to about 6.30% and then declined by April 1; staff said shutoff notices for cycle-one delinquencies will be posted in April and that internal staff would begin outreach and enforcement actions. Council and staff noted shutoffs are a moving target because accounts cycle through 30/60/90-day past-due classifications.

Separately, staff said the borough is pursuing multiple funding avenues for sewer infrastructure including early discussions about PennVest (a Pennsylvania infrastructure loan program) where staff said the borough could look at $10 million to $15 million in PennVest borrowing for sewer projects, and that there may be ways to reduce that amount through state or grant assistance or adjustments to consent-decree obligations. Staff described an upcoming press release and outreach with state and federal representatives and said a meeting or press event with Representative Benninghoff and partners was planned.

Why it matters: Delinquent accounts and potential shutoffs affect revenue collection and cash flow for operations, and large wastewater capital projects will require significant financing and coordination with state programs and neighboring townships.

Other operational detail: staff flagged a potential \"sewer reduction meter\" for borough facilities that fill street sweepers and wash vehicles; such a meter (staff quoted roughly $234 per meter from the water company) can reduce sewer charges for water that does not enter the wastewater system (for example, water used for vehicle washing that is not returned to sewer). Council asked staff to investigate meter costs and whether the borough or individual stations should purchase/install them.

Ending: Staff will continue delinquency outreach, post shutoff notices for cycle-one accounts in April and continue grant and loan discussions; council requested updates on grant prospects and on the sewer-reduction meter analysis.","Council received an update showing utility billing delinquencies rose then fell between Jan. 1 and April 1; staff said shutoff notices for the first billing cycle will be posted in April and reported ongoing outreach and multiple grant/loan conversations including potential PennVest financing and state budget funding.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6607961,"Council awards anaerobic digester and related electrical work; staff says system could be operational by late summer",1907,3009000,4916000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2945481-70ae62ac9f1a21923abb0403e83b907b&start=3009&end=4916","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2945481-70ae62ac9f1a21923abb0403e83b907b/thumbnail_3009000.jpg","/articles/6607961/Pennsylvania/Council-awards-anaerobic-digester-and-related-electrical-work-staff-says-system-could-be-operational-by-late-summer","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6607961-dd761dec74539785aa11ead62141b62e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172804&Signature=MPYah09ZbbIF37pNQPuqM~1abL4OESbun6OHA4FQTC4h~vHk~RuacRkl8LzGEbjl~g0s~lRERV4dS5At9QaDyzDCSycUPVPbCcjqbiI7XPm1WCZLm553INS7msksRFB-R1urGF36SQ7GJZP93nKkRIG5k855cIX5uGoP3Tk2qhBSb7SB9VdN8FFB5yD6Sc-eApJcNfvXN1Usrr-F8~tINnT2pUKTqAtylAoFD1ofGuAx18Fx9KVQMshOhiFcdzVRlA2IV6rM06cGqonf1AZUcCt-xrNlyFdMSOybIwgI-ebaZ55ko28ZEKLZvM1z5ilAKa3eboFSV-wv5oP4KJjFTQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lewistown Borough Council voted to award the anaerobic digester/mixing-system contract to JP Environmental LLC and to approve associated electrical work to LAZ Electric, moving forward on a wastewater treatment plant project intended to capture methane gas and improve plant operations.

Council and staff said bids were opened and that a previously listed cost of $1,409,300 was reduced to $1,309,300 after alternate proposals and negotiations. Staff said they met with 1 Water Technologies and the EADS group (plant operators), who recommended a dual-membrane roof product and the selected approach. The council also approved a separate electrical award for the new pump and related work at $88,005.81.

Why it matters: council said the digester will allow methane capture that will run boilers and related systems and is a multi-year plant improvement. Staff described the bid results as a cost decrease of roughly $100,000 compared with the earlier figure and said the revised scope included additional equipment (new blowers) that had not been part of the earlier roof-only estimate.

Timing and next steps: staff estimated the plant could be back online around August–September if the pump and mixing equipment arrive and vendor scheduling allows; staff said they will coordinate vendor sequencing and push for earlier production if manufacturers can deliver sooner. The council authorized the contracts and budget changes necessary to proceed.

Speakers and sources: finance and waste-water staff presented the bids and project timeline; council approved the awards by roll call.","Lewistown Borough awarded contracts for an anaerobic digester/mixing system and associated electrical work after bids produced a roughly $100,000 reduction from an earlier figure; staff said the system could be online by August–September if vendor components arrive on schedule.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6607966,"Lewistown council conditionally approves lease for ladder truck amid financing, title and equipment questions",4804,168000,4972000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2945481-70ae62ac9f1a21923abb0403e83b907b&start=168&end=4972","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2945481-70ae62ac9f1a21923abb0403e83b907b/thumbnail_168000.jpg","/articles/6607966/Pennsylvania/Lewistown-council-conditionally-approves-lease-for-ladder-truck-amid-financing-title-and-equipment-questions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6607966-3c574941a31804960eb188f362c04c3b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172804&Signature=AXYK22MAW9PG8Lp880JVWKvZcrmPSWhbaIOiKahYORoSwrmhy-PW9kaEnMj6jLNAWFeD4rrmG837BJOiwEOrZMd6wc9OgESnFt81EHlKK0-0rHVXvJtntmP7VpG6XsglkI1DqcGd1idBlWDMb52O0GKQSwWhwCgbfLd9pL-smn2nisySXmwT9s-Yhq9w7teoq6IE6U9pY0cl0fHqxtt47qJwXQurxOPaN4lwhleOWJURs3BVMpamlvnq6pABu7q0K~s0zBOpuqJeRNPQvQ87esYIYI8rAWv~vEaSXyN73e4t~Yqs2SvAjK5JIMDQf-qtEFp0zhuqY0-VafOWHPieWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lewistown Borough Council on April 1 conditionally authorized administration to proceed with leasing a new ladder (ladder truck) for the borough, contingent on execution of documents with Heritage Fire Company and receipt of outstanding titles and paperwork.

Council members and staff said the decision follows last week's special meeting and new information from lenders showing a lower rate was available only if the lender held the sole lien on the vehicle. Staff said adding a 2% state loan would create a second lien and would raise the borough's interest rate from about 4.79% to roughly 6.79% (staff said the lender projected a 2 to 2.5 percentage-point increase), which staff estimated would increase the borough cost by about $20,000 overall. Council approved a motion that authorizes the administration to complete lease paperwork once Heritage signs required documents.

Why it matters: council members said they want the truck but must balance the borough's limited fire-tax fund, existing apparatus payments and other service costs. Council repeatedly noted the fund would not cover both the truck loan payments and prior allocations unless new funding or grants materialize.

Key details: finance staff said the borough can obtain a lease at about 4.79% if the lender is sole lienholder; adding the state 2% loan would likely push the effective borrowing cost higher because secondary lienholders reduced the lender's willingness to offer the lower rate. Staff flagged the annual payment under the quoted 4.79% structure as about $182,000 per year. Council and Heritage discussed using proceeds from the sale of an older engine (identified in the meeting as roughly $27.05 — transcript wording) to fund equipment or hose purchases but said the borough would not disburse sale proceeds until the vehicle title is received and cleared.

Council discussion also covered equipment and readiness: the borough and Heritage representatives discussed whether equipment from the outgoing rig could be reused on the new truck and whether additional purchases were required. Staff and Heritage representatives raised a hose estimate of approximately $34,000 for full replacement; Heritage representatives said they might be able to cover remaining costs if the sale proceeds were made available.

Next steps and timing: council asked staff, Heritage representatives and executive committee members to meet quickly (staff said payment or checks are due within seven days of the Heritage delivery schedule referenced in the meeting) so the parties can sign an agreement before the vendor's payment deadline. Council also directed staff to pursue grant and alternative funding avenues and to return with any contract documents for final signatures.

Speakers quoted or referenced during the discussion included Council members and borough staff, Heritage representatives and the borough fire chief; no formal ordinance or statute was cited during the financing discussion.

Ending: Council emphasized they support acquiring the apparatus if a financially responsible plan is finalized; conditional authorization means the lease can move forward only after required documents and title issues are resolved and any lender conditions met.","Lewistown Borough Council gave conditional approval to lease a new ladder truck contingent on paperwork from Heritage Fire Company and clarified financing tradeoffs, unresolved title for a sold rig and outstanding equipment costs including hoses.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves two personnel actions including police hire split by 4-3 vote

Council approves surge-protection, equipment amendments and related wastewater maintenance work

Lewistown reviews sewer delinquencies, shutoff schedule and new funding avenues including potential PennVest loans

Council awards anaerobic digester and related electrical work; staff says system could be operational by late summer

Lewistown council conditionally approves lease for ladder truck amid financing, title and equipment questions