Borough Manager Rob Barto explained big changes and renovations coming to Clymer and how he will assume a new role to focus on the projects, and the council passed a tentative budget at Tuesday night’s meeting.
With the aid of state grants, work is set to begin on developing the vacant lots along Sherman Street, where the planned Veterans’ Memorial will be erected. Barto said that of the $270,000 needed for the project, $30,000 is funded locally and most is in-hand.
With that, Barto said a contract with the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development is in place for $450,000 to develop Sherman Street and 7th Streets, which are to be redone with parking and sidewalks. The trail there will be extended in the form of a sidewalk from 6th Street to Sherman Street and to the playgrounds, and on to 7th Street to form a loop. The cost covers sidewalks, storm drains, paving, utility poles to be moved, decorative lighting, and a parking lot.
Barto said also that a street inventory was completed with PennDOT in which streets, alleys, and storm drains were inspected. For any work deemed necessary during the inspection, the borough plans to borrow $600,000 against its liquid fuel funds, which will be paid back over 10 years.
The total cost for the street projects is about $1.3 million. $1.4 million will be needed to bring the water distribution system up-to-date, for a total of close to $3 million in work over the next 18 months.
In related news, Borough Manager Rob Barto announced he will be stepping down to Assistant Borough Manager with the sole responsibility of managing the aforementioned projects. The change will be effective on January 15th, 2018, at which time George Oakes will be promoted to the Borough Manager/Secretary/Treasurer position.
In other news, the council adopted a tentative 2018 budget that is about $3,000 off from the prior year, with no tax increase.
Lastly, Light Up Night is slated for 7 PM on Friday, November 24th at the Clymer American Legion.
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