The possibility of consolidating five Shenango Valley communities suffered another blow Wednesday when several Sharpsville council members said they are against a merger.

Councilman Gus Grandy said he is collecting petitions signed by Sharpsville residents who are against a merger with Sharon, Farrell, Hermitage and Wheatland. Grandy said he too is opposed to a merger.

"I don't think it's going to be beneficial," Grandy said. He said he plans to present the petitions at the next council meeting.

Councilwoman Luann Anglin said she agrees 100 percent with Grandy.

Council President Jack Cardwell and Councilman Robert Piccirilli said they are also against a merger but both said they want to see final results from the Shenango Valley Intergovernmental Study Committee before making up their minds.

Cardwell said he's not going to try to keep the merger off the ballot.

Last week Wheatland Mayor Thomas Stanton suggested his borough council talk about pulling out of the study. He said Wheatland council is going to meet with the Wheatland representatives on the study committee to see if the borough will continue to be part of the study.

Stanton's comments were based on a recommendation by the fire department subcommittee's decision to keep the fire departments as separate entities, difficulties with the sewer committee's pending report and Sharon council's decision not to look into merging the city's police department with the Southwest Mercer County Regional department.

A faction of Hermitage residents opposed to the merger also has been vocal and has gone as far as printing bumper stickers that urge people to vote no on the consolidation.

The study committee has not yet presented the public with a recommendation to merge or share services. Once a recommendation is made, voters will decide at the ballot box whether to carry out that recommendation.