The consultants hired by the Shenango Valley Intergovernmental Study Committee are no longer with the Pennsylvania Economy League.

But Alan Kugler, former director of PEL's former Erie office, said that will not hurt the SVISC's work, and should help it.

"I'll be more focused on this project," he said.

SVISC is made up of elected officials and citizen representatives of Farrell, Sharon, Hermitage, Sharpsville and Wheatland, who are studying whether to merge or consolidate.

Kugler said he resigned from PEL in September, and the league closed the office.

Kugler has started a governmental consulting firm called PA Futures, and he is contracting with Mary Bula, another former PEL staffer, to continue aiding him with the SVISC study.

Kugler said he hopes the study can be completed by July.