Updated Feb. 5, 1999
Questions/comments: herald@pgh.net
For info about advertising on our site or Web-page creation: advertising@sharon-herald.com
Published Friday, Feb. 5, 1999
But state officials said Thursday there is no way they could provide all the answers.
"What we're talking about is a process," said Fred Reddig of the state Governor's Center for Local Government Services.
The process is to identify all aspects of the governments, from police departments to library subsidies and debt to maintenance schedules of equipment, and try to find if services could be offered more efficiently by merging, consolidating or sharing.
"There is a significant long-term aspect that could be felt in the region," he said.
The study was initiated by Farrell in answering a recommendation of its economic recovery plan.
Alan R. Kugler, director of the Pennsylvania Economy League's northwest office and veteran of several mergers and consolidations, illustrated the potential impact in discussing his experiences in Erie and Elk County.
The Erie area is one of the few in western Pennsylvania that is growing because officials in the city and surrounding municipalities ended years of adversarial relations, Kugler said. The bad blood usually resulted from Erie's refusal to extend water lines while bordering communities siphoned off its population, he said. Now, they're trying to develop the region instead of competing against each other.
The city of St. Marys in Elk County, which was created by the consolidation of St. Marys borough and the former Benzinger Township, is growing rapidly as a center of the powdered metals industry because it is seen as progressive, Kugler said.
"We can't control what happens in Washington, we can't control the weather, we can only somewhat control what happens in Harrisburg," Kugler said. "We know intergovernmental cooperation can pay off."
Kugler said the enemies are not Hermitage, Sharon and Farrell, but Hong Kong, Charlotte, N.C, and Phoenix, Ariz., where businesses and people are moving.
"If you don't deliver services efficiently and ways to attract businesses, you can be certain you will not have anything in the next 20 years that you want," Kugler said.
Farrell Councilwoman Helen Marenchin stressed that the study was not just a matter of Sharon and Hermitage stepping in to help Farrell, which is how she has heard residents describe it. "This is not to bail out Farrell," she said. "This is for all communities. Farrell is doing fine the way it is."
"We're looking at what is best for this region," Reddig said. "We're looking at the viability of the area. We're looking at quality of life issues."
Local officials asked what direction the study should aim. "We don't know what we're looking for, what we're hoping to accomplish," said Hermitage Commissioner Sylvia Stull. "It's hard to comprehend what will happen at the end of it."
Reddig responded that the information collected will be necessary for a merger, consolidation or other alternatives. He asked that people keep an open mind and not come in with preconceived notions.
Mrs. Stull asked if any cities had been involved in consolidations or mergers. Reddig said no, but added that municipal classification is unimportant. He pointed out that only Sharon's government is established under the state's city code, while Farrell and Hermitage work under home rule charters. Although each is classified a city, they have very different governmental structures.
If the cities would agree to merge or consolidate, the ending classification will be determined through the study process, he said.
Joe Fordeley of Farrell, an alternate member of the Farrell Zoning Hearing Board, asked if by eliminating two-thirds of the municipal officials a merger or consolidation would "overtax" those elected in the new municipality.
Kugler said there would be a transition period of two to three years. Residents of St. Marys and the former Benzinger Township answered two ballot questions on the structure of their new government after they had agreed to join.
Reddig said public support is important throughout the process. "Be very careful in what you say to people," Kugler said. "Hold them back. They will have their opportunities to comment."
Each of the communities involved will appoint some representatives to a merger/consolidation feasibility study committee to gather and weigh more information.