Published Thursday, June 10, 1999 But sentiment in Wheatland was heavily on the negative side.
Sharpsville councilmen Thomas Lally and Alex Kovach said they personally oppose a merger or consolidation, but agreed to join the study out of deference to residents.
"If the decision lies with the taxpayers, then we have to give them the facts," said Councilman Jack Cardwell.
Mergers or consolidations can only be authorized by voters.
"The only way to get the facts is to participate in the study," Lally said.
Council President Guy Moderelli, who had previously spoken out against joining the study, didn't stand in the way Wednesday.
Sharpsville needs to appoint two elected officials and three citizens to the Shenango Valley Intergovernmental Study Committee.
Correction (printed 6/15/99)
Sharpsville Council President Guy Moderelli voted against a motion for Sharpsville to join Farrell, Hermitage and Sharon in a merger-consolidation study. In a Thursday story, The Herald incorrectly reported that he had not voted.
In Wheatland, some officials said they would favor a study that has lower stakes than a merger or consolidation. Councilman Ray Foster, who adamantly opposes joining the study, sounded a warning.
"If they can consolidate the school districts, I can vote to consolidate the valley," said Councilman Ray Foster.
School districts are not part of the study.
Wheatland Mayor Thomas Stanton said he would prefer a study that looks at the borders of the existing communities, so Hermitage isn't made up of nonconnecting chunks of territory and Southwest Mercer County Regional police don't have to travel through Shenango Township and Hermitage, which it does not serve, to get to West Middlesex.
Councilman Donald Stinedurf said he would prefer a shared services study.
"I don't have a problem with sharing services," Stinedurf said. "I have a problem surrendering our community."
"You're not surrendering anything," responded Councilwoman Lorraine Brown, who, with George Keryan, spoke in support of joining the study.
"Getting involved doesn't seem to commit us to anything," Ms. Brown said. "Getting involved might be a learning experience."
The doubters said a merger or consolidation could not only rob Wheatland of its identity, but that Wheatland's small size would assure it of no representation in the new government, which some officials say has happened since the town joined the Farrell Area School District.
"We're very afraid," Stanton said. "The larger that thing becomes the weaker Wheatland becomes. We pride ourselves in having no slums. You only have to go up three blocks to know what we could become."
Dennis Puko, executive director of the Mercer County Regional Planning Commission and an ad hoc member of the committee, said Wheatland's identity would not necessarily be lost in a merger or consolidation. It would function as a neighborhood instead of a municipality, he said.
But he added: "If you're approaching this guarded and fearful, don't get involved."
Council followed Stinedurf's request to hold off on a vote until July, when it could discuss the issue some more.
Whatever council decides, it won't make the Tuesday deadline that the committee set for an answer. Council President David Cusick asked if council could see how the study develops and become a member at a later date.
Puko said the committee would probably always make room for a latecomer, but added that would severely slow the study down.
"If you're uncomfortable, make a decision next month," Puko said. "Beyond that you're burdening the study because it needs to move forward on a couple of issues."
The study committee's next meeting is 6:15 p.m. Tuesday at the Mercer County Regional Council of Governments office in Hermitage.
