Priorities for 2018

At 11am on the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918 the "Great War" came to an end.

We honor our World War I heroes and all veterans this month as we celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of Armistice Day.

Sincerely, Harry

Click here for Council Agenda

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November Council Meetings: 27 @ 6pm

(570)825-1634

At the Courthouse Restoration Dedication in May

Here are my priorities and action steps for this year:

1) Continue to look for streams of revenue apart from property taxation (84% of county revenues come from property tax, which is inherently unfair) and cut wasteful spending.

I DID NOT SUPPORT THE $5 VEHICLE REGISTRATION FEE. MY IDEA ABOUT OFFSETTING THE EXTRA FEE WITH A PROPERTY TAX REDUCTION OF $5 WAS NOT SUPPORTED BY THE COUNCIL MAJORITY. FURTHERMORE, I WAS EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THAT BOTH THE COSTLY ADP CONTRACT AND ELECTRONIC POLL BOOK PURCHASE (A COMBINED COST TO TAXPAYERS APPROXIMATLEY $500,000) DID NOT RESULT IN MANAGMENT SAVING IN SERVICE COSTS.

2) Host legislative round tables for our state and federal delegations to communicate county needs of funding local government, providing human services, and fostering community development.

THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE MET WITH TWO OF OUR AREA REPRESENTATIVES THIS YEAR;

UNFORTUNATELY, THIS YEAR'S STATE BUDGET DOES NOT RESTORE CUTS MADE TO COUNTY

COURTS FROM TWO YEARS AGO.

3) Lanuch the Blighted Property Review Committee to assist municipalities in fighting blight.

THE BPRC HOSTED A WORKSHOP ON SEPT 24 TO HELP MUNICIPALITIES WITH THE APPLICATION PROCESS. SEVEN WERE REPRESENTED, AND THE BPRC IS READY TO BEGIN ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS. A SECOND WORKSHOP WILL BE HELD ON DECEMBER 3 AT 6PM.

4) Collaborate with other counties and provide leadership to fight the opioid crisis.

I ATTENDED THIS YEAR'S ANNUAL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' CONFERENCE IN AUGUST AND THE FALL CONFERENCE ON NOVEMBER 18. I HAVE CONSISTENTLY VOTED FOR THE ASSOCIATION TO MAKE DEALING WITH THE CRISIS A TOP PRIORITY. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS ALLOCATED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO PENNSYLVANIA, BUT FINANCES IS JUST ONE PART OF THE SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM .