Grant Dollars and Governance: LH City Council Discusses Pension Relief, Grant-Funded City Improvements, and More
BY Emily Wright
LOCK HAVEN— Before the regular meeting on Monday night, the Lock Haven City Council held a final public hearing for the 2024 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. City Planner Carter Simcox presented the proposed projects and timeline for applying the city’s CDBG funds, and with $307,115 on the table, the city plans to invest in much-needed infrastructure and recreational improvements. The meeting also addressed the distribution of 2024 pension contributions, with the city having received $381,593.86 in state aid to support its pension obligations. Additionally, City Manager Greg Wilson announced his resignation from the Central Clinton County Water Filtration Authority board, and the council appointed Richard Conklin to take his place.
City Planner Carter Simcox presented the proposed CDBG projects and timeline for the 2024 application, and the city is seeking public input before the council’s final approval.
The proposed 2024 CDBG allocation is $307,115, and the City is considering the following activities for the funds:
– Paving on Spring Street and Stone Alley amounting to $150,000
– Improvements to Hanna Park for $120,000
– Administration costs, which amount to $37,115
The public comment period is open until 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 17, 2024. Questions or comments can be emailed to City Planner Carter Simcox at CSimcox@lockhavenpa.gov.
The next step is for the City Council to approve the CDBG application at its meeting on Monday, October 21, 2024.
In other news, Lock Haven is in a better financial position for this year’s pension contributions thanks to a sizeable contribution from the state. The city received $381,593.86 in state aid to help cover its pension obligations, a significant relief supported by funds collected from a statewide 2% tax on out-of-state insurance companies.
Every September, City Manager Greg Wilson calculates the city’s Minimum Municipal Obligation (MMO). The pensions actuary reviews this amount, which is based on city employees’ anticipated year-end W-2 payroll from the previous year and the amount they are expected to contribute next year.
This year, the city faced challenges due to a police arbitration process that delayed the setting of 2024’s MMO until March 21, 2024— after the city’s budget for 2024 had already been decided. As a result, the city’s contribution to the Police Pension Fund was adjusted to $202,565. The municipal contribution for the City Employees Retirement Fund in 2024 was set at $190,296.
Initially, the city expected to owe $39,891 from its own tax revenue towards these costs. However, the state’s aid reduced that amount to $11,267, easing the financial burden on local taxpayers, even if just slightly. Of the $11,267 toward pensions, $3,648 is for the police pension fund, and $7,619 is for city employees’ retirement fund (AFSCME, non-union, and firefighters).
The city plans to distribute these funds to the appropriate pension accounts during the week of October 7, 2024.
New business the council discussed included the acceptance of City Manager Greg Wilson’s resignation from the Central Clinton County Water Filtration Authority (CCCWFA) board, where he has served since 2018.
With discussions underway about forming a joint municipal water authority, Wilson believes it’s essential for a city council member to directly participate in the CCCWFA meetings, as the current council lacks a voting voice on the board.
“Because of the bulk of discussion that’s taking place about the combination of the municipal water system in Lock Haven with the Central Clinton County Water Filtration Authority and Suburban Water Authority, a lot of that discussion is taking place at the Water Filtration Authority board, on which no member of council currently sits,” Wilson said.
Wilson requested that the City Council appoint a member from its water subcommittee—comprising Tami Brannan, Richard Conklin, and Barb Masorti—to replace him. “I think they would be valuable members for the council to have as voting members on the Filtration Authority,” Wilson said. These members have been actively involved in recent water system negotiations and are well-positioned to contribute to future discussions.
The decision for the next city-appointed board member to the CCCWFA must be finalized by January 2025, replacing the position currently held by resident Wyatt Hall.
Council Member Barbara Masorti motioned to accept Wilson’s resignation, which was seconded by Council Member Tami Brannan and passed unanimously. The council also agreed to appoint a member to the Filtration Authority board. Masorti nominated Council Member Rick Conklin for the position, the council unanimously approved, and Conklin accepted the role.
