Merged municipality could be ‘stronger than Hermitage’

By Patrick W. Connelly
Herald Staff Writer

WEST MIDDLESEX, SHENANGO TOWNSHIP April 29, 2008 11:06 pm

— The municipality created through the possible merger of Shenango Township and West Middlesex could one day be financially stronger than Hermitage, two brothers on the borough’s council said.
“There’s no reason that we can’t be better than them,” Councilman Ray Lucich told officials Tuesday at a consolidation meeting.
The two municipalities are working together to find what benefits consolidation could bring. The issue could be voted on by citizens of both communities as soon as November, said consultant Alan Kugler, of PA Futures, Erie.
Council President Robert Lucich said the joint municipality is a must if the township and borough hope to compete economically with the neighboring city.
“Otherwise Hermitage is going to continue to do what they want to do and we’re going to stay where we’re at,” Robert Lucich said.
The sticking point on the issue is the possible tax increase consolidation could pose on township residents, Supervisor Walter “Butch” Gelesky said.
Township property owners pay 8 mills in tax, while those in the borough pay 23. Under a combined government, Gelesky said supervisors would be hard pressed to come up with a figure less than 9.7 mills for township residents.
Kugler disagreed and pointed to a preliminary blended budget of the two municipalities showing a realistic figure around 8.3 mills.
Supervisor Bill Williams, who voted to end merger talks two years ago, said he was pessimistic. “We’re talking about a dead horse ... We’re just wasting our time,” he said.
The creation of “West Middlesex Township” – Kugler’s working title for the single municipality – depends on the approval of local officials and a majority of township and borough voters.
Officials on Tuesday found blending budgets could save about $13,000 in operating one municipality’s offices and garages. More land and buildings could cuts insurance costs, Tammy Garrett, the borough’s secretary, said she learned from an agent.
The volunteer fire departments and sewer authorities of both would continue to operate separately but may eventually want to combine, Kugler said.
“Points of contention” would disappear once the two become one and people may be more open to working as one, Kugler added.
If approved in November, the two communities would become one in 2012 after a transitional period.