CLARION, Pa. (EYT) — Clarion Borough will be recovering money lost when former borough secretary/police chief Mark Hall allegedly made unauthorized payments to himself.

After a 40-plus-minute executive session, a motion was made by councilman Ben Aaron to approve the settlement in the amount of $20,751.20.

According to borough solicitor John Marshall, the amount will be paid to the borough by Travelers Insurance Company.

Hall was fired in the fall. In February, Clarion County District Attorney Mark Aaron forwarded a request for a possible investigation of Hall to Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro.

BOROUGH BUYING TRUCK

Council approved the purchase of a 2017 F-550 Chassis, SD Regular Cab truck from Murray’s Ford Lincoln in DuBois, Pa., in the amount of $35,589.00, which is CoStars Pricing. In addition, a Stainless Steel Body for the truck will be purchased from U.S. Municipal in Huntingdon, Pa., in the amount of $25,513.00, which is also the CoStars Pricing. The steel body is for the back of the truck allowing it to do the needed uses of the borough.

Once the purchases were approved, council gave permission to Todd Colosimo to request financing in the amount of $59,102.00 for the purchases.

APRIL 21 PROCLAIMED TO BE POWERTALK 21 DAY

Borough mayor Daniel Parker presented a proclamation to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) declaring April 21 as PowerTalk 21 Day in Clarion.

PowerTalk 21 is the “national day for parents to being international, ongoing and possibly lifesaving conversations about alcohol with their kids.”

AGREEMENT WITH LITTLE LEAGUE RENEWED

The borough approved a continuation of an agreement with the Clarion Little League for the use of Paul A. Weaver Park for another five years. The previous agreement expired last spring. Under the agreement, Little League pays the borough $2,750.00 for use of the fields. The borough agrees to maintain certain things like the restrooms, etc., during the season while Little League also agrees to do some maintenance.

BOROUGH BELIEVES IT MAY BE OWED MONEY FROM CUP TV AGREEMENT

After receiving a letter from Apogee Telecom, Inc., who took over for Campus Televideo, Inc., concerning the franchise agreement for PEG Channel use, attorney Dan Cohen, who represents Clarion Borough in matters concerning the PEG, believes that the company owes the borough up to $9,000.00 in past fees.

Council has instructed Cohen, at a cost of $225.00 an hour, to look into the matter. Cohen believes it won’t take him more 10 hours to resolve the matter.

OTHER BUSINESS

• It was announced that May 20 will be Clean Up Day in the borough. More information will be released soon.
• A pair of street closings for special events were approved. Permission was given to First Baptist Church for a street to be blocked from Main Street to Madison Road for Fun Fest being held May 20. Also, permission was given to Clarion Christian Preschool for the closure of Weaver Place for a Trike-a-Thon Fundraiser for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital being held April 28. The borough will close the streets.
• A resolution adopting the county’s Debris Management Plan was approved. The plan, submitted to the FEMA by the Clarion County Office of Emergency Services, involves how debris management actions after disasters occur to reduce the potential harm to people and property and save taxpayer dollars.
• Council approved an amendment to the pool agreement to clarify payment for lifeguard wages at the borough pool. The borough pays the YMCA which then pays the lifeguards. According to Parks and Recreation Chairwoman Rachel Roberts, there may be money left over from previous payments.
• Council gave permission to Colosimo to drawdown CDBG Funds to reimburse the general fund in the amount of $400.50 for Colosimo’s conference expenses and for $150.00 for a conference registration fee.
• Borough Secretary Linda LaVan was appointed to serve as the borough’s voting delegate during the PASB Annual Conference
• A pair of money transfers within the budget were made. An amount of $11,992.00 was transferred from the General Fund-Public Safety Budget line item 410.140.GF to General Fund-Administration Budget line item 400.130 GG. Also, an amount of $5,885.49 was transferred from General Fund-Public Safety Budget line item 410.156.GF to General Fund-Parking Meter Budget line item 413.156.GF (Meter Enforcement Officer Coverage). In addition, $126,238.48, which is interest from a CD, will be transferred into the Capital Project Fund.
• Library committee chairman Jason Noto reiterated that something will need to be done in the near future with the restrooms at the library as well as the front doors, which are rotting. He believes the drainage issues experienced in the fall have been rectified.