Council aims to attract business

SHARPSVILLE, Pa. -- Borough council members are taking steps to make this community as business-friendly as possible.
At its meeting Wednesday, council authorized a survey by its business relations and development committee to determine what local business people think council could do to improve the borough's business climate.
That committee requested a meeting with school board members and the Mercer County commissioners over possible tax abatements in the borough's commercial and industrial districts to attract new businesses and encourage existing ones to expand.
Personnel change
Council accepted the resignation of Rosette C. Fisher, assistant building code officer. Borough manager Michael Wilson said she left because a promotion she received in her job with the City of Sharon meant she no longer had time to perform the Sharpsville job.
To do the same work as Fisher, council approved an agreement with Waltz Consultants of Sharpsville. Fees will vary according to the types of inspections to be performed.
In other action, council:
UAuthorized advertising for bids for a new fire department ladder truck estimated to cost about $450,000.
UReferred to its finance committee for review and recommendation the sole bid of $103,900 it received from Walsh Equipment of Butler for a new street sweeper. Some $15,100 would be deducted from that for trade-in of the borough's old sweeper.
UPassed a resolution honoring Atty. William Joyce, borough solicitor for more than 38 years, who died recently.
ULearned that Memorial Day ceremonies will be at 9 a.m. May 27 at the Veteran's Park monument near Sharpsville Plaza.
U Received a certificate from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection saying the borough met or exceeded all testing and monitoring requirements for its water supply last year.