Council downsizes personnel in attempt to save money

Council is considering applying for Act 47, to have the city declared financially distressed.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR PENNSYLVANIA BUREAU
SHARON, Pa. -- City council eliminated two jobs and made numerous other personnel shifts, but it may not be enough to save the city from being declared financially distressed.
Council members passed the 7.6 million 2007 spending plan at a special meeting Thursday afternoon.
The layoffs will include one firefighter and a laborer at the waste treatment plant.
Among the other changes are the reduction of police clerks from four full-time positions and one part-timer to two full-time clerks and two part-time clerks. There were some internal shifts in the police department and change of rank for officers.
The mayor's secretary also will be doing work as a bookkeeper for the city finance director under the new plan.
Despite those changes, Councilman Darrin Flower made a motion that the city ask the state to determine if Sharon is financially distressed under Act 47.
Councilman Victor Heutsche seconded the motion, but both men withdrew their motions after city Solicitor Thomas Madden explained that if the state determines the city is financially distressed, there is no way out of the program.
Another idea
Heutsche then suggested a meeting with a state official from the Department of Community and Economic Development and city auditors to get a better handle on city finances.
"With all this confusion about where we are, I think we should let the dust settle and find out where we finished the year," Heutsche said.
There was some concern the city would not be able to meet about 200,000 in year-end bills for 2006. It's still unclear if there is enough money to pay those bills, council members say.
Mayor Bob Lucas said he eventually would like to see the police and fire departments restored to their 2006 complements. The mayor said he intends to release a state of the city address next week addressing those issues.
Council President Fred Hoffman said no one took eliminating jobs lightly and he noted there are avenues to bring those jobs back if city finances change.
Councilwoman Jennifer Barborak voted against the layoffs and changes in police and fire departments because she did not agree with the furloughs.
cioffi@vindy.com