Pennsylvania communities consider merging into one

WEST MIDDLESEX, Pa. — West Middlesex and Shenango Township voters will decide this fall whether they want to merge their communities into West Middlesex Township.

The merger question will be on the ballot in both communities after township supervisors voted 3-2 last month to put it there, and the borough council voted unanimously to do the same.

Now, three public meetings will be set to inform voters what will happen under such a change.

The first one is at 7 p.m. Monday at West Middlesex High school. Consultant Alan Kugler of the Erie company PA Futures will outline what would come to pass, said Shenango supervisors Chairman Robert Palko.

“I hope everyone will come with an open mind,” said Bob Lucich, borough council president.

Palko and Lucich say a big advantage in a merger would be that by combining populations, it will be easier to get state grants.

Kugler said that’s true, not so much because of population increase but because of the status and “tremendous exposure” the new township would have from the merger.

Read more in Sunday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com