State wonders whether aid will be used

POTTSTOWN - About seven months after being awarded a state grant to analyze borough operations and finances with an eye toward making them more efficient, the state is asking whether the borough intends to act on it.
"We've committed money to your organization and we have people breathing down our necks who would like the same opportunity," Marita J. Kelley, local government policy specialist with the governor's center for local government services, told the Borough Council.Adopted by the previous Borough Council from which four members remain, and awarded by the state in January, the offer seems to have fallen between the cracks at borough hall, judging by Kelley's request."Our supervisor wants to know if you're serious about your commitment," she said. "Normally, we don't issue grants and then see little execution."Borough Council President David Garner's explanation for why the borough had not yet acted was fairly straightforward."Before last Wednesday, I didn't know anything about this," he said.What Kelley was talking about is a program of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development that provides a financial five-year forecast to Borough Council following an extensive examination of the borough's finances and the operation or each department.Called the Early Intervention Program Five-Year Financial Plan, the cost of the service is $65,000; however, the state will cover 50 percent of the cost.Pottstown Finance Director Robert Armelin called the program "a good idea," adding as a cautionary note, "it's time and money at this point. It's not in the budget."Moments later, Armelin offered an assessment about that budget - $45.8 million for 2008 - and predicted the year would end with the borough $200,000 in the red.Council Vice President Greg Berry, who also chairs council's finance committee, said he considered having Kelley make a presentation to his committee, but decided he didn't want to waste any more time in implementing the program."After all, it's already been approved by council," he said.Kelley told council that in addition to financially strapped municipalities like Norristown, Reading and Coatesville making use of the program, those with few financial problems, like Muhlenberg and Lancaster, had also found it "very effective."Berry said the information contained in the report produced by the program "has so many different opportunities available to improve efficiency and productivity. On the management side, the information is comprehensive and on the financial side, it's invaluable."Added Berry, "In light of our current financial concerns, I think it's imperative that we move forward with this.""It seems like a pro-active message," said Mayor Sharon Valentine-Thomas. "It seems to make sense.""I thought it was a great idea nine months ago and I still do," said Councilman Stephen Toroney.He added, "But we have to get out of this mindset of applying for grants and then not using them. We were fortunate the (Department of Environmental Protection) was still able to give us that $340,000 recycling grant."Kelley, herself a former borough manager in Marysville, Perry County, said although there had been a delay in moving forward, the timing could work well for Pottstown. Because the borough would be in the process of putting together its 2009 budget, lots of pertinent information could be gathered for use in 2010."It would help with future budget preparations and when you need to make those decisions, you would have excellent information," she said.Although there was brief discussion about voting to move forward with the program at Monday night's meeting, council finally decided to put off a decision until the August meeting."If you can be patient with us, we'll have an answer for you in August," Garner said.

Pottstown Mercury - 07/15/08 - http://www.pottstownmercury.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19851347&BRD=1674&PAG=461&dept_id=18041&rfi=6