Girardville fills vacancy on council, tentatively approves 3 mill tax hike
MICQUELYNN KAPUSCHINSKY / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - David Willis, left, is sworn in as a Girardville council member by Mayor Michael Zangari, right, on Nov. 13, 2024.
GIRARDVILLE – Girardville Borough Council moved to fill a vacancy on the board at Wednesday’s meeting, and taxes may be going up next year.
David Willis was appointed to fill the remainder of Mark Rainis’s term. Rainis resigned in October.
Willis was the only applicant to fill the seat.
In other business, council voted to approve the tentative 2025 budget.
Councilwoman Tammy Zangari said the budget has expected revenue of $424,500 and expenses of $402,800.
“We will be having a tax increase,” Zangari said. “They will be going up three mills.”
The increase would bring Girardville’s rate to 25.7 mills.
“Its incredibly expensive just for day-to-day stuff,” Mayor Michael Zangari said. “We went from a landfill that you could pay by the pound to now you’ve got to pay $88 no matter what you take up there. Now we have to rearrange that to send stuff to Tremont so we don’t have to pay the dumping fee, but now we’re sending the truck to Tremont.”
“No one else wants to pay more taxes, including us, but there’s not much of a choice,” he added.
Willis echoed the need for the tax increase.
“If you want to live in a nicer town, you have to pay more taxes,” Willis said. “You can’t do anything with no money.”
In other business, Michael Zangari provided an update on the wind-down of the police department.
He said that the borough is coordinating the State Police and the District Attorney’s office to handle evidence gathered by the department.
“The evidence that needs to stay secured will go to PSP, anything that can be disbursed, people need to contact the barracks in Frackville to claim that,” Michael Zangari said.
He added that he asked Ger Daley, the police department’s administrator, for his resignation, which he received and council approved Wednesday. Daley was hired in April while the police department’s future was in question.
Council voted to suspend the department in May.
Michael Zangari also said the Girard Hose Co. sought to purchase the police department’s radio, which council approved.
Council is also seeking a code officer aide to serve 10 hours a week and working on quality of life violations. Applications are being accepted until Dec. 6 at 3pm.
They are also seeking a new solicitor as Arlen Day is stepping down in the new year.
The Girardville Santa Parade will be held on Nov. 28, Thanksgiving evening.
Council also discussed snow parking restrictions, which will be posted to Facebook in the event of a snowstorm.
Micquelynn Kapuschinsky contributed to this article.
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