Shenandoah council introduces new solicitor
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - Attorney Shane Hobbs speaks during a Shenandoah borough council meeting on Jan. 15, 2023.
SHENANDOAH – Borough council has a new solicitor, and he introduced himself at Monday night’s meeting.
Shane Hobbs, Pottsville, said he is starting to become “acclimated to the issues that are going on.”
“I know there’s a few issues regarding blighted property that I’ve met with Tony [Sajone, borough manager,] and I’ll certainly be following up on that,” Hobbs said. “Otherwise, I look forward to working with everybody, and thank you for having me.”
Hobbs also said he will address an issue that arose Monday in which there were two different agendas, one provided to the public and one used by council.
The issue caused confusion as the agenda provided to the public — using the same format the borough has used for over a decade — was not in the same order as the one council used Monday night.
Hobbs assured the public that the agendas matched, aside from being out-of-order.
In other business, borough council approved an amendment extending interim financing for the new sewer treatment plant.
In 2018, the sewer authority received a $5,474,000 grant and $12,532,000 loan from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service to replace the current plant near William Penn, which was built nearly 50 years ago.
Council also approved the advertising of a 2003 Elgin Pelican street sweeper and a 2010 Freightliner garbage truck for bids, as well as handicapped parking applications for 213 West Coal Street and 419 West Centre Street and the repository sale of 217 East Cherry Street and a vacant lot behind 37 East Coal Street.
Approval of a request by two local women to use a borough-owned lot for a community garden was tabled pending a discussion of liability with the borough solicitor.
Council also appointed Diane Korenda as the borough’s representative on the library board, and approved a can collection on May 25 and 26 by the Shenandoah Area Girls Softball League.
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