BY STACI WILSON

Montrose Borough Council appointed a new tax collector Monday, Jan. 5, to take over the office following the December resignation of the deputy tax collector – who took over the duties following the death of David Colwell last year.

Betsy O’Malley was appointed to the seat by council. In addition to O’Malley, who ran for the office in 2013, one other candidate expressed interest in the position.

The appointment will carry for 2015; and tax collection hours will be maintained at the borough building on Cherry Street.

The position will appear for a two-year term on this year’s municipal ballot in Montrose.

Council expressed their continued concern over the number of vehicles not stopping at stop signs; or for pedestrians in marked crosswalks in the borough, especially at the corner of Lake Avenue and Maple Street.

The borough is looking to place a crosswalk sign to put in the intersection, similar to the one that utilized at the former Endless Mountains Health Systems building on Grow Ave.

Councilman Sean Granahan advocated to have police coverage ramped up during certain hours at that intersection, with police vehicles plainly visible to motorists.

“Until people start getting used to getting stopped and ticketed, they won’t slow down,” Council president Tom LaMont said.

Granahan said the visibility of police in that area should act as a deterrence to drivers not stopping at the intersection or for pedestrians.

The borough is looking into the cost of installing a natural gas generator to supply emergency power to the building.

Street foreman Ken DiPhillips said the natural gas main near the borough property has been installed.
He also suggested converting the heating system in the borough garage from fuel oil to natural gas.
DiPhillips said that although the garage thermostat is set at about 56 degrees, about 330 gallons of fuel oil was used for heating it last month.

LaMont said he believed the furnace in the garage is operating at only about 40-50 efficient.

DiPhillips is looking into various types of natural gas systems for the garage, including a ceiling mounted unit and a ceiling radiant heat system.

Council approved signing onto the MetroAlert system for the police department. MetroAlert, based in Wayne County, is a police server system that provides for records management, resource management and information sharing, among other services.

Cost of the system is $9,218, including the annual subscription price, and was factored into this year’s police budget.

Council upped its mileage rate from 40 cents to the federal rate of 57 cents per mile. Borough employees sometimes utilize their own vehicles to go to trainings, etc. and would be eligible for mileage.

With the discussion of the tax collector appointment, Councilwoman Juleann Skinner questioned the lack of a vacancy board in the borough. Council will look to re-establish a vacancy board.

LaMont said he had heard an allegation that the borough was “getting a cut” of money from Leatherstocking. He said the borough does not receive any money in connection with the natural gas distribution lines being installed in the borough.

A new website is up and running said Councilman Craig Reimel as he invited every one to check out, www.montroseborough.com