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Extension granted for pilot study | News, Sports, Jobs leaderherald.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from leaderherald.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
manich@leaderherald.com New Johnstown 3rd Ward Councilwoman Amy Praught, center, is sworn in by Johnstown Mayor Vern Jackson, right, at the council's organizational meeting in January 2020 at City Hall. At left is her husband, John Praught. (The Leader-Herald/Michael Anich) JOHNSTOWN — Republican 3rd Ward Councilwoman Amy Praught said Monday night she is seeking the highest office in the city. “I am going to run for mayor for 2022,” Praught stated. Praught made the announcement at the Common Council business meeting Monday night at City Hall. “We wish you all the best,” said fellow 4th Ward Councilman Max Spritzer. Praught is currently the only Republican Party member running for mayor. Current Mayor Vern Jackson, also a Republican, previously announced he is not seeking a new four-year term.
manich@leaderherald.com JOHNSTOWN — The Common Council is poised to adopt a state-mandated Police Reform Plan at its monthly business meeting at 6 p.m. Monday at City Hall. The plan — required by the state by April 1 — has been worked on for several months by the Johnstown Police Department, Chief David Gilbo and his officers. Mayor Vern Jackson said Friday the plan, taking a critical look at how the local police force is run and can be changed, meets the standards required by the state. “I think he did an excellent job,” Jackson said of Gilbo. The council will hold a public hearing on the plan prior to adoption.
Water board lashes back | News, Sports, Jobs leaderherald.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from leaderherald.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
manich@leaderherald.com JOHNSTOWN — A city councilman recently questioned some of the actions of the Johnstown Water Board regarding finances and personnel. First Ward Councilman Bradley Hayner made his remarks during liaison reports given at the Common Council’s monthly meeting at City Hall. Hayner, council liaison to the Water Board, noted the board met Feb. 8 and made purchases, But he also questioned the board’s $13,175 fee to pay attorney Bryan Goldberger, who has filed a legal petition against city officials. Goldberger filed a complaint on behalf of the Water Board, which alleges Mayor Vern Jackson and City Treasurer Michael Gifford have violated the City Charter in dealing with Water Department issues.
manich@leaderherald.com JOHNSTOWN — City government says it intends to crackdown on truckers loitering inside or near the outside of the Johnstown Industrial Park. Mayor Vern Jackson said the issue of public safety and littering has become so bad he will be instructing the city Police Department to crack down further and issue more tickets. There will also be more signage to catch the attention of violators. The industrial park trucks issue was the subject of discussion at two recent Common Council meetings on Feb. 15 and 18. Jackson said the city has received ongoing complaints from the public about “truck traffic” lining into the Johnstown Industrial Park. Many of the trucks are waiting to get into the massive Walmart Regional Distribution Facility, which has no truck staging area.
manich@leaderherald.com JOHNSTOWN — The city has to relocate a water main or mains as part of the state’s next safety project on Route 30A. The Common Council on Feb. 15 at City Hall passed a resolution to authorize the relocation in conjunction with the second phase of the state Department of Transportation’s Routes 30A/29 project. DOT is proposing reconstruction of Route 30A toward the south — a second phase. A similar widening project was done by DOT in 2019 from Townsend Avenue, south to Briggs Street. The new project will stretch from Briggs Street to the Prindle Avenue area. City officials said the state will include as part of the construction, reconstruction or improvement of the project the relocation and adjustment to water mains. Changes are being made pursuant to state Highway Law.
manich@leaderherald.com JOHNSTOWN — The Common Council in special session Thursday night approved two Payment In Lieu of Taxes agreements with the new managers of the Trackside Homes I and Trackside Homes II housing complexes. Action followed a presentation Monday night during the council’s regular meeting at City Hall by Lewis Brown of the Vesta Corp., which is taking over ownership of the Trackside units. The council had to wait until Thursday to approve the PILOTs because resolutions hadn’t been drawn up Monday night. The council Thursday night first approved the agreement for Trackside I. The resolution indicated that Vesta Trackside LLC will “develop, own, rehabilitate and operate” the low-income complex. The 20-year PILOT is in the amount of $39,000 increasing by 2 percent annually payable to the city on or before March 1 of each year. Trackside I has 96 one-bedroom units; while Trackside II has 21 one-bedroom units and 89 two-bedroom units.
Public hearing set for reform plan | News, Sports, Jobs leaderherald.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from leaderherald.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
manich@leaderherald.com JOHNSTOWN — The Johnstown Senior Citizens Center will be hosting a COVID-19 vaccination program in the future, the Common Council learned Monday night. Information about the COVID shots were included in the center’s report as part of the council meeting at City Hall. Center Executive Director Diedrie Roemer reported that Palmer’s Pharmacy in Johnstown is planning to conduct a COVID-19 Vaccination Program at the senior center “when the vaccine becomes available to them.” “I know that many of our members are anxious to get the COVID-19 vaccine and find it difficult to navigate the system for an appointment,” she said.