Courting consolidation | Municipal leaders willing to talk merger

The Tribune-Democrat

August 19, 2008 10:06 am

— We wholeheartedly endorse plans by officials in Central City Borough and Shade Township to study the feasibility of merging the local governments.
We encourage residents to allow the process to unfold, for the pros and cons to be debated and then to make an educated decision on their support based on what is best for the future of the municipalities and their residents.
On the surface, at least, the idea makes so much sense. Already, the two share the same school district – Shade-Central City – and municipal services.
“Our guys want to talk about merger,” said Central City council president Dan Dabbs. “I don’t know how it’s going to work out.”
Added Shade supervisor chairman John Topka, there has been “nothing formal. We basically told them to talk to their solicitor.”
If talks progress and it is agreed that a merger would benefit both sides, residents could vote on the issue as early as next spring.
“By statute, it can be done and would have to be on the ballot,” according to Central City solicitor C. Gregory Frantz.
That’s what makes the process a good one. After all the data are weighed, every voter in each municipality gets a say as to whether it flies.
If talks progress, Dabbs said the borough could turn to Harrisburg for advice.
“We have to have somebody who has knowledge on mergers who can give us the pros and cons if it would happen,” he said.
No problem. Help is readily available free of charge.
Rendell administration cabinet members and area legislators have continually stressed that although they support municipal and school district mergers, they do not see their roles to push such. But, rather, they can furnish expertise and financial aid needed to help municipalities and schools – and their residents – study the proposal and make a decision.
Mergers and consolidations are controversial. Not everyone in Central City or Shade Township will welcome talks. That’s a given.
But we hope everyone will at least listen to what is being said. And we congratulate the leaders of these two municipalities for their willingness to discuss whether a merger plan should move forward.