Ford City Begins Early Intervention Program
Three Ford City Borough Council members - seen during the special meeting in December - received a $62,230 grant for the Early Intervention Program toward development of a five-year financial management plan. That process with Civic Research Alliance of Mechanicsburg began earlier this week.
by Jonathan Weaver
A trio of Ford City Borough elected officials began meeting with an analysis and strategic planning firm earlier this week to save itself from more financial hardship.
Borough Council President Kathy Bartuccio, Vice-President Jerry Miklos and Councilman Gene Banks – all part of the Economic Development committee (with Bartuccio as alternate) met for two-and-a-half hours Monday with Civic Research Alliance’s Dr. Kerry Moyer and Demographics Expert Teran Moyer to begin discussing the municipality’s involvement in the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Early Intervention Program.
In December, Council President Bartuccio received a letter from DCED Secretary C. Alan Walker announced that Ford City Borough received a $62,230 grant for the Early Intervention Program toward development of a five-year financial management plan.
Later that month, council members agreed to an agreement with Civic Research Alliance and shifted money in the 2015 budget to accommodate grant funds and the $7,000 local match needed.
“This is a terrific resource for us and will help us in our decision-making as we try to move the Borough forward,” Miklos said. “It was a great starting point. We’re very enthusiastic about these people working with us.”
While he was contractually not able to discuss details regarding the plan for Ford City Borough, Dr. Moyer – founder of the Mechanicsburg (Cumberland County) company seven years ago - said he did think Ford City Borough was committed to the process, and said most of the municipalities or agencies his company worked with have been successful overcoming obstacles.
“They have, because the people who call us or apply to DCED are the people who care or want thing to be better,” Dr. Moyer said. “It’s almost assured when you go in.”
Dr. Moyer and his more-than-a-dozen associates have worked with municipalities, local agencies and nonprofits across the state, such as strategic planning in the City of Jeannette (Westmoreland County), in the Bloomsburg and Central Columbia School Districts and United Way and Ronald McDonald Charities.
Banks said Civic Research Alliance also helped with Wilkinsburg Borough – where his cousin is Mayor.
“They’re going to fine-tune our Borough for us,” Banks said.
Dr. Moyer said finances are an important aspect many municipalities worry about.
“Every municipality has to worry about it,” Dr. Moyer said. “Financials are always important, but not always the number one issue.”
Borough Manager Eden Ratliff was also at the kick-off meeting with DCED Account Manager Michael Foreman
“I believe that (Civic Research Alliance) is an excellent fit for the borough and they are really going to be able to help us in the five year financial management plan, along with other aspects of borough government,” Ratliff said.
Ratliff said Civic Research Alliance team members – including a demographer, two Certified Public Accountants and a former borough manager that performs an administrative review - are expected to visit the municipality on-site and work with different employees from all sectors of the municipality.
“The Civic Research Alliance will analyze all government services provided by Ford City Borough,” Ratliff said. “I’m hoping this program brings very good things to Ford City Borough.”
Ratliff will also discuss the meeting at Monday evening’s regular council meeting in the Ford City Public Library.
There are currently about 20 municipalities statewide – including the Cities of Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Johnstown and Altoona – that utilize a state overseeing consultant to handle contracts and financial upkeep.
The Early Intervention Program is to last about a year.
Council members voted after an August town hall meeting to send out requests for proposals to consulting firms for the Early Intervention Program to prevent Act 47 –the Municipal Financial Recovery Act which assists distressed communities after they meet one of about a dozen criteria including expenses exceeding revenues for three years, defaulting on loans or failing to meet their annual Minimum Municipal Obligation.
Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs Senior Director of Education and Sustainability E.J. Knittel first discussed the idea with council members during an April work session that revolved around hiring a borough manager – currently a position filled by Ratliff.
