SUNBURY — Northumberland County Commissioner Vinny Clausi and a member of U.S. Rep. Chris Carney’s staff clashed Tuesday over a $1 million federal grant the county rebuffed last year.
During a public board meeting, Clausi, a Democrat, railed about the lack of financial assistance from federal lawmakers concerning a proposed $5 million Public Safety Building project and $6 million in emergency radio upgrades.
“We can’t raise taxes. Taxpayers cannot afford this,” Clausi said. “We need legislators and the people in Washington, D.C., to help. (If) we can’t get nothing now (from Democratic leaders), what’s going to happen when these people are voted out?”
Referring to Carney’s vow to bring in money for the building project, Clausi added, “There are too many promises and nothing is delivered.”
After sitting through the 30-minute meeting, Carney’s district director, Paul Macknosky, rose from his seat and called the commissioner out.
First, he explained, nearly all federal grants require a local match and Carney never promised to provide the full $5 million for the project.
Macknosky said the congressman was able to deliver $1 million, but the grant wasn’t accepted by the county board because it could not come up with matching funds.
“We worked very hard to get that $1 million and you turned it down,” he said. “There are limitations and it’s important for you to seek other funding avenues.”
Commissioner Kurt Masser, a Republican, said the funds were turned away because it covered only “bricks and mortar” and no money for the more critically needed towers.
Meanwhile, like many communities throughout the commonwealth, the county has until 2013 to upgrade the low-band radio system.
“This is a matter of public safety and has to be addressed,” Masser said.
Safety issues also exist for the agency in the building where emergency services are presently located, at 911 Greenough St., public safety director Paul Froutz said.
The county pays $54,000 a year to rent the second-story of the building and it’s still inadequate for the county’s needs, Froutz said.
In addition to housing other services, including the CSIU and an Internet service, the portion of the building rented by the county does not have adequate security or a fire alarm system.
“It’s an extreme concern,” Froutz said.
Board chairman Frank Sawicki said the commissioners are aware of the problems and are considering other ways to come up with the money, including refinancing bonds on existing debt.
-- E-mail comments to mmoore@dailyitem.com
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