MONT ALTO – During a 90-minute meeting on Monday, July 7, Mont Alto’s Borough Council discussed right-of-way protections and procedures, ongoing water restrictions and potential solutions, the upcoming “Fall Jubilee” in September and continued monitoring of the planned Penn State Mont Alto campus closure.
Right-of-way maintenance was the subject that started a conversation on the proper procedures to provide adequate line-of-sight for motorists at Mont Alto intersections while respecting the property rights of homeowners.
City Attorney Justin George said the borough could enact ordinances to require local property owners to trim overgrown vegetation in right-of-way areas, but ultimately, the municipality is responsible for clearing those areas. Street Committee Chair and Councilperson Dave Rock mentioned that when a motorist pulled out of a municipal street onto a state highway, it was the Mont Alto government’s responsibility to maintain safe sight distances. This process usually involved trimming overhanging trees, similar to clearing vegetation that crowded power lines.
In some past instances, the borough notified homeowners of problems, and these residents corrected line-of-sight issues on their own. However, the council debated whether a formal procedure was necessary to notify property owners first or for the borough to simply clear sight hazards as they arose.
Council Vice President Rick Lee inquired about a budget estimate if Mont Alto instituted a formal right-of-way maintenance program. He suggested further study to identify the number of work hours required to implement such a mechanism. Councilperson Rock agreed to work with the maintenance department to help identify more specific guidelines and also to explain the varied setbacks requirements for right-of-way sight lines, which depended on the type of street or road access.
The council also discussed planning for the first-ever Fall Jubilee, scheduled for Sept. 27 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Mont Alto Recreation Area. The event will feature live music from 12-3 p.m., food trucks, art and antique vendors and activities for children. Vendor spaces are still available, and interested parties should contact the borough office at 717-749-5808.
During the mayor’s report, Leisa McCleaf mentioned Mont Alto’s current water restrictions and how to best inform the public about the status and progress for resolving water scarcity issues. Several council members suggested that concerned citizens attend Municipal Authority meetings (the next scheduled meeting is July 14 at 6:30 p.m.) to learn more about efforts to fix the current shortage. Mont Alto has also included information inserts in local utility bills and other notifications on its website.
Referring to the town’s water restrictions, Councilperson and Water/Sewer Committee Chair Greg Smith said the borough continued to wait for a response from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. “We’re at the mercy of DCNR,” Smith said. He mentioned Mercersburg experienced similar dealings with that agency. Mont Alto has reached out to the two local Pennsylvania representatives and its state senator for assistance.
Hauling water into the town isn’t a viable solution, according to Smith. “Can you imagine a convoy of trucks coming into Mont Alto, 24/7, 365 days a year, sticking a hose on a fire hydrant and pumping water in because it has to be drinkable water. Think of the cost of that.” Smith said the simple solution is to get DCNR approval for the proposed drilling of new water sources, but it hasn’t turned out to be a simple process to date.
The council discussed more effective messaging for explaining the importance of conservation measures. Vice President Lee also mentioned the idea of a potential adjustment to the 3,000-gallon minimum with a structural change in how Mont Alto bills for water usage.
Near the conclusion of the meeting, council members and the mayor briefly discussed the latest news concerning the announced closure of the Penn State Mont Alto campus. Each attendee received a “Strategic Performance Review” by Sheila Vieira, who attained a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering and is also a Penn State Mont Alto parent. Her report provided a data-based evaluation of commonwealth campuses using Penn State’s metrics. Vieira’s report was intended for information purposes and wasn’t discussed in detail because the research it highlights is extensive.
In summary, Viera’s report found that the Mont Alto campus ranked higher in key metrics (such as enrollment, academic outcomes, cost efficiency, and community impact) than other schools chosen for continued investment, such as the Beaver and Allegheny campuses. The evaluation recommends that the Mont Alto campus should remain open and offers suggestions to improve campus enrollment.
Also, a petition aimed toward PSU and the Pennsylvania state government was filed on Change.org (change.org/support-penn-state-mont-alto) to garner support for keeping the campus open. To date, it has 3,976 authorized signatures.
The council agreed that Vieira’s research takes exception to Penn State’s reasoning for closing the campus, and they encouraged everyone to read it. They also agreed to be proactive about exploring all options for the campus, including potential plans for the historic Emmanuel Chapel, which may be on borough land. Other considerations include who will own and maintain the property if the campus closes and whether another educational organization, such as Penn Tech, could use the property and keep the educational tradition alive in Mont Alto.
“We shouldn’t sit back and wait,” Councilman Rock said about continuing council efforts to sustain campus viability.
