First Posted: 3/13/2015
FACTORYVILLE — In his monthly report, Mayor Gary Evans thanked the late Tom Davis for his service as vice president of council at the Factoryville Borough Council meeting March 11.
“He put his heart and soul and everything into the community,” said Evans.
Davis died on March 4 at the age of 82.
“He (Davis) gave without anyone knowing. I’m going to miss him,” said council president Charles Wrobel. “We got to make a vow to carry through his big dreams of downtown, fire department, the roads and everything else he wanted the community kept solid for now and future generations. We’ll do it in his spirit.”
Evans mentioned that the board needs someone to handle council’s finances, which Davis did when he was vice president. Borough manager Mary Ellen Buckbee suggested that councilwoman Genevieve Evans review bank statements, adding that Evans reviewed bank statements whenever Davis was absent. Buckbee also asked Wrobel if he wants to stay in the financial committee. The board voted to approve Wrobel and Evans to both serve in the financial committee.
Also, Wrobel asked for a nomination for a new vice president and the board voted to approve councilman Bill Edwards as vice president. Buckbee then suggested to nominate someone to replace Davis as sewer board member and the board voted to approve Daniel Engler for the position.
Evans swore in junior councilman David Truitt to become councilman.
“It’s a big set to fill, big shoes to fill,” Wrobel said to Truitt.
In other business, Buckbee, in her manager’s report, mentioned the planning commission recommended a zoning revision be advertised by Factoryville Borough Council but passed at a later meeting.
Buckbee mentioned the revision will allow electric signs to be allowed in the village district as well as the highway commercial district. She also said the revision prohibited animation on signs at first but changed when Tom Schofield (firefighter/EMT of the Factoryville Fire Co.) called PennDOT. She said that PennDOT told Schofield that is OK with the highway having animation.
“The planning commission would like to delete prohibition of animation now that PennDOT’s OK with it,” said Buckbee.
Buckbee suggested to add the revision to the ordinance and the board voted to advertise the motion.