Good morning, Clyde. Finished with your Christmas shopping? "Pretty much, Mr. Editor,'' my jogging friend said the other day, sipping his coffee.

"I see where city council gave the mayor a little present, also.'' If you mean the budget, Clyde, I wouldn't call it a gift. Lump of coal might be more appropriate.

"You probably are right. But I still have to chuckle that this really happened. I mean, a Republican mayor with a Republican majority on council can't even get his budget approved.

"Takes me back to the days when we had a Democratic mayor, Janice Stork, who continually fought with a Republican council, and who rarely got her way on much of anything.'' You know it can be looked at a different way, Clyde.

"Yes, and in a sense, it really was city council's finest hour. It's rare to see all seven members agree on anything, especially something as contentious as the budget. They really should be saluted.'' What about the big stink over transferring the $819,000 from neighborhood policing into the general fund, Clyde? "Didn't really bother me, Mr. Editor. The program will continue. There's no funding disaster. Some say council stole the money and that it will be a one-year fix, which is true in a sense. But there still will be a surplus in the fund at the end of 2004 like about $1.8 million.'' Where did all this money come from, Clyde? "Carol Roland, the chief architect of the budget, said that when the program began in 1999, the city set aside almost a mill of tax (actually .96) to pay the cops. But at first the city had trouble filling the slots because of recruiting problems. So excess funds built up, and some of that money remains there.'' So we will see more neighborhood policing, Clyde? "Absolutely, Mr. Editor. As folks like to say, the city is training the police to be more proactive rather than reactive.'' And finally, Clyde, where did that $819,000 figure come from? "That's how much was needed to balance the budget after other cuts were made.'' What else is going on, Clyde? "See where the city got some bids for the old police station. Seems to justify council's action back in October.'' How's that, Clyde? "Well, Patrick Egan offered the city $500,000 for the building, but that offer was rejected in a 4-3 vote.

"Some feared that council blew it, saying that nobody would offer more.

"Well, the bids came in and not only did IBS Development Co. of Harrisburg offer $550,000, but Egan came back with another $500,000 bid.'' You seem pleased, Clyde.

"Yes, Mr. Editor. In all fairness, the whole thing should have gone out for bids in the first place.

"Now, depending on the mayor's recommendation, and thoughts by members of council, Egan could end up being the buyer.

"But at least others would have had a shot at it.'' What about the $1 bid by Art Larsen? "He wants to locate Alex Shear's collection of Americana there and pay for it by charging admission which would be split with the city. I wouldn't pay to get into it, Mr. Editor.

"It will be interesting to see what the folks who submitted bids want to do with the building. Will it be a tourist attraction, or a building that will house downtown workers? "Maybe the city's decision will be a New Year's present, Mr. Editor.''




David M. Hennigan is editor of the Sunday News. He can be reached by e-mail at dhennigan+alnpnews.com or by phone at 291-8686. blog comments powered by Disqus