Consolidation?

On Wednesday evening, I attended a meeting of the Avella Area Community Association held in the social hall of the Avella Volunteer Fire Department. Among the speakers were representatives of the Washington County Redevelopment Authority and the Center for Local Government Services (an office of the PA Department of Community and Economic Development).

Among the topics of discussion were the procedures for the consolidation or mergers of neighboring townships. The discussion was a very first baby step in what could be consideration of a coming together of Independence Township and Cross Creek Township.

It's good to see the residents of the Avella area having this discussion. It's appropriate from time to time for citizens to question the structure of their governments and ask if the business of the people could be conducted more efficiently -- it's something we definitely need more of at the state level, too.

Two other major items of discussion at the meeting were code enforcement (notably for neglected properties) and policing in the Avella area. (Currently, none of the municipalities in the Avella Area School District have their own police departments and rely solely on the PA State Police for law enforcement.) I don't think it's a stretch to say that these are two areas where the townships could be more effective by working together.

There is a report in today's O-R about the meeting.