Commissioners’ Town Meeting Schedule Kicks Off In Austin

Potter County Commissioners Doug Morley, Susan Kefover and Paul Heimel held the first in a series of six “town meetings” Wednesday night in Austin. Topics ranged from federal and state grant programs that can help boroughs and townships, to new opportunities for community-based economic development and issues related to Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling. Next meeting will be at Northern Potter High School in Ulysses on Thursday. Remaining schedule is as follows (all meetings at 7 pm):

• Thursday, Nov. 4, Northern Potter High School.
• Monday, Nov. 8, Roulette Firehall.
• Wednesday, Nov. 10, Galeton Area School.
• Monday, Nov. 15, Oswayo Valley High School.
• Tuesday, Nov. 16, Coudersport Area Elementary School.

“It’s important that we have a clear understanding of the issues our constituents are facing,” said Morley, the board’s chairman. “More specifically, we need to get a better sense of the needs and the priorities of each of our communities. We are in a critical position to interact with regional, state and federal agencies to advocate for local community needs.”

Format of the meetings is informal. Following brief presentations from each of the commissioners, the floor will be open to questions and a roundtable discussion of issues affecting the county and/or local communities. Although the meetings are open to all, the commissioners are especially encouraging attendance by residents of the school district where each meeting is being held.