We have more details surrounding the City of DuBois and Sandy Township who were planning to merge in a referendum approved by Voters two years ago. A lot has happened since then, including a Lawsuit to pause the process amidst the criminal investigation of former DuBois City Manager Herm Suplizio. We talked with Officials from both sides about where they stand now.
Members from the DuBois City Council and Sandy Township’s Board of Supervisors say they plan to meet later in the month to discuss moving forward with the consolidation. Sandy Township says they will vote on this decision when they were to meet Monday night. Representatives from Sandy Township filed a Petition in the Court of Common Pleas to seek a pause in the consolidation process back in June. This due to the criminal charges filed against former DuBois City Manager Herm Suplizio who is alleged to have stolen more than $600,000 from the City. Suplizio was officially fired at the first Council Meeting this year which featured two new Council Members and new Mayor Pat Reasinger. Reasinger talks about what’s next in this consolidation process.
Mayor Pat Reasinger, DuBois City Council President saying: “We plan on meeting tentatively with the ten of us, their five Supervisors, our Councilmen and then both City Managers and really it’s just a basic sit down talk and say where do we want this to go and what do we want to do with it.”
In the Lawsuit, Officials from Sandy Township stated that “The Township will suffer substantial financial losses and harm.” Sandy Township Manager Shawn Arbaugh talks about where they stand now that Suplizio is out of the picture and the new Council has been sworn in. Arbaugh saying: “It does make us have a new level of comfort with the situation, they are very open with information, I meet with the Interim City Manager weekly and learn about different things going on so yes it’s been a lot more transparent and open process.”
He says that between August and September they had about 1,200 Residents sign a petition asking them to halt consolidation. He talks about how this decision comes down to the public. Arbaugh adding: “We want to hear if they support consolidation, if they’re against it, find out why and just really inform the Public what we have going on with consolidation.”
At that meeting Monday night, the Sandy Township Board of Supervisors voted 4 to 1 to move forward with consolidating with the City of DuBois.
