RIDGWAY – The North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and
Development Commission’s Executive Board on Wednesday refused to
accept the resignation of board member and Cameron County
Commissioner Tony Moscato.

Moscato submitted his letter of resignation, effective July
5.

“At this stage of the game, I don’t think it’s appropriate,”
McKean County Commissioner John Egbert said. “If Tony gets into the
final cut, then I think it’s there. I think it’s premature.”

Moscato has applied for the position of executive director with
North Central, which was vacated when former director Ron Kuleck
resigned last December after being placed on administrative leave
on Nov. 28, 2005. There was never an official word given on exactly
why Kuleck was placed on administrative leave.

Until a replacement is found, the director’s role is being
filled by deputy directors Howard Glessner, Mike Lawrence and Don
Masisak.

As it stands, the search for a new director has yielded close to
60 applicants, officials with J.L. Nick Associates Inc. of Erie,
said. J.L. Nick is the firm hired to help in the search
process.

Following the meeting, Moscato said it was no secret that he
will not be seeking re-election in Cameron County.

“I am ready to leave public service,” he said. “I thought it
would be a good way to continue to help people.”

Moscato’s term as Cameron County commissioner will expire Dec.
31, 2007. If chosen as the executive director, he will step down
from the position.

In other news, ITEC received a stay when the board unanimously
voted to approve renting out three rooms for Clearfield County
Career and Technology Center to start a practical nursing
program.

Lawrence, of the workforce development board, said that 30
people have already signed up for the program.

The Clearfield center has submitted a proposal for approval to
the state Board of Nursing and has also approved more than $29,869
in matching cash funds for the purchase of equipment for the
project.

“If we do this, we are committing ourselves to this building for
at least another six months,” Egbert said. “Keeping it operational.
You just have to understand what you are doing. We can’t sign a
lease and then kick the students out on the street without finding
them someplace else to go.” ð

Also, loans were approved for six businesses: Cutting Edge
Machining Solutions of Clearfield County; Elk County Tool & Die
Inc. of Elk County; Sintergy Inc. of Jefferson County; Pennsylvania
Powdered Metals Inc. of Elk County; Wagner Tarps Inc. of Jefferson
County; and BR-1 Holdings Inc., d/b/a Lumberjack Restaurant of Elk
County.

Meanwhile, Egbert questioned the health of the powdered metal
industry in the face of mounting competition from China. At least
one loan a month is made to the powdered metal industry, he
said.

Following an executive called for “personnel matters” the board
unanimously voted to give the employees of North Central a three
percent cost of living increase, effective July 1. The staff did
not receive a raise last year.

The next meeting of the North Central Regional Planning and
Development Commission Executive Committee is slated for 9:30 a.m.
July 26 at the ITEC building. A full board meeting will follow at
11 a.m.