While Cameron County officials wrestle with how to combine its
municipalities into one under a Home Rule charter, residents are
worried about representation and whether they would have a voice
under a new unified government.

In the second of a series of press releases concerning the
consolidation, the underlying theme facing municipal officials
remains how each county resident would fit into a new government,
which would ultimately be run by multiple individuals instead of a
three-member commissioner board and township supervisors.

Nothing can be done, however, without the backing of the
residents, who will likely vote on the measure in the next primary
election. Officials said the earliest a new form of government
would be operational would be 2010.

“In reality, the new government, should we get there, would have
better representation,” Cameron County Commissioner Pat Rodgers
said Wednesday. “The federal government requires one person, one
vote. I don’t believe people will lose their personal
representation. In fact, they would fare better because somebody
would be representing the municipality in which they live.”

Pennsylvania law allows municipalities and counties to “break
away” from their respective state code in order to adopt a form of
government unique to local needs, hence a Home Rule charter.

That, however, can only be done with the blessing of the voters
– as of March 2003, six counties and 65 municipalities statewide
were under a Home Rule form of government, according to Don Tanner
of the Cameron County Extension Office.

Cameron County is unique, though. To reach Home Rule status, a
proposal would need to combine all the existing governments into
one. Secondly, both municipal and county governments would be
melded together – something never done before in Pennsylvania.

“We don’t know if this would be the fix all, but we certainly
have to move forward to get out from underneath the restrictive
form of government we are in now,” Rodgers said.

The problem lies in representation – especially in the southern
portion of the county which is the sparsest, including Grove and
Gibson townships and Driftwood Borough. Those three areas would
likely form the largest districts.

“Right now, all three commissioners are within two miles of the
courthouse (in Emporium),” Rodgers said. “Other than the
supervisors from other townships contacting us or working with us,
there is very little representation. Under a new government, there
would still be seven districts, but it would be better divided as
far as trying to get a better population balance.”

According to Tanner, with 5,974 residents in 2000, the county
has a small population when compared to its number of governments.
The population is essentially centered in two municipalities –
accounting for 84 percent of the population. Each of the five
remaining municipalities has less than 250 residents, with two
having less than 130 residents.

Officials said despite the low numbers, the smaller
municipalities are required by state law to provide the same range
of services as their larger counterparts. In addition, finding
people to run for elected positions can also prove difficult
because of the sparse population.

Rodgers said the number of individuals that would oversee the
new government has not been decided on yet.

“The population in this new government will still be smaller
than more than 500 Pennsylvania municipalities,” Tanner said.

For his part, Rodgers said a consolidation of the governments
would afford more “buying power” with Harrisburg.

“The (state) Department of Community and Economic Development
has already stated that when they receive a (proposed municipal)
project in Harrisburg, they take a more serious look at something
that will benefit a larger portion of the population.”

Rodgers said it would likely be 2010 before the new government
is established, in part, because of the period of time it would
take to transition from one form of rule to another.

Anyone looking for more information regarding the possible
consolidation of governments is asked to contact Tanner at the
extension office. All questions will be responded to individually.
A Web site that will post all questions and answers is currently
being designed. The site will also provide unbiased information
about the effort.

A series of public meetings on the subject is also planned.