ST. MARYS — St. Marys now has a representative on the St. Marys Area Chamber of Commerce Board.
This week, city council unanimously approved having Councilman Andrew Mohney represent the city after some discussion.
The city is a member of the Chamber of Commerce but has not had a representative on the board. Mohney has been serving on the board representing his private business Tablespoons. Mohney offered to instead use his position to represent the city. The difference between the city being a member of the Chamber and having a member on the Chamber board is the board member is permitted to vote.
As a representative of the city, Mohney would need to consider council’s position on an issue rather than his own, solicitor Tom Wagner said.
Councilman Bob Mohr questioned if the issues would still need to be brought before council first. Wagner said he would.
This could cause some confusion if Mohney stepped down, Councilman Ned Jacob said. If he stepped down there is no guarantee the city would ever have another representative on the board, City Manager Tim Pearson said. Chamber board members have to be elected.
“We have a board member who could represent the city. We have a unique opportunity,” Pearson said.
The board approved having Mohney represent the city. Board members Lou Radkowski and Gary Anderson were not present.
Meanwhile, St. Marys City Council supports state House Bill 400, which calls for an increase in the cost of driving violations so additional money can be provided to emergency service organizations.
Pearson said he drafted a letter to Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-Brockway, and state Rep. Matt Gabler, R-DuBois. He said the letter could be attributed to the mayor, the council or they could choose not to send it.
Jacob said he thought Bert Sorg, the manager of the St. Marys Area Ambulance Service, had asked council members previously to contact their representatives rather than have the city send a letter. Councilman Greg Gebauer said he had suggested they send a letter at the meeting Sorg attended and none of the council members objected.
Gebauer said ambulance services do get a reimbursement from Medicaid and Medicare for providing ambulance service, but it is not enough and this would provide additional money for them to operate. Council voted unanimously in favor of sending the letters from the mayor.
