Upper Yoder Township approves funds for West Hills comprehensive plan
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Upper Yoder Township is the latest of the five West Hills municipalities to approve paying toward a comprehensive plan that none of them could afford alone.
The municipalities of West Hills region are preparing to spend a combined $37,500 to match a state grant of an equal amount secured with support by the Cambria County Planning Commission. The total $75,000 in funds would be used to hire a consultant who would develop a plan for the municipalities to collaborate on shared goals and services.
Upper Yoder Township Supervisor Sue Konvolinka said the supervisors approved their payment of $12,648, contingent on the agreement of the other municipalities to pay their portion.
Each municipality's share of the $37,500 needed to develop the plan is based on its population.
Upper Yoder Township, Westmont Borough, Lower Yoder Township, Southmont Borough and Brownstown Borough are all participating, though Westmont and Lower Yoder have yet to finalize their commitment to pay for the plan's development.
Five West Hills municipalities moving toward county's first joint comprehensive plan
The five municipalities of the 30-square-mile West Hills region are preparing to spend a combined $37,500 to develop a comprehensive plan for improving the region through the next 10 years.
Konvolinka said she wanted to make it clear that the comprehensive plan was not about consolidation of municipalities.
'This is not about consolidation,' she said. 'It's about collaborating, sharing services and saving taxpayers money.'
The Cambria County Planning Commission is administering the state grant for the plan on behalf of the municipalities. The commission has issued a Request For Proposal to potential consulting firms and expects to select a consultant by mid-May. The selected firm would be given a target of July 2026 for the plan's completion, according to the RFP.
The consultant will focus on conducting engagement with the public and a steering committee to identify top community priorities and deliver guidance for executing the plan, the RFP says.
A comprehensive plan would saving municipal costs through sharing more services and cooperating to improve housing, recreation and environment across the municipalities.
Editorial | Teamwork in the West Hills
Municipalities in the West Hills suburbs of Johnstown are preparing to spend a total of $37,500 to develop a comprehensive 10-year plan for regional improvements.
Topics for the plan include extending collaboration beyond EMS and police to include shared staff, public works, equipment and utility services; revitalizing existing commercial districts and integrating smaller, mixed-use businesses into residential areas for economic vitality; enhancing pedestrian infrastructure with sidewalks, bike lanes and crosswalks; and prioritizing protection of sensitive environmental areas and implementation of sustainable stormwater solutions.
The RFP says the plan to be developed would 'honor the identity of each municipality' and 'preserve each municipality's autonomy' while saving municipal costs through sharing more services and cooperating to improve housing, recreation and environment across the municipalities.
Westmont Borough mulls sharing services with neighboring municipalities, takes step toward joint comprehensive plan
Westmont Borough Council is moving forward with following the process for a comprehensive plan to share services with neighboring municipalities.
'To ensure the preservation of each municipality's autonomy and to accommodate their distinct socio-economic and geographical characteristics, the plan will integrate collective regional goals and objectives,' the RFP says. 'Additionally, each municipality will be allocated a dedicated section within the plan, delineating its individual background, specific goals, objectives, and a tailored action plan. This approach aims to honor the diverse identity of each municipality while fostering collaboration towards overarching regional objectives.'
Once hired, the consultant 'should start the planning process by engaging with the public, the commission and the municipal steering committee to identify top priorities,' the RFP said.
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