Lock Haven council adopts meeting schedule, accepts grants and discusses library vandalism, app change and City Hall funding deadline

Lock Haven’s city council adopted Resolution 2023‑01 setting the city’s 2023 meeting dates and listing several off‑site locations for meetings, following a motion from council members and a roll-call vote in which members voted in the affirmative.

Unidentified Speaker 2 told the council that planner and development coordinator Abigail Roberts had provided updates on two grants: a Clinton County radio upgrades award of $772,000 and an “enhanced Haven Passat” grant program for $25,000 (as spoken in the transcript). The speaker said the program referenced in the transcript will launch Friday, Jan. 13, and noted the Lock Haven Express ran a story about the awards.

During the public‑comment/discussion portion of the meeting Speaker 1 raised concerns about vandalism at several Little Red Libraries and asked whether the city could install cameras to catch those responsible. Unidentified Speaker 2 said the city administration would look into cameras and follow up, but the transcript records no formal motion on installing cameras.

The council also heard a report that the city’s prior cell‑phone app saw limited use and is being discontinued; staff said the city has engaged other platforms that produce higher engagement (SimpleSpace and another vendor mentioned in the transcript). Staff emphasized that city email and phone contacts remain active and listed on the city website.

Speaker 7 asked for an update on City Hall project funding and whether an award of $2.5 million would require the city to begin work by a specific date. Unidentified Speaker 2 said the city must commit to a project and have it out to bid by Dec. 1 of the stated year in order to retain that funding.

Votes at a glance:
- Community events request: motion moved and seconded; roll call recorded affirmative responses and motion approved (article: community events approval).
- Resolution 2023‑01 (meeting dates off‑site): approved by roll call.
- Engagement of Raptellus for water rate study: approved (covered in separate article).

The meeting included additional FYI items and project progress reports; a hazard mitigation plan meeting was announced for Jan. 31 or Feb. 1 as part of the county emergency project.