McCandless council adopts 2026 strategic plan amid public concerns about process

The McCandless Town Council approved the town’s 2026 strategic plan on June 8 after a brief procedural exchange and a voice vote approving the measure.

Resident Ellen Wright told the council the strategic planning process “violated the town code” because parts of the work were discussed outside town hall and minutes from the strategic planning committee were not posted; she urged council to table the plan for further public review. “The staff first decided what the issues for town council to vote on. That’s not the way it works,” Wright said during public comment.

Council legal advisor Mr. Corbal responded that the council had discussed the plan in prior public meetings and that the phrasing used in the ordinance and the sequence of public meetings remedied any procedural concerns: “By undertaking this activity in a public meeting to consecutive public meetings it remedies any violation of the Sunshine,” he said. After that clarification, a councilor moved to approve the plan; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

The plan’s adoption followed earlier public-notice steps documented by the council and a procedural explanation from staff that the strategic-planning consultant’s work and prior public hearings were part of the record. Councilors also noted that a public notice for a prior session ran in the Post-Gazette on April 9 and that a work-session format may be used when no formal action is taken.

The council did not provide a roll-call tally; minutes will reflect the motion, the legal clarification and the voice vote outcome. Proponents said the plan gives the town a roadmap for priorities; opponents and members of the public urged clearer posting of committee minutes and stricter adherence to the town code’s notice provisions going forward. The council indicated it will rely on its administration and legal staff to set any specific effective timing and to ensure the record aligns with municipal code requirements.