DuBois City Council votes to change elected officials’ healthcare

CLEARFIELD COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) – The DuBois City Council made some big changes at Monday’s meeting, including one to their elected officials’ healthcare.

The agenda included items such as water and sewer upgrades, the development of a compensation ordinance and elected officials’ healthcare. During the meeting on Monday, Jan. 22, the council made it clear that it was not satisfied with how the city was operating. 

“I’m doing this for the people of DuBois,” Councilwoman Jennifer Jackson said. “You start getting into it and see there was so much done behind closed doors. We’re not going to do that. We want public input. We want to make sure we’re doing what we were elected to do.”

One of the most asked questions during public comment was about elected officials’ healthcare. According to Interim City Manager Chris Nasuti, the benefits began in 2015 and were not voted on publicly. Mayor Pat Reasinger says that the termination of healthcare would save the city approximately $62,000 a year. The vote to terminate healthcare was 4-1 with Reasinger, Jennifer Jackson, Shane Dietz, Elliot Gelfand saying yes and James Aughenbaugh saying no.

“I just think if we were going to do it, it needs to be by the book and that they needed to vote it in properly, It was never voted,” Jackson said. “So I truly just think it was something that needed done as we’re finding things and correcting a lot of wrongs.” 

During the meeting, an update on the water and sewer upgrades was given. One of the projects includes a $83 million brand new sewage treatment plant. The project began construction in November of 2022 and is predicted to be done by the end of 2024. The original plant was built in the 60’s. 

“That brings us up to new standards, our old plant, as it was very old, and the new plant will bring us up,” Reasinger said. “It will actually run at night without anybody there. There’ll be people there during the day, but at night it will run by itself.”

The council also voted to develop a compensation ordinance. The ordinance will show how much officials will be paid. 

“Sandy Township has that, we have not had that in the past, but we’re going to now. Everybody will be able to see that online and take a look and ask questions,” Reasinger said. 

The council also voted to allow the city to lend a reserve fire engine to Reynoldsville. The truck will be given to Reynoldsville for approximately three to four months.