State Clean Communities Grant Helps Offset DPW Supply Costs

The borough will once again receive state funding by way of a state Department of Environmental Transportation Clean Communities Grant which is used by the to offset certain supply costs.

Bill Spindler, superintendent of the DPW, said the borough participates in the program each year. Each year the department files a report which is submitted to the state in order to qualify for the grant.  The amount the borough receives varies each year. Spindler said this year the borough will receive $17,837. Last year they received $17,159.

According to a release from the state, the Clean Communities grants are funded by a user-fee on manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors that produce litter-generating products. Disbursements to municipalities are based on the number of housing units and miles of municipally owned roadways within each municipality. Disbursements are also granted to counties based on the number of miles of roads each county owns. The county will receive a total of $161,019.

Spindler says the DPW uses the funding to purchase trash receptacles around town or any items related to litter control or clean up. Other items purchased are brooms, shovels, work gloves, roll-off containers which sit on the back of trucks as well as replacement brooms for the sweepers.