Bangor Council Takes Step Toward Cultural Center Sale

Bangor Borough Council last night took the first step toward selling the Cultural Center, having secured the cooperation of three women's organizations that meet at the center on 4th Street.

Council members Carol Cuono and Harold Houck, who serve on the buildings and grounds committee, said the committee had met with representatives of the three groups - Bangor Woman's Club, Bangor Junior Woman's Club and Bangor Business and Professional Women - to discuss the proposal.

Maintenance of the center, sold to the borough for $1 by the Jewish Community Center many years ago, has become an increasing burden to the borough despite financial assistance from the three clubs. Houck said the annual fuel oil cost alone is almost $4,000.

Cuono told council the clubs are willing to relocate their activities to the former Bee Hive Youth Center, which the borough is planning to renovate as a community center with federal funds. The clubs will be represented on the community center planning committee.

Council authorized Solicitor Alan McFall to seek court approval for sale of the Cultural Center.

Council also agreed that should Judd and Gerald Roth, developers of the Buzzard Building at First and Broadway, sell the structure, the borough would honor the same mortgage agreement with a new purchaser. The Roths had sought this assurance. However, in return, council is requesting that laundry facilities be included in the building.

The Roths will seek a variance from the zoning hearing board to have two residential units for the elderly on the first floor, bringing the total proposed number of units to 26. The front portion of the first floor would remain as commercial space. Council was concerned the two added units might result in elimination of proposed laundry facilities.

The Buzzard project would be funded through $413,000 from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, approximately $245,000 through the Pennsylvania Department of Community Affairs' Blight Prevention Program and $89,000 from the borough's small community development funds. The borough would eventually receive back about $350,000 as the developer repays the DCA and community development loans. Part of the principal would be forgiven, however.

Sanitation Chairman Scott Miller said his committee does not want to add a third shift at the borough incinerator at this point but may look at that option in the future. The incinerator is accepting solid waste from Bangor and Roseto as well as Whitehall Township and Northampton.

Miller observed that in the summer months, the tonnage may increase, and another shift may be required if overtime expenses mount.

He also suggested the borough prepare for the expiration of Roseto's contract at the end of June. Roseto pays approximately $44 annually per residence for garbage collection, compared to Bangor residents' payment of $110 yearly.

Betty Hughes was hired as borough secretary at an annual salary of $12,500, plus a $500 stipend for attending meetings. The borough is seeking applicants for assistant borough secretary.