Ross Hires Expert to Search for Grant Money

Ross Township Commissioners voted 5-2 Monday to retain GSP Consulting Corp., a Pittsburgh-based lobbying and consulting firm, to provide grant monitoring and writing services. 

Ross will pay a $500 monthly retainer fee plus expenses for the monitoring, according to the agreement. Grants worth pursuing will be developed at a rate of $150 an hour plus expenses. 

Commissioners agreed Monday to retain the firm for a six-month period. 

Commissioners did not discuss specific projects they wanted funded.

Commission Chairman Dan Kinross, of Ward 3, and Commissioner Grace Stanko, of Ward 5, voted against the agreement. Commissioner Lana Mazur, of Ward 4, was absent. Commissioner Grant Montgomery, of Ward 9, was available by phone for part of the meeting but not at the time of the vote on the GSP contract.

Both Stanko and Kinross said the township's state representatives offered similar services at no cost. 

Kinross also said he didn't believe there was much money available for grants.

"I don't see anything changing in six months," he said.

Commissioner Dan DeMarco, of Ward 1, proposed the service. He said he believed a professional firm could help.

"It's out there," he said. "It has to be found. I think it's worth a six-month shot."