West View, Ross and North Hills School Board Officials Discuss Marketing, Economic Development

A joint meeting between North Hills elected officials Thursday began a discussion about ways to better market Ross, West View and the North Hills School District to new homeowners and business owners.

About 18 members of the North Hills School Board, West View Borough Council and Ross Township Commission met Thursday evening at .

The meeting was the first of its kind in recent memory, said organizer Edward Wielgus, the school board president.

He said it was intended to open discussions about ways to improve the quality of life in Ross and West View at a time when revenues for public services and projects are predicted to be flat over the next few years.

The group, still informal and without a name, plans to officially appoint three representatives from each jurisdiction and three public members from each jurisdiction to the committee, which hopes to tackle projects such as developing an overall marketing message for the slice of North Hills within the school district boundaries.

Concerns about building vacancies along McKnight Road, the area's main business district, also were discussed.

"That was our golden egg for many years," said School Director Lou Nudi.

The school district and the municipalities are facing flat or declining revenue streams in the upcoming years. Wielgus said one of the goals for the group meeting was to find creative ways to improve the communities without increasing taxes.

School directors in June, raising the district’s real estate tax rate to 20.91 mills. The increase will raise about $2 million for the district and will increase property tax bills $109 a year on the median-priced $109,000 home in North Hills. The district is predicting a loss of $1,710,383 in state and federal funds for the 2011-12 school year.

Ross officials also increased taxes recently, approving a 1.0329-mill increase in December to raise funds for the police department.

Wielgus sent the letter in early June inviting officials to the meeting.

"I think on behalf of West View, we're more than willing to sit down and discuss ideas," said Mayor John Henry, who attended Thursday's meeting.

The group is expected to meet again in the fall.

School Director Sharon Schrim said it was a step in the right direction just getting everyone in the same room together. She said the elected officials don't often run into each other or exchange information across jurisdictions.

"I just think this is a great forum," she said. Getting to know each other in this way means "we become friendlier to each other."

Ross Commissioner David Mikec said he thought the meeting kicked off the right feeling. Collaboration between the jurisdictions is one of the ways the area can draw more grants for projects such as improving the parks and extending the trail system.

"I think there's some room to have some good discussions," he said.