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Residents ask DuBois council to form local ethics board and tighten budget spending
Summary
Citizens urged the council to create a local board of ethics allowed by the city charter and to tighten professional services and neighborhood-fund spending; council members acknowledged the requests and recorded interest in clearer definitions and improved financial reporting.
During public comment, Melissa Keane asked the DuBois City Council to consider forming a local board of ethics and conduct (per the city charter) and to examine professional-services spending in next year's budget. Keane said the neighborhood fund lacks a clear definition and requested the council provide a concrete purpose and rules for its use.
"I would ask council at least have discussion about the possibility and benefits of creating a local board of ethics and conduct," Keane said, noting the charter allows an ordinance to establish such a board. She also asked for clearer controller qualifications and election timing for upcoming seats.
Council members and the mayor acknowledged the comments. Deputy Mayor Shirley Derouche, who attended the Pennsylvania mayoral conference, offered to share resources on municipal governance and homeless strategies learned at the conference. The city manager said staff are reviewing internal structures and policies to prevent recurrence of prior governance failures.
No ordinance was introduced at the meeting; Keane requested either a council discussion or a written response by the next meeting. The council did not set a timeline for action but indicated staff would review appropriate options.
