Government & Politics

Government & Politics

New Bethlehem is a borough on the southern border of Clarion County. Clarion County contains 34 municipalities including boroughs and townships. South Bethlehem is a borough in northern Armstrong County which has 45 municipalities.

A. Clarion County Commissioners
Three commissioners constitute the chief governing body of the county. The Commissioners’ office is located on the 2nd floor of the County Administration Building at 330 Main Street, Room 206, (814) 266-4000, fax (814) 226-8069. Commissioners are vested with selective policy-making authority to provide certain local serices and facilites on a county-wide basis, including appointment of personnel and fiscal mangement. Commissioners are responsible for the adoption of county budgets, assessment of property, levying taxes and borrowing funds for construction of capital projects. (Information from Clarion County website at www.co.clarion.pa.us). They are elected for a 4-year term, terms of the 3 commissioners run simultanously. In the primary election, 2 Democratic and 2 Republican candidates are nominated for 3 positions. The 3 candidates who receive the highest number of votes in the following general election in November are named commissioners, however, residents are only allowed to vote for 2. They take office the 1st Monday of the following January. A candidate must be a U.S. citizen, a resident for 1 year, at least 18 years old, must present a petition properly signed by 100 qualified residents and cannot hold certain other offices. Petition request forms can be obtained from the County Board of Elections.

A1. Armstrong County Commissioners
The Armstrong County Commissioners information is similar to most of the Clarion County information. The commissioners offices are located on the 2nd floor of the Courthouse Annex on Market St. in Kittanning and can be reached at (724) 548-3215. Further information may be found at the www.armstrongcounty.com or by calling the Armstrong County Courthouse at (724) 543-2500.

B. New Bethlehem Borough Council
The New Bethlehem Borough Council is comprised of 7 residents elected by voters for 4-year staggered terms. A candidate must be a registered voter, a resident for 1 year and must submit an application and a petition signed by at least 10 citizens to Chief Clerk County Administrator, Commissioners’ Office, 330 Main St. , Clarion PA 16214 @ (814) 226-4000. Please call for updated procedures and time deadlines. Write-in candidates must submit their names on a form to the County listing all the possible ways their names could be spelled by voters writing their names on election day for the votes to be properly counted. The council is assisted by an engineer and attorney who serves as Borough solicitor. The Borough Code contains the Borough’s laws and regulations. A copy is available at the library. It is also governed by the Borough Code in Pennsylvania law which is found in Purdon’s Statutes Annotated. A copy is available at the Clarion County Law Library in the Courthouse. Council members serve on at least 1 committee and may hold certain other elected or appointed offices and may work as an employee of the Borough. Committees include Police, Street, Solid Waste, Cemetery, Communications, Long Range Planning, Finance and Personnel. Council meets on the 3nd Tuesday at 7:30 PM at the Alltel Building at 212 Lafayette Street.

B1. South Bethlehem Borough Council
South Bethlehem Borough Council information generally mirrors the requirements for New Bethlehem. For further specific and current information, call the Armstrong County Courthouse at (724) 543-2500 and request candidate election information. Council committees include Police & Fire, Street & Sewer, Street Lighting, Building, Grounds & Zoning, Finance, Solid Waste. and Ordinances. South Bethleehm Borough Concil meets on the 1st Tuesday of each month in the meeting rom of the Borough Building located at the terminues corner of Grant and Short Streets in South Bethlehem Borough.

C. Mayors
The mayor is elelcted by the residents for a 4-year term. The mayor has the right to veto decisions of the Borough Council.

D. Redbank Valley Municipal Authority
The RVMA is responsible for water and sewar and is composed of 5 members, appointed by their borough councils, who serve 5-year terms. They are assisted by an engineer and attorney.

E. The Redbank Valley Municipal Park
Formerly the American Legion Park, Alcola is a 33 acre site. The park is operated by a board comprised of representatives from each of the municipalities served and is funded though municipal action by the governing bodies of the communities involved. South Bethlehem participates but New Bethlehem has opted out. Recreational facilities include play equipment and a skating rink. It is also the site of the Clarion County Fair.