The public meeting Tuesday started at 11:30 a.m. with a packed room. Residents there wasted no time in getting right to the point: they’re not happy, and they want answers.
“First of all, this meeting sucks at this time,” one resident said.
From the start of the meeting, you could cut the tension in the room with a knife.
“If you’re gonna get an increase, I want you to know because I believe in being honest and fair and giving you a chance to evaluate that,” said certified Pennsylvania evaluator Timothy Barr.
It was a meeting meant to answer general questions about the reassessment process. CPE’s were there to explain the process, but faces a lot of opposition.
“Are you associated in any way with the Gambino crime family because I sense something is corrupt here already,” another resident said.
“First of all, I’m offended by that,” CPE Dominick Gambino said.
There were a few issues that kept coming up: how are we supposed to afford this?; How can I fight it?; How much money are the commissioners making?
“We’ll remember this at election time,” a resident said at the podium, pointing at commissioners.
He wasn’t the only one to point a finger at commissioners, specifically Tommassetti. Many claimed they felt they have been lied to throughout this process and felt that it wasn’t “fair,” like they had been promised at previous meetings.
“It’s all about dollars,” another man said, frustrated. “That’s what I think. It’s all about dollars… what they can make.” The rest clapped.
Things stayed on edge the whole meeting. It was residents versus commissioners and evaluators with Sheriff’s Deputy Chief Sam McClure between them.
Many did get their questions about reassessment answered. If you couldn’t make it Tuesday, there is another opportunity for you to learn more about the reassessment process on Thursday at 1 p.m. at the Blair County Courthouse. If you can’t make that, your best bet is to go to the reassessment office at the Blair County Convention Center for an informal review.
