Joel Long (D)
LOCK HAVEN — Joel Long is looking to retain his position at the City of Lock Haven’s mayor.
Long has lived in the city the majority of his life, is married to wife, Mitzi, and has four children, Christopher, 23, Kelly, 20, Sarah, 13, and stepson Wyatt Gallagher, 16.
Joel has served in public office for 24 years — as a Lock Haven City councilman, Clinton County Commissioner and Mayor of Lock Haven.
He spearheaded the re-opening of the Tiger Den Playground and has dedicated over 17 years volunteering as a Little League baseball coach, youth football and helped to create Central PA Youth Basketball for children from 3rd to 6th grade in the Keystone Central School District.
The Express recently asked Long six questions about the mayoral position and various issues the city is facing:
Q: Council’s recent decisions to close various streets and alleys for private businesses has caused a slight stir amongst the business community. How would you approach a situation like this?
A: I hesitate to answer because I don’t want to make it sound like I’m advocating one side or the other. What I would say is that my feeling is we want people downtown. Ideally to me (business) would be doing something. We can’t have all of them do it at once. If the others were putting in requests and we were in a position where we can’t do them all, my approach would be to say that next year we set a date. If you want to do something you’d have to submit it by that date and then we’d hold a special meeting where we would sit down and talk about how we would divide that up. I think it would be wonderful if each weekend a different business did something.
Q: Due to nation-wide inflation, some small businesses have begun to see struggles and a decrease in shoppers. Do you have any ideas that could help bolster the economic makeup of our downtown?
A: I think we’ve been on a good path. Inflation is hitting everyone but I think we need to continue with what we’ve been doing — activities downtown and getting people to see the nice new shops that are in our city. We’ve been blessed in the last several years to grow so much. Hopefully we can weather this storm… and continue to prosper like we have.
Q: City council continues to discuss the future of City Hall. What approach do you feel the city should take when deciding to remain at its current location or build/find a new facility?
A: I’ve maintained through this entire process that we should be fixing our building. The decisions that are being made right now are based on a feasibility study that we had done and a $6 million number. That number is not based on “this is what has to be done.” That number is based on what could be done with this building if it was right up to date with everything. Sometimes you have to make decisions on what you can afford. I as a homeowner — if I have $30,000 and I need to fix my house… a contractor says I have $70,000 worth of work. I’m going to prioritize what I can do for the $30,000 I have. That’s what we should be doing here. The building itself… is structurally sound and handicapped accessible. We could be exploring innovative ways to update the building.
Q: What are your thoughts on the potential sale/change at the William T. Piper Memorial Airport?
A: I am not in favor of selling Piper Airport. That being said, the strain that it is on the budget is large. I believe the number was thrown out at $190,000 a year. I know what paving projects cost and I know how many people complain to me about their street. If we weren’t dealing with that annual cost or loss, we could do more things to take care of the city. I don’t see us selling Piper Airport but I hope the discussions that have come out of this with the pilots association and so on might bring about some ways that we can offset those costs a little more.
Q: How do you intend to be accessible and approachable to constituents within the city?
A: I’m downtown all the time. People don’t seem to have an issue with messaging me on Facebook or using my number to contact me. My email is on the website. I field phone calls and messages and texts on a regular basis from the public and I welcome them. We can’t see everything. I encourage people to contact me. It is a part time job so I am working during the day and I do have other commitments but I do get back to them.
Q: Why do you feel you are a good fit for city council?
A: My experience. I’ve got 26 years of leadership examples. I know how the system works, I know how to run the meetings so that we’re efficient and getting things done. As mayor, I chair the meetings… The council members have every bit the power that I do and can make motions at any time. So we all are responsible for things getting done. The mayor is basically the face of the city and signs the important documents. I’ve faced a lot of adversity in my time as a councilman, as a commissioner and certainly as mayor in my first term. There’s been challenging things this whole term, from COVID to protests and now we’re in the water shortage. I’ve dealt with things like that, this isn’t my first rodeo.
Barbara Masorti (I)
LOCK HAVEN — Current Lock Haven City Council Member Barbara “Barb” Masorti has thrown her hat into the ring for the city’s mayoral election.
Masorti, who has filed as an Independent, will be listed on the ballot with incumbent Joel Long, a Democrat.
Masorti is in her fourth year on council. She was first appointed in 2018 to finish a term vacated by Long when he was elected mayor. She retained her seat in the 2021 election for another four years.
During her time on council, Masorti has served on a variety of committees including the Public Works Committee, AFSCME Negotiation Committee, police union negotiation committee, Joint Municipal Authority committee and the Airport committee, among others.
Masorti has lived in the city for 22 years, having grown up in Castanea Township.
Masorti works in rental property management at Masorti Enterprises, Inc. and works for S&S Plumbing and Heating.
The Express recently asked Masorti six questions about the mayoral position and various issues the city is facing:
Q: Due to nation-wide inflation, some small businesses have begun to see struggles and a decrease in shoppers. Do you have any ideas that could help bolster the economic make up of our downtown?
A: I think that we’ve got a fantastic partnership between the city, the downtown Lock Haven organization and our local economic partnership. We have great possibilities for tourism here with all of the different events that take place in and around our area. With a new downtown manager on the horizon… I think that we have an opportunity to develop a relationship where we really support and encourage more activities, more local participation, more regional participation and to piggy back on some activities that are happening in other areas that are close by. And also to listen to the businesses. One of the things that I’ve been thinking about… having a forum where downtown business owners can actually meet with some representatives from the city and the downtown organization. Because they know what works for them.
Q: City council continues to discuss the future of City Hall. What approach do you feel the city should take when deciding to remain at its current location or build/find a new facility?
A: About 18 months ago, council members were given the opportunity to tour city hall. The police locker rooms are located in the basement. It is dark, dingy, moldy, smelly and does not have a working shower. The female officers are changing their clothes in a closet. We talk about how important these people are to our town… yet we can’t seem to find a way to provide them with good working conditions and a good working environment. I am in favor and voted for building a new, modern police facility. With the input from our local police about things they really need. Policing has changed and modernization is important and the ability for our officers to have access to proper facility is really important.
Q: What are your thoughts on the potential sale/change at the William T. Piper Memorial Airport?
A: William T. Piper Memorial Airport is a big part of the city and a lot of people here have strong memories of activities at the airport. No one wants to see that go away, I don’t want to see that go away. However, we are operating the airport at a deficit. We’re faced with the same question, what is it that the citizens of Lock Haven, the taxpayers of the city, willing to have their tax dollars go for? The city has met with a number of concerned pilots and tenants… we have also met with the FAA to talk about what our options are. No solution has yet to be presented that actually meets what we need as far as covering the annual cost of operating the airport. But I think that we’ve got determined people both in city government and the concerned citizens who are committed to working together to come up with a plan that keeps the airport operating and also help to fill that gap in the city’s budget.
Q: Council’s recent decisions to close various streets and alleys for private businesses has caused a slight stir amongst the business community. How would you approach a situation like this?
A: As a mayor, I would like to see the process of street closure be updated. Now that we’re not in a pandemic situation perhaps the application process involves the same sorts of things as a zoning hearing — where neighbors are notified that it’s something that’s coming up and we have two readings. We’d have a first hearing where we’d describe the activity and then a second reading so that people would have an opportunity to voice their concerns and be heard. At the last meeting our local business owner expressed their frustration, we recognized that people don’t always know where they can find what’s on the agenda and how to access that information. We’ve learned a couple of important lessons from this, that we need to be a little more up front about where the agenda for meetings show up and how people can access that, and also so that people understand that you do have access at council meetings, you are welcome to attend and you are welcome to speak to issues even if they aren’t on the agenda.
Q: How do you intend to be accessible and approachable to constituents within the city?
A: Our email addresses and our phone numbers are on the city’s website. My personal email is on the website. I’m active in the community, it’s not uncommon for me to be someplace for dinner and talk with somebody. And I’m happy to do it. As far as members of the local government being more accessible, I think it’s really a two-way street and I think that we need to make sure that people understand how they might access individuals. When I first was on council one of the things I always wanted to do was a “Walk with Council member.” We could meet at city hall sometime and go for a walk about town and talk about whatever you want to talk about. Whatever solutions you have for issues facing the city. Now that I am running for mayor I envision myself having a “Walk with the Mayor.”
Q: Why do you feel you are a good fit for city council?
A: One of the things I pride myself in as a person is the ability to listen to other people’s point of view, to be kind to people and to genuinely want to make positive change. I believe that I have the skills necessary to build up some of the relationships between the city of Lock Haven and other organizations that have perhaps deteriorated over the past few years. To work together with our local partners to create the kind of city where more people will want to come here and live, work and play and enjoy the area we have.
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