City officials met for a special meeting Tuesday evening, June 2, to discuss ways they could implement recommendations from a report as part of a program through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development that will help it get grants to further improve the city.

The Strategic Management Planning Program is a state-operated program that facilitates a consultant giving a presentation about challenges a municipality faces, while offering recommendations and grants to help overcome them.

Discussions among council Tuesday included a number of topics, ranging from emergency services to city departments to an overarching look at the city’s finances.

One topic was the report’s recommendation to regionalize emergency services, but discussion between council and Butler City Bureau of Fire Chief Chris Switala resulted in agreement that any type of merger would be bogged down by political and financial differences.

Switala stressed there is a strong mutual aid relationship between the city and nearby departments, such as Butler Township Volunteer Fire District, which would help alleviate the need for proper regionalizing.

“I think (regionalizing) would be the most cost effective and efficient model, but politically, I don’t see it being achievable within the next few years,” he said.

Another topic raised was updating facilities and operations for numerous city departments.

Mayor Bob Dandoy said a priority of his was making sure the streets and parks department have proper facilities to maintain equipment.

“What I think we have to address soon, is our current facilities and new facilities for streets and parks. Both of those buildings are dismal,” he said.

Councilwoman Lisa Quebedeaux also highlighted one major concern: lack of a countywide property tax reassessment. However, other council members were concerned spearheading a reassessment with the county would look bad.

“The perception is that we’re looking to increase taxes. That’s the perception. So we just got $90 million in this windfall and now we’re looking to raise taxes. That’s a bad look,” Councilman Dan Herr said.

Ultimately, topics discussed at Tuesday’s meeting may lead to future action, but there is no requirement they do.

Dandoy said he expects this is just the first formal conversation of many regarding the report.

The next city council meeting is slated for 7 p.m. June 11.