No Apologies

This post is dedicated to the Northwest Savings Bank employee, local realtor and those omniscient ones whose words, gestures and mannerisms at the Austin Borough Council Meeting held on Tuesday, February 3, 2014, at the Fire Hall, indicated certain members of council were foolish to believe that there would be no Restricted Use Clause in the Agreement transferring the bank building to the borough, and, that there was no possibility that this clause would/could be removed.




At the October 2014 Austin Borough Council meeting a representative from Northwest Savings Bank was present to inform Council that the Turner Street Branch Office in Austin would be closing at the end of the year. He further indicated that the building would be given to the Borough of Austin.

I, sitting as a member of Council, asked this representative directly if there would be any restrictions to the transfer.  The NWSB Representative stated No, there would not be.

Vice President Nathan Burgett followed-up on my question and answer given by the Northwest Savings Bank Official.  Again, the NWSB Representative stated there would be no restrictions, and, that the building could be used for whatever you want, or, words to that effect.

Within a few days after the October Borough Council meeting, Vice President Nathan Burgett contacted Potter County Commissioner Susan Kefover regarding the closing of the Turner Street Branch Office.  A meeting was scheduled with Commissioner Kefover at the Austin Fire Hall.  V.P. Burgett requested that Councilmen Fred "Joe" Fowler and myself, Bernard "Mike Fowler attend.

At this meeting, we identified five (5) area banks to contact, inviting them to establish banking facilities here in Austin.  This group felt confident that one of the five would accept, as we would be in possession of a building designed and built for a banking establishment. Commissioner Kefover indicated that she would draft the invitation letter for the Borough to sign and send to these five (5) banks, which she did.

In the early part of January 2015, the Borough of Austin received the Agreement from Northwest Savings Bank containing the following restriction on page 2:

It is stipulated and agreed by the Borough of Austin, for itself; its successors and assigns that, said premises above described being Parcel #030-002-048, will not be used for any bank, savings and loan or any consumer discount company purposes.

Local and Corporate Northwest Savings Bank Officials have since down-played and/or dismissed the statements made by their official at the October Austin Borough Council meeting regarding no restrictions.  They have indicated that this is a standard clause contained in all such Agreements and we should have known this, regardless of what was said at the October meeting.

As Paul Harvey would say, Now you know the rest of the story."

Faith consists in believing when it is beyond the power of reason to believe - Voltaire