The vote by the Pennsylvania Senate’s State Government Committee Tuesday to send a measure for reducing the size of the legislature to the full Senate for consideration was a move in the right direction.

The goal of the proposal is to amend the state constitution to cut the legislature to 201 members from the current 253.

But where a jeer is warranted is the flawed thinking voiced by some senators, including some who voted in favor of Tuesday’s proposal. They expressed the flawed opinion that reducing the size of the legislature would mean less access for voters.

Actually, a smaller legislature would pave the way for a more-streamlined, effective state government. So would a specific, tight window on when legislation could be considered, rather than the current “anytime rule.”

Sen. Mike Folmer, R-Lebanon, was right in observing that reducing the legislature’s size would improve the public’s trust in the legislative body. At least it would improve the prospects of that eventually happening.

Folmer also noted that Texas has only 30 senators to represent more people in a bigger state.

The past two years have opened Pennsylvania residents’ eyes to the problems associated with a bloated legislature like the Keystone State’s. Most state residents would welcome the change that Tuesday’s action is geared toward accomplishing.

The group of Harrisville young people who have been working to create a skateboard park in their community might not yet realize how much of a learning experience their efforts have been.But perhaps at some point, while reflecting on their experience, they’ll realize the lessons about the operation of local government that they have learned. And, it is not beyond possibility that this experience could inspire some of them to run for borough offices during their adult lives.Although obtaining the park has not been easy, it appears that the efforts of the young people will prove fruitful.With the grandmother of the boy heading the effort agreeing to contribute $6,500 toward the park and the borough having been approved for a $24,000 state grant, it is estimated that work to complete the park will begin in late summer or early fall.Pearl Kilpatrick, the grandmother of Jacob Hughes, the eighth-grader taking the lead role in the project, said the youths have expressed disappointment at times over the slow pace at which the project has moved.But that has taught the youths that government wields no magic wand to get things done. There must be a planning process and decisions made regarding funding.There is an organized process for obtaining a contractor and reasonable timetables must be specified for completing the work.During this interval, it is the right time for the youths to be thinking about how the skateboard park will be maintained, once it is in place. They will have a nice facility, and they must be responsible for keeping it that way.For the youths in question, the skateboard park promises to be a learning experience for them until they move on to new endeavors and bigger responsibilities.

Evans City Borough Council was correct in waiving fines for owners of vehicles that were in violation of the community’s street-sweeping ordinance.In most, if not all, of the cases, it was a miscommunication on the part of the borough that resulted in the illegal parking.While the fines — $5 — wouldn’t have resulted in hardship for most of the people ticketed, the borough has the responsibility to convey information clearly and provide reasonable notice.According to the council, enforcement of the street-sweeping rules will begin on May 20.Approximately 30 cars were ticketed for street-sweeping violations. Those who paid the fine prior to the council’s decision will receive a refund.