The Schuylkill Township Board of Supervisors held their third budget meeting on November 12, 2008 at the Township hall. Members of the Board present were Mr. Vutz, Mrs. Cohen, Mr. Ledbetter, Mr. Morrisson and Mrs. Williams. Audience members were Mr. Kunz and Mr. O’Dell of the Township’s EAC, Mr. Colket, of the VFVF Co., Mrs. Schnell, Mr. Heath and an unknown gentleman, all of whom are residents of the Township.
Budget – Police Department – Budget figures were reviewed. Mrs. Williams questioned why the Township could not go with a fuel economy/hybrid vehicle for its police cars. She also questioned why two new police vehicles were budgeted for 2009. Mr. Fetterman, the Chief of Police, stated that to keep a car beyond approximately 75,000 miles it becomes a maintenance issue with the vehicle. Mr. Morrisson stated that the Board should budget for two vehicles but consider buying only one car next year if there becomes a budget crunch. Mrs. Cohen stated that she felt that was a common sense approach. The budget for capital expenses will be lowered by $20,000 since modifications to the police department were scaled back. The cost to operate the intermunicipal fingerprinting equipment located at the Township’s police department has been and will continue to be offset by charging the other police department who use it for the maintenance and upkeep of the equipment.
The Township Manager was asked to have the township office look into the cost of Workers Compensation, Group Disability and Group Hospital and Dental. The office will work with the current representatives of those benefit plans to review the costs and obtain comparison quotes including from the Valley Forge Sewer Authority.
In other matters,
EAC – S. White Horse Bridge Replacement - the letter as written by the Township Solicitor will be sent to PaDEP regarding substantive land use conflicts that include provisions for pedestrian or bicycle access.
SPCA – 2009 Stray Boarding Limited Contract – On motion by Mr. Ledbetter, seconded by Mrs. Cohen, and passed, the Board approved the 2009 Stray Board Limited Contract for 2009.
On motion by Mr. Ledbetter, seconded by Mrs. Cohen, and passed, the Board approved the Township submitting a grant application to PA Community Transportation Initiative that includes monies for trails. The grant is due to PaDOT by December 15, 2008. Gilmore & Associates will assist the Township in applying for the grant at a not to exceed cost of $1,500.
Mr. Colket stated that the agreement between the Township and the VFVF Co. seems to have never been formalized. However, the Township has had an understanding with the fire company for many years that the Township offsets the cost of a fire company vehicle purchase with monies from the Fire Company Capital Fund held by the Township. When the vehicle is sold, whatever percentage the Township kicked in would be the percentage of the sale to be given back to the Township. He requested that Mr. Brennan and Mr. Pyle, the attorney for the fire company, prepare an agreement to be formalized. If the VFVF Co. ceased to exist, the Township could buy out whatever percentage of the vehicle that the fire company contributed to its purchase.
There being no further discussion, the Board adjourned the meeting at 9:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary R. Bird
Township Manager