Tax rate will remain same in 2010

Township expenditures will be down next year and the tax rate will remain the same, according to the township’s 2010 budget.

The first reading of the township’s 2010 budget occurred Wednesday, Nov. 11 during the board of supervisors meeting. Supervisor Chairman Jeffrey Box said $2.7 million in expenditures for 2010 is about $9,000 less than in previous years.

In the preface to the budget, township manager Kathleen Sebastian wrote that she predicts the township will exceed its 2009 budgeted earned income tax revenues which will increase contributions to emergency services, the Back Mountain Memorial Library and the Luzerne County SPCA in 2010.

Contributions to the Shavertown and Trucksville volunteer fire departments for 2010 have gone up $1,000 each to $23,100 and $16,800, respectively. In addition, $16,800 in the new budget has been allotted to ambulance operations.

The Back Mountain Memorial Library will receive $4,500 and the Luzerne County SPCA will be given $2,500. Both charities will obtain $500 more from the township than in 2009.

According to Sebastian, a second reading of the 2010 budget will be held at the December regular supervisors meeting. If approved, the budget will go into effect 30 days following the meeting.

Proposed smoking ban

The supervisors approved a public meeting to be held during the Dec. 9 regular supervisors meeting regarding a proposed ordinance that would ban smoking at the Center Street Park.

Supervisor secretary John Solinsky voted against the meeting, which is the next step in passing the proposed ordinance.

“I’m not keen on banning legal activities in public parks,” Solinsky said in October. “The residents that smoke are taxpayers, too.”

Bond refinancing

Attorney Brian Koscelansky, who is providing bond counsel, discussed the refinancing of a 2003 bond issue with the supervisors.

Koscelansky is helping the supervisors draft an ordinance that will allow them to refinance the bond more quickly when interest rates are good.

Box said the township was looking into refinancing several months ago when bond interest rates dropped but since then, they have gone back up. Refinancing would allow the township to save money without incurring new debt or an extension of debt.

Rock wall

The supervisors approved the removal of a rock wall on Pioneer Avenue following a complaint from a citizen.

Brian Lewis, of West Mount Airy Road, attended the July and August supervisors meetings to speak about his concerns about the deteriorating wall that is often hit by cars and school buses, causing rocks to fall into the road. He was also in attendance on Nov. 11 to see where the township stands on the issue.

Sebastian was trying to learn through the county whether the township owns the wall or if it is on private property. Roadmaster Don Fritzges said, as far as he knows, the wall lies in the right-of-way.

Solicitor Ben Jones said the township has the right to remove the wall and even the duty to do so as it may be hazardous. He also advised having the residents whose property is adjacent to the wall sign a release relieving the township of liability for any work performed in the removal.