Duly advertised in The Pottstown Mercury on Tuesday, September 13, 2011 and posted at www.schuylkilltwp.com and www.phoenixvillepatch.com
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Barbara Cohen, Chair, Norman Vutz, Vice Chair, Fred Parry, Treasurer, Jim Morrisson, Laurie Williams
Also present: Mary Bird-Township Manager, Madeline Harbison-Township Secretary
Mrs. Sandy Momyer, Chair-Historical Commission attended the meeting. One (1) resident, Mr. Kevin Handforth, was present in the audience.
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mrs. Cohen at 7:30 p.m. Mrs. Williams was not present at this time.
Mrs. Cohen advised her fellow Board members and the audience that tonight’s budget workshop would be a review of the draft 2012 General Fund receipts budget as well as addressing other business brought before the Board.
Resolutions/Ordinances
Historic Site Overlay District Amendment.
Motion: Mr. Morrisson moved to approve advertising the amendment to the Historic Site Overlay District and to send the Ordinance to the Chester County Planning Commission for review. Mr. Vutz seconded.
Mr. Morrisson mentioned that this ordinance has been a work in progress over the last two years with multiple iterations and that in his opinion, the proposed amendment to the Historic Site Overlay straddles the line between over-legislation and not enough protection for the township’s historic properties.
Motion Vote: The motion passed 4-0-0. Mrs. Williams was not present for this vote.
Mrs. Cohen requested that discussion of the remaining motion be tabled until Mrs. Williams was present.
Budget Workshop
Mrs. Cohen invited Mr. Parry to open the budget workshop.
Mr. Parry expressed his disappointment that residents had not come out for this budget planning meeting. He then commended the township manager for her work in preparing the draft 2012 budget for the Board’s review. Mr. Parry stated that this was the first budget workshop, only the General Fund receipts portion of the 2012 draft budget would be reviewed this evening, and that it is a balanced budget with no township tax increase and no service cuts. Mr. Parry reminded the Board that in this economic climate, it is necessary to distinguish between true and perceived municipal needs during the budget review process.
Mr. Parry then proposed that a five year strategic plan be drawn up for the township. This would serve as a blueprint for the budget plan and a forecasting tool for major disbursements. He also suggested that in the future, a written summary accompany the draft budget explaining key items. Mr. Parry then turned the discussion over the Mrs. Bird.
Mrs. Bird mentioned that 2012 would be the fifth year in a row that the township has not raised taxes. The township has been able to maintain services while still putting money away. She reiterated that the 2012 draft budget presented to the Board is balanced with the inclusion of a carryover of $377,710.00.
Mrs. Williams arrived at 7:45 P.M.
Mrs. Bird explained that real estate tax revenues are flat from 2011 to 2012 because re-assessments are still taking place at an unprecedented rate. Assessments township-wide are down about twenty percent since 2008. However, real estate transfers are up by about twenty-seven percent and the earned income tax revenue has increased slightly. The 2012 budgeted receipts are $5,639,210.00.
A motion was made by Mrs. Williams to authorize Gilmore & Associates to explore other trail options. The motion died for lack of a second.
Mrs. Cohen called for a motion to approve Supervisor Williams’ voluntary 3-month leave of absence from the Board of Supervisors. Mrs. Williams stated that she withdraws her request for a leave of absence unless Resolution Nos. 2011-15 and 2011-16 are rescinded. Mrs. Williams went on to say that she has dropped her lawsuit against Supervisors Cohen and Morrisson.
There being no further business for discussion, the Board adjourned the meeting at 8:20 p.m.
Next Board of Supervisors’ Meeting:
Regular Business Meeting: October 05, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.
Budget Workshop No. 2: October 24, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Madeline M. Harbison
Township Secretary