The proposal calls for a 4-cent municipal purposes tax-rate increase, meaning 48 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. For a house assessed at $200,000, the tax would be $960
By:Catherine P. Moscarello
At Hopewell Borough’s regular meeting Monday, the governing body introduced its 2001 municipal budget plan, which totals $1,836,975.71. Of that amount, $187,257.71 is for the reserve for uncollected taxes of.
The proposal calls for a 4-cent municipal purposes tax-rate increase, meaning 48 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. For a house assessed at $200,000, the tax would be $960.
A public hearing on the budget will take place at a special meeting on April 16 at Borough Hall. This meeting will be in addition to the regular council meeting scheduled for April 2.
According to Councilman Henry Wittman, the budget plan "mirrors the previous year" with some minor adjustments.
Borough auditor Robert Inverso said, "this year, we have a 48-cent rate," 4 cents more than the 2000 tax rate for municipal purposes. One cent of the increase comes from the 1-cent open space tax that Hopewell voters OK’d at the November 2000 election. The other 3 cents comes from items such as: an increase in the amount of the police contact with Hopewell Township, an additional position in the borough office, and some extra money for buildings and grounds work according to Sharon Reed, who is filling in for Clerk Hilary Fortenbaugh. Ms. Reed retired from her long-time post as Pennington clerk last June.
Mr. Wittman said, "I would like to see everybody get what they asked for but the town has to make hard choices. It’s critical that we provide capital improvements in buildings and grounds, new shade trees and that we make public buildings handicapped accessible. We face possible fines if that doesn’t begin to happen."
Full discussion on the budget included a closed session about salaries after the public portion of the meeting. Councilman Thomas Dallesio said council could do some shifting of line items from some salaries for 2001. An appropriation of $30,000 in the administration category for a proposed full-time position can be restudied, for example.
In other business Monday, Director of Public Works Herb Ruehle gave council an update on the winter’s snow and ice removal and requested an appropriation for new equipment. "The dump truck and leaf sucker we use are 1960-vintage and we should probably donate them to a museum when we replace them."
Mr. Ruehle noted that a cooperative agreement with Hopewell Township resulted in a much lower cost to the borough for salt purchases. He also said the township has agreed to begin bulk collection of household items on a schedule that Mr. Ruehle will publicize soon.
Preventive water system maintenance work for some Hart Avenue properties are on the agenda of David Misiolek, water supervisor. Mr. Misiolek requested permission to engage Castoro’s trucking company to haul backfill materials from the quarry into town for this and future water system repair projects. "It’s really a cost and time saving measure since Castoro’s trucks can carry 16 to 20 tons in one trip versus the borough’s trucks that can only handle about four tons."
Council approved the request and Councilman Mackie noted, "The less truck traffic we have in town, the better."
East Amwell’s tax collector, Mary Hyland, will fill the borough’s slot for that position following a vote to hire her Monday night. "This will fill a needed service of having someone on hand on a regular basis to answer the public’s questions," said Mr. Dallesio. The job has been vacant for four months. Ms. Hyland also is being considered for the position of Planning Board secretary.
Councilman David Knights proposed that an RFP (Request for Proposal) be distributed to various architectural firms so that council can begin to consider options of revamping the present municipal building, constructing a new one or using a current building with modifications.
David Anderson, president of the Hopewell Library Board of Trustees, wondered if the library would have a separate building or be part of a new municipal complex. Mr. Knights assured him that there is no plan for two separate buildings at this time.
Councilman David Nettles said the current version of the RFP indicates that responders should show options for library space in the plans.
During committee reports, Mr. Nettles said the police contract with Hopewell Township would be considered in closed session under salary discussions.
Mr. Knights reported on the Planning Board’s peaceful resolution of a long-standing issue concerning renovation of the Volvo garage at the main intersection of town. "Skip Rawson has already begun working on the property and the adjacent yellow house that will get a new roof and new siding. This completes 10 years of stalled action and no action."
Mr. Knights also announced a firm commitment for tenants on the second floor of the Hopewell Railroad Station. "Tenancy should begin as of July 1 and two separate leases, one private and one out for bid will be in place." Councilman Alice C. Huston said negotiations with the cable service provider, Comcast, are close to resolution. Representatives will come before council at the next meeting to provide details.
Ms. Huston also announced that there will be a Recreation Roundtable meeting on March 27 at which the topic of the Timberlane athletic fields project will be discussed. Mr. Knights said, "I weigh in strongly in favor of this. This is a great plan for services desperately needed by the town."
Ms. Huston said the school board backs the project. "Busing will be eliminated for sporting events and the location will give a recreational campus to the area," Ms. Huston said.
The Recreation Department hosted a "Spring Fling" Sunday at the railroad station. Ms. Huston said area businesses donated most of the necessary material and refreshments for the event and cost to the borough was under $200. Citizens who have contributed their time to the recreation program were honored, she said. Mr. Dallesio commented "the event showed what Hopewell is all about."
Mr. Dallesio’s reported that the Economic Development Committee plans to print a brochure to help new businesses learn the ropes of starting up in town. "There have been a few horror stories of people not knowing where and how to proceed to get their businesses established and we’d like to help them do better."
During the public portion of the meeting, Hart Avenue resident, Fred VanLiew, asked for clarification of recycling procedures. "I’ve been putting out shredded paper in cardboard cartons for the longest time and the last recycling day, they weren’t picked up. If there’s some reason why this is happening; people in Hopewell need to know about it."
Councilman David Mackie said he’d investigate the situation and inform the public about recycling materials and proper methods to dispose of them.
Hart Avenue resident Sue Sylvestri asked council to consider the possibility of locating the municipal services in a building "we already have. Do we have to build a new one?"
Council President Dallessio presided Monday in the absence of Mayor George Padgett.