The Board of Supervisors is working with the New Hope-Solebury Library and the Solebury Historical Society to look for additional room on another site, possibly the Paxson property at Route 202 and Aquetong Road.
By: Carl Reader
SOLEBURY The Board of Supervisors was looking for elbow room and wiggle room at its meeting Feb. 5.
The board searched for and found a way to put back on the table its need to expand municipal facilities. It also reported on the ongoing possibility of joining with the Free Library of New Hope-Solebury and the Solebury Historical Society to look for additional facilities on another site, possibly the Paxson property at Route 202 and Aquetong Road.
Deciding on how to expand was not an easy issue for the board.
"There is an increased sense of urgency," board Chairman William Tinsman said.
In October, the board tabled its discussion of expanding the municipal facilities, perhaps by putting trailers on the present site of the township building. Board Engineer Bob Williams reported to the supervisors he was pursuing the cheapest way to go. He gave four alternatives lease a new trailer, lease a used trailer, buy a new trailer or buy a used trailer. It would take two to three years before the township would have usable space, Mr. Williams said, considering the work needed to be done on design, bidding and permits.
Mr. Williams will go on with his work on finding out the most efficient way to proceed, and the board will take action at its next meeting, according to Mr. Tinsman.
There will be two new township employees in the next six months, including a township manager, and the board would need to accommodate them, according to board member Thomas Caracio.
"We need to take this off hold and put on the active slate," Mr. Caracio said. He said the board needed to "make a decision and put this back on the table."
Board member John Eichert said most people thought the present location was the one to use for expansion, and the board needed to focus on what the requirements were to go forward, and what the future requirements of township government would be.
"One thing we agree on is we have to do something to fix this situation," Mr. Tinsman said. "We are out of space."
Board member J. Peter Grover requested the board take the question off hold. He also pointed out another agenda item was a report about the possible participation of the township in the purchase of a property, perhaps the Paxson property, with the library and the society. He said the board had kicked around the issue for eight years, and each year, it gets worse.
Board member Stephen Phillips moved to schedule a public work session on the issue. Mr. Caracio moved to put a public work session with four goals. Mr. Tinsman said a commitment would come out of a public works session with some direction.
"We shouldn’t have a shirk session, but a work session," Mr. Caracio said.
The board bandied back and forth motions for a work session that had the audience laughing in amusement.
"I’m confused as hell here," Mr. Eichert said. "Everybody is saying the same thing."
Board attorney Stephen Harris emphasized the board had to put the issue back on the table before it could act on it, and the board finally voted to do that and have a public work session, tentatively set for 4 p.m. Feb. 25.
Just as the board had trouble deciding how to approach the problem of expansion on the present township site, it also recognized the difficulties of possibly expanding on the Paxson property or another property.
Mr. Eichert pointed out the Paxson property did not meet many of the township’s needs, and there was an easement problem. He said he would want to ask the Heritage Conservancy what is permitted there, but also said there was a lot of energy behind the move to another site.
Mr. Caracio reported on a meeting with the library and the society at the library in which the society expressed a preference for the Paxson property because of its historical significance.
He said the library most likely would have to find funding to put up a new building. The township would be an occupant at the new property part of the time, using a meeting or community room there. He added the meeting was very positive.
"Your obligation is to the township," resident Joyce Overpeck said. "What are you going to do if you set this up and it falls through?"
She further questioned the contribution of the society, and Mr. Grover said the society would contribute $40,000 to $60,000.
The three groups meet at 4 p.m. every Thursday in executive session in a study group, according to Mr. Grover, to hash out the possibilities of getting together to work on the issue.