Two ordinances expected to come up for adoption Feb. 21: one concerning sewer fees and the other, police salaries
By: John Tredrea
Township officials introduced two ordinances last week that, if adopted, would affect sewer service costs and police salaries.
Increases in sewer fees to several areas of Hopewell Township are expected to be approved by the Township Committee soon.
The increases are called for by an ordinance introduced by a unanimous committee vote Feb. 7. The ordinance is scheduled for a public hearing and adoption vote Feb. 21.
Under the proposed ordinance, residents of the 1,300-unit Brandon Farms development, located in the southeastern section of the township, would see their sewer bills go up about $16 to $18 per quarter, or $64 to $72 a year. Brandon Farms’ wastewater is collected and treated by the Ewing-Lawrence Sewerage Authority (ELSA).
Township Administrator Christine Smeltzer and other officials say the increase is necessary to keep treatment of Brandon Farms wastewater in compliance with a township ordinance requiring all costs of wastewater treatment to be paid by users of that treatment. ELSA bills township government for the sewer service it provides Brandon Farms, and the township bills individual residents to cover what it owes ELSA. Under the proposed ordinance, the rates charged to Brandon Farms residents would go up from $6.26 per 1,000 gallons of wastewater treatment to $7.26 per 1,000 gallons.
Also covered by the ordinance are residents of the 120-home Princeton Farm and 67-home Hopewell Hunt developments, located off Pennington-Rocky Hill Road in the east-central section of the township. The wastewater from both developments is treated by the Stony Brook Regional Sewerage Authority (SBRSA). Under the ordinance, each home in both developments would see its sewer charges go up $25 per quarter, or $100 per year.
This will enable the township to continue having the costs of SBRSA treatment borne only by users of that treatment. The SBRSA bills the township, which bills residents of Princeton Farms and Hopewell Hunt to cover what it owes SBRSA.
A small portion of the $100 annual increase will be used to cover repairs to leaky sewer pipes in Princeton Farms, Ms. Smeltzer said.
Another ordinance introduced by a unanimous Township Committee vote Feb. 7, and also due for an adoption vote Feb. 21, states the annual salary of the township police chief shall be no lower than $15,000 above the salary of lieutenant, the next rank below chief.
The proposed ordinance also states that the annual salary of lieutenant shall be no lower than $10,000 a year above the salary of the highest paid sergeant on the township force.
Police Chief Michael Chipowsky’s current salary is $93,028, township financial officer Elaine Cruikshank-Borges said Wednesday. Lts. George Meyer and Bruce Carnall each make $81,028 annually, or $12,000 less than the chief. This means that the chief would get a $3,000 annual raise (or 3.2 percent) if the proposed ordinance passes. The raise would put him at $15,000 a year higher than the lieutenants.
The senior sergeant on the township force is Woody Benner, who makes $71,028 a year, Ms. Cruikshank-Borges said. This is $10,000 less than the lieutenants make, so no increase to the lieutenants salaries would be required if the ordinance passes.
IN OTHER BUSINESS, the Township Committee voted unanimously to hire Edward McManimon as bond counsel., and to accept the resignation of James Scott from the township construction office.