Ordinance scheduled for public hearing and adoption vote on July 8.
By John Tredrea
Saying the measure is needed for budgetary reasons, the full Hopewell Township Committee voted unanimously June 19 to introduce an ordinance that, if adopted, would raise the fees the township charges for a variety of services.
The ordinance is scheduled for a public hearing and adoption vote at the committee’s July 8 meeting, which begins at 7 p.m.
Township Administrator Christine Smeltzer said the intent of the proposed ordinance is to close the budgetary gap between fees the township currently charges and the services it provides in exchange for collecting those fees.
Most of the proposed fee increases are in the portion of the township health code pertaining to sewerage and water fees. Among them:
The fee for the construction and inspection of a private sewage disposal system would be increased from $200 to $500 if the ordinance is adopted.
The fee charged for alteration of an existing private sewage disposal system would be increased from $100 to $200.
The fee for construction and inspection of a non-public water supply system would be increased from $100 to $200.
The fee for each reinspection caused by the failure of the permit-holder to act in accordance with the terms of his or her water permit would be increased from $10 to $50.
The fee for construction and inspection of a public water system would be increased from $150 to $300.
The annual permit fee for a commercial swimming pool or natural bathing place would be increased from $50 to $100.
During the June 19 meeting, Committeewoman Vanessa Sandom said none of the fees covered by the proposed measure have been raised since the early 1990s.