By: Vic Monaco
HIGHTSTOWN St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church wants the borough to return $25,000 to its coffers.
And Borough Council could take action Monday to get that refund in motion.
Pastor Pat McDonnell told the council Nov. 20 that the church had paid that amount in protest this year as a requirement of the borough’s 2004 affordable housing law that requires contributions when there are building expansions. While the church recently built an annex, Pastor McDonnell said, it is the church’s belief that such fees should only be required of developers and certainly not from a church that already does much for the community.
"We’re hoping council will see that St. Anthony’s is giving back to the community substantially more than this tax," he said.
For example, he pointed specifically to two programs that help lower income residents the church’s English as Second Language classes and its food pantry.
"The parish of St. Anthony’s has tried to do things to relieve the stresses of the community," he said.
"We’re struggling," he added. "To be relieved of this $25,000 payment would be a great help for us…"
Borough Attorney Fred Raffetto told council that it could change language in the ordinance to exempt certain organizations, such as nonprofits, and return the money the church had paid.
Councilman Walter Sikorski said that while "religious organizations could come under one paradigm," he wouldn’t want the law to exempt all nonprofit groups.
"The Peddie School doesn’t contribute property taxes," he said. "I don’t want to see it move in that direction."
Mayor Bob Patten suggested that Mr. Raffetto present the council with new language for the ordinance by Monday’s meeting.
Mr. Raffetto said this week that an ordinance introduction with the new language exempting religious organizations is expected to be on the agenda. The exemption would apply only if no new residential units were being created or something that would increase the number of jobs in town, he said.
The ordinance could go for Planning Board review on Dec. 11 and return for council approval on Dec. 18, the mayor said.
Borough government critic Gene Sarafin called the situation "embarrassing."
"Why, in God’s name, would you charge a church?" he asked council.

