Public opposed original increase of $15 per month
By Stephanie Prokop, Staff Writer
NORTH HANOVER—The Township Committee voted unanimously Thursday night to amend an ordinance that would increase mobile home municipal service fees $5, not the proposed $15.
A public hearing for the amended ordinance is set for May 21, and will be at the municipal building.
The increase in fees could be seen in early June.
After several hours of public comment, Mayor Michael Moscatiello said he felt a $5 increase would be the best compromise at this point, but added that the committee would be sure to revisit the fee increase on an annual basis.
Approximately 65 residents came out to oppose the ordinance, which would have doubled mobile home pad fees from $15 per month to $30 per month, reminding the committee that the mobile park residents are “a community of fixed income residents.”
The fee is used to offset what the township must pay for fire, police, and emergency medical services.
Shortly after reconvening from a break, the Township Committee said it had taken into consideration the many residents’ stories, and decided to raise the fee by a smaller increment than what was first proposed.
Called a “pad fee,” the committee said the fee was to offset the cost of services to the township. The fee would affect approximately 640 mobile homes in the township.
The last time the fee had been increased was in 1990.
Mayor Moscatiello said the reason behind the sudden proposed 50 percent increase was to bring equity to other members of the North Hanover community, including homeowners, so there could be a more uniform fee application throughout the township.
Still, many residents questioned why the fee increase had to jump so suddenly, and asked the committee to consider increasing the fee gradually, in $5 increments over time.
One resident asked what brought the sudden realization that the fee, which hadn’t been adjusted since 1990, was due for an increase.
“What brings this up now,” he asked, “Is there some budget problem that you anticipate?”
Committeeman Jim Durr said officials had stumbled upon the imbalance during the normal budget review.
Former Township Committeeman John Kocubinski asked the committee to provide residents with an analysis to show them where the fees were increasing.
Deputy Mayor Bill Tilton said the reason the township decided to hike the fees this year was to “close the gap,” as the township anticipates the rising costs of pensions, energy, and other capital improvements.
Mr. Durr reiterated that the purpose of increase was for uniform fee application.
“We have an obligation to collect for services in the most equitable way possible,” he said, and added that the decision to do so had not been taken lightly.
Several residents of the trailer parks had hired Lori Greenberg, an attorney from Marlton, to represent the residents, and gave testimony to the committee asking for a “complete analysis” to be given to all of the residents.
After the recess, the audience met the unanimous decision with applause, and several residents said they were satisfied as they left the municipal building.