PENNINGTON: Water and sewer rate increases OK’d by council

By John Tredrea, Special Writer
   An ordinance increasing Pennington’s water and sewer rates was adopted by the Borough Council on Monday night.
   Councilman Glen Griffiths, who chairs the council’s Finance Committee, said the ordinance will result in a rate increase of just under 1 percent for commercial and industrial users and one-half of 1 percent for the average homeowner.
   Mr. Griffiths said adoption of the ordinance will give the borough revenue needed to maintain the water and sewer systems properly.
   Also during Monday night’s brief Council meeting, David Clingman was appointed to a three-year term on the borough’s Parks and Recreation Commission.
   The council also introduced an ordinance clarifying qualifications for the members of the borough’s Historic Preservation Commission.
   Borough Clerk Betty Sterling said the proposed measure would put the borough in compliance with the portion of the state’s Land Use Law that pertains to classification of members on the commission.
   The commission was formed last year when an historic district was created after much controversy in central Pennington. Certificates of appropriateness from the commission are required of property owners who want to demolish or make certain alterations to their building or buildings.
   The council also charged its Public Safety Committee, which is chaired by Councilman Weed Tucker, to begin work on drafting an ordinance that would regulate festivals and large assemblies in the borough. The move comes in the wake of problems at a fundraising dance at the Pennington School several weeks ago.
   Three Hopewell Township youths, all students at Hopewell Valley Central High School, were charged with underage consumption of alcohol at that event. Police said all three were extremely drunk.
   One of the three youths, a girl, was found passed out in a stall in the women’s lavatory.
   Police also said as many as 750 people may have attended the event. The permit for the event was for a maximum of 500 people.