Pennington Firehouse expansion also topic
By John Tredrea, Special Writer
Pennington Borough Council took no action during its July 2 meeting on Hopewell Township’s request that the borough contribute $5,000 toward Valley-wide services for senior citizens, officials said.
Council is expected to revisit the issue during its August meeting.
After a long discussion of the issue during the June council meeting, Pennington Mayor Anthony Persichilli said the borough would request information from the township on how money for senior services has been spent in the past and on how many Pennington seniors have used the programs.
In operation for many years on Reading Street in Pennington is the Hopewell Valley Senior Center. Seniors who live in all three of the Valley’s municipalities — Hopewell Township, Hopewell Borough and Pennington — use the center. Senior services are overseen by Abigail Waugh, the Hopewell Valley Senior Services coordinator.
The mayor said in June that the borough might propose to the township an arrangement under which the township would not pay nearly $5,000 toward maintenance of the Senior Center this year, as stipulated by an interlocal agreement passed by both towns several months ago, in exchange for the borough’s not paying the $5,000 the township has requested of the borough for senior services.
ALSO at the July 2 meeting, council conferred with officials of the Pennington Fire Company on a proposed expansion of the Pennington Firehouse, located on Broemel Place.
The expansion was unanimously approved by the borough Planning Board in December 2012.l
The fire officials attended the July 2 meeting to request a change to the deed of the property on which the firehouse is located.
That property is owned by the borough. The deed change is needed for the construction of the addition, which fire officials say is needed to provide space for offices, training and other uses.