$250,000 bond would fund work at library
By John Tredrea, Special Writer
Consideration of a proposed $250,000 bond ordinance that, if adopted, will fund reconstruction of the tin roof on the city library was on the agenda of the Lambertville City Council’s Tuesday night (April 22) meeting.
If the council votes to introduce the ordinance, it can be put on the agenda of the May council meeting for a public hearing and adoption vote. That meeting has been scheduled for May 20,
Another proposed ordinance on the agenda would appropriate $2,800 from the city’s general capital fund for the purchase of a digital recording system for the city’s court.
Two ordinances were scheduled for public hearings and adoption votes at the Tuesday night session.
One of the measures, if approved as expected, will appropriate $50,000 from the city’s general capital fund for the purchase of an F-350 pick up truck and the refurbishment of a garbage truck in the city’s public works department. The other ordinance, if adopted, will authorize the creation of a handicapped parking spot in front of 84 York St.
Also on the agenda was a vote on a resolution that, if approved by the Council, will permit the Parent Teacher Organization of the West Amwell School to hold a Casino Night at the New Hope-Lambertville Ambulance and Rescue Squad, at 70 Alexander Road, on June 6.
THE PUBLIC HEARING and adoption vote on Lambertville’s proposed budget for 2014 will be held at City Hall, instead of the Justice Center, where the City Council normally meets.
The public hearing and anticipated adoption vote on this year’s proposed spending plan have been scheduled for 7 p.m. on May 8.
City officials say adoption of the budget would bring a minimal tax increase — $12 for the year for the average homeowner.
”For the average Lambertville homeowner, whose home is assessed at $350,875, municipal property taxes will go up one dollar a month, or $12 a year, under this budget,” Mayor David DelVecchio said. “That’s a tax increase of two-thirds of 1 percent.”
The city is downsizing its personnel rolls, the mayor said.
”Under this budget, we’re down one police officer, down one public works employee and down one-half a position in the city clerk’s office,” he said. “We’ve made the city tax collector a part-time position, saving $10,000, and transition is working well.”
The budget includes a 2 percent raise for all municipal employees except police, who are negotiating their own contract now. “A first-class patrolman is retiring in May. He’ll be replaced by someone at a lower rate of pay, so we’ll save there,” the mayor said.
”We saved $2,000 by switching our phone service to Magellan Hill from Verizon.”
He said the city has saved another $2,000 annually by switching City Hall from oil heat to gas heat and another $10,000 by switching the library from electric heat to gas heat.
The severe winter cost the city $20,000 in overtime pay, for employees plowing and salting city streets.

