By Frank Mustac, Special Writer
A $4.5 million bond ordinance primarily for road repair was adopted by the Hopewell Township Committee on May 24, but a $20,000-plus ordinance for the Washington Crossing Park Estates water utility was denied.
The $4,498,680 bond ordinance provides for various capital improvements, including $3,555,680 for road improvements and chip seal maintenance.
Also as part of the bond, the Department of Public Works will buy a dump truck, a hook lift truck and front end loader, for which the total combined amount appropriated is $505,500.
The vehicles will be replace ones lost in the aftermath of a March 2015 fire that damaged the DPW building. More than 20 DPW vehicles parked inside the building’s garage at the time were deemed unsafe for use.
The ordinance passed, 4-0, at the May 24 Township Committee meeting held at Union Fire Company in Titusville. Committeewoman Vanessa Sandom was absent.
The $20,750 bond ordinance to pay for a roof on a building housing water utility equipment at Washington Crossing Estates was unanimously denied by the Township Committee after three residents from the housing development spoke at the meeting.
Robert and Natalie Jaroni of Grenloch Drive and Harvey Lester of Continental Lane told committee members that their community wanted the roof work completed as quickly as possible and that it should be able to pay for out of a fund they collectively paid into for water utility maintenance.
Hopewell Township administers the water utility, but all system costs (operation, maintenance, capital repair) are paid by the users of the system.
“My opinion is that we should pay as much of this out of pocket as we can,” Mr. Jaroni said.
“We want it done with our money,” said Mr. Lester, who is a former mayor and committeeman in Hopewell Township.
Committee members John Hart, Todd Brant, Julie Blake and Mayor Kevin Kuchinski all voted to deny the $20,750 bind ordinance so the another ordinance can be drafted for the roof work with financing coming from Washington Crossing Estates residents.
The ordinance is planned to be introduced at the meeting on Monday, June 13. A public hearing and a vote would be June 27.
