At the Nov. 7 North Hanover Township Committee meeting, the committee introduced an ordinance appropriating $300,000 and authorizing the issuance of $285,500 in general improvement bonds to finance improvemen
by David Kilby, Special Writer
NORTH HANOVER — As North Hanover awaits grant money from Burlington County for park improvements, residents are questioning the issuance of a bond ordinance for the same purpose.
At the Nov. 7 North Hanover Township Committee meeting, the committee introduced an ordinance appropriating $300,000 and authorizing the issuance of $285,500 in general improvement bonds to finance improvements to School House Road Park.
Committee members said the confusion regarding the grant and bond is just a simple misunderstanding.
”This town has been very fortunate to qualify for a grant a second time around,” Mayor Jim Durr said, adding that the township has received two grants from Burlington County over three years and that when the township takes out bonds while awaiting the grant money the county reimburses them.
However, a few residents questioned the bond ordinance, saying it doesn’t make sense to bond for something they’ve received a grant for even though the grant money hasn’t yet been received.
”I don’t understand how the township is bonding for something that moneys came in for, dedicated for that,” said John Kocubinski, of Province Line Road, and former mayor of North Hanover.
”The freeholders will pay us the grant money,” Mayor Durr said to The Register-News during a break before executive session, adding that there is an “established time table” for the county to reimburse the township.
The School House Road Park has been renovated with refurbished tennis and basketball courts, a walking path and new playground equipment, the mayor added.
He said the township is taking out the bond “in order to protect the stability of the town … in case we’re not covered by the county.
”There’s no rabbit in the box, so forget about it,” the mayor said to Mr. Kocubinski during the meeting.
”We haven’t collected money from the county and there are bills due that come out of the township’s surplus,” he added. “We’re waiting to collect funds from the grant.”
”I’m looking at facts. I’m not interpreting,” Mr. Kocubinski told the mayor in response.
The back and forth discussions raised additional concerns from other residents.
”Why are you being so antagonistic,” asked Joe Kuc of Cookstown-New Egypt Road. “You’re here to answer our questions, are you not?”
Committeeman Mike Moscatiello responded, noting potential lingering “anxiety” to the Nov. 5 election in which Mr. Durr and fellow Republican incumbent Deborah A. Butler, defeated Democrats John S. Kocubinski and Brendan O’Donnell for terms on the Township Committee.
”We’re all trying to have a dialogue. If you conduct yourself in a professional manner all of us will respond in a professional manner,” Committeeman Moscatiello said.
According to unofficial election results from Burlington County, Mr. Durr and Ms. Butler garnered 727 and 721 votes while Mr. Kocubinski and Mr. O’Donnell received 580 and 535 votes, respectively.
Christine Germann, of Mary Street, also questioned the committee.
”With all due respect, this is not the first time I’ve seen a grant reflected as having been received in cash when the money was not actually received from the county,” she said, and referred to a municipal alliance grant she said the township recorded as having been received.
Mr. Moscatiello said after being on the dais for 10 years, he finds it sad that certain residents still distrust the committee.
”We all live in North Hanover Township,” he said. “Sometimes we have residents wishing for the failure of the committee rather than the success of the township. I find that disheartening when we work as hard as we can and try to be as transparent as possible.”
A public hearing on the ordinance will be held Dec. 5 at 7p.m.