ATLAS - Mount Carmel Township supervisors passed a tentative budget Wednesday that doesn't require an increase in taxes for 2015.
The $1,202,580.03 budget was passed on a 2-0 vote with Supervisors Charles Gasperetti and Reynold Scicchitano voting yes. Supervisor Joseph Zanella was absent.
The breakdown of expenses is as follows:
Legislative costs - $10,525.355; auditing services, $9,000; tax collection fees, $20,885.19; solicitor (estimated fees), $12,700; secretary/treasurer, $505.72; general administration, $114,436.84; engineering services, $3,600; government buildings, $16,114.84; police, $515,690.96; fire, $45,911.64; code enforcement, $26,074.64; food pantry, $200; streets, $197,933.40; snow removal, $26,000; traffic control devices, $61,000; repairs tools and machinery,- $6,000; highway maintenance, $7,500; culture and recreation, $700; parks, $2,000; workers compensation insurance, $20,000 (estimated); insurance, $49,301; unclassified expenditures, $56,500.
The board also approved two resolutions waiving the contributions of all eligible members of the township's police department to the police pension fund for fiscal years 2013 and 2014.
Gasperetti and Scicchitano approved an ordinance that authorized the township's participation in the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors' Unemployment Compensation Group Trust.
During public comment, citizen Richard Mychak asked the supervisors if any of the employed secretaries receive extra compensation for the work done for the township's treasurer and secretary, Zanella. Gasperetti answered no, but said that situation would be remedied at the January reorganization meeting.
Locust Gap resident John Laughlin asked about a sewer pipe replacement issue at his residence after a sewer pipe was broken by the contractor doing the Aqua Pennsylvania water main replacement project.
Laughlin told the board he paid a contractor to fix the problem at a cheaper rate than what the original firm that broke the line would charge, and was looking for reimbursement.
Following an executive session with solicitor Vince Rovito and engineer John Bucanelli, supervisors did not make a decision on the matter, saying they do not have all the information on the incident.
In announcements made at the meeting:
- A representative of Congressman Lou Barletta's office will be at the township building from 9 to 11 a.m. today for community outreach.
- Directional parking restrictions are now suspended for the winter.
- Mount Carmel Township's liquid fuels allocation for 2015, $79,453.83, up $4,932.62 from last year, will be received on March 1.
- The offices of Mount Carmel Township will be closed Thursday, Nov. 27, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. Temporary office hours will be from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28 and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 1. Regular hours will resume on Tuesday, Dec. 2.