MINUTES

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS                          LOWER ALLEN TOWNSHIP

                BUDGET MEETING                                               DECEMBER 2, 2019                           

 

The following were in ATTENDANCE:

 

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS	TOWNSHIP STAFF
H. Edward Black, President Dean W. Villone, Vice President Richard F. Schin	Thomas G. Vernau Jr., Township Manager                       Erin Trone, Assistant Township Manager Richard Grove, Finance Director
Peddrick M. Young, Sr.	David Holl, Director of Public Safety
Carolyn Holtzman	Daniel Flint, Public Works Director
	Leon Crone, Captain, Police Department
	Tina Thomas, Recording Secretary

President Black called the December 2, 2019 Budget Meeting of the Board of Commissioners to order at 6:00 pm.  He announced that Proof of Publication was available for review.  He asked if there was any business pertinent to the Township from the audience. There was no response from the audience.

 

BUDGET DISCUSSION

Mr. Grove began the discussion by referring to a hand-out summary of the previous budget meetings. The budget would be advertised as Ordinance 2019-04. Mr. Grove said that the only change is the addition of computer software for the Finance Department. The $350,000 required to purchase it was borrowed through capital finance for 2019 but it did not get completed. Therefore the money was not spent and it is in the budget for 2020. The higher surplus caused by this in 2019 will be balanced out with the deficit in 2020.

Mr. Vernau said the line item for Manager Salary was left the same as 2019.  Any increase will be officially determined when the Board goes to Executive Session later in the meeting. Otherwise the General Fund budget is as presented last week.

Mr. Vernau spoke about a correction made to the CIP budget under Other Funds. The CIP budget is only used to fund asset acquisition.  Mr. Vernau said there was a $225,000 transfer from the CIP Fund to the General Fund to pay for fixed assets. A correction was made because the sum of money was shown coming into the General Fund but not leaving the CIP Fund.

Mr. Vernau asked if the Commissioners had any questions. Commissioner Holtzman asked if raises were staying at 3% and Mr. Vernau said that they were. He stated that the budget needs to be put on the table for public viewing for 20 days before it is enacted.

Commissioner YOUNG moved to place the 2020 Budget on the table for public view and Commissioner SCHIN seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.

 

ORDINANCES

Commissioner SCHIN moved to authorize staff to advertise Ordinance 2019-03, fixing the tax rates for 2020. Vice President VILLONE seconded the motion and it carried 5-0.

Vice President VILLONE moved to authorize staff to advertise Ordinance 2019-04, enacting the General Fund and Other Funds budgets for 2020. Commissioner SCHIN seconded the motion and it carried 5-0.

 

RECESS TO EXECUTIVE SESSION

The Budget Meeting of the Board of Commissioners recessed at 6:16 pm to discuss the Manager’s salary for 2020.

 

RECONVENE

The Budget Meeting of the Board of Commissioners reconvened at 7:05 pm.

Commissioner HOLTZMAN moved to advertise Ordinance 2019-05, setting the Manager’s salary at $119,025.00 FOR 2020. Commissioner SCHIN seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.

 

ADJOURNMENT

The Budget Meeting of the Board of Commissioners adjourned at 7:07 pm.