MINUTES

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS	LOWER ALLEN TOWNSHIP
BUDGET MEETING	OCTOBER 3, 2022
The following were in ATTENDANCE:
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS	TOWNSHIP PERSONNEL
Dean W. Villone, PresidentH. Edward Black, Vice PresidentThomas KutzJoshua Nagy Jennifer Caron	Erin G. Trone, Assistant Township ManagerDavid Holl, Public Safety DirectorRichard Grove, Finance DirectorRebecca Davis, Public Works Director Leon G. Crone, Police Captain Renee’ Greenawalt, Recording Secretary

President Villone called the October 3, 2022 Special Budget Meeting of the Board of Commissioners to order at 6:01 PM. He announced that Proof of Publication for this meeting was available for review. This was followed by a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.

ANY BUSINESS PERTINENT TO THE TOWNSHIP

President Villone noted that if anyone wished to speak at that time, there would be 15 minutes allotted per person to speak at the podium. There were none.

BUDGET INTRODUCTION

Director Grove presented an overview of the financial status of the Township. He discussed the four phases of a municipal lifecycle and described Lower Allen as a township in transition from growth to the maturity phase as it continues to increase in population, income, and services. The core motivators driving financial decisions shift from right sizing the needs of the future to that of maintenance. He noted that the Township would be firmly within the mature phase within a decade, and that over time, financial decisions would shift into that direction.

Director Grove also reviewed the Board’s five-year financial plan, created in 2020 through a resolution, and the restrictions within that resolution. Regarding the fund balance draw down limit, Director Grove noted there would be little need to draw down funds, if any. He noted that there would be no need for a tax increase within the five-year period. Finally, he noted the spending growth limits of 2.5% for Fire and 7.5% for Public Safety and indicated the department budget proposals were well within the limits. Police, EMS, and Public Safety make up 52% of the general fund expenditures. Director Grove said he was impressed with the department’s efforts to comply with the spending caps, noting their innovation and success in doing so. He noted the need to include a new service level into the budget with the anticipated new SRO, as well as three unknown factors that will have impacts to the budget: COLA for non-uniform employees, health insurance premiums and workers’ compensation premiums. All will be factored into the budget once they become known.

President Villone asked Director Grove if funds had been added to the fund balance. Director Grove said $2 million had been added and noted that at the end of the five years, the Township will look at floating a bond for fire apparatus and other needs. The goal is to increase their bond rating from AA to AAA, which will save additional money and put them in a good financial position.

Commissioner Nagy asked Director Grove if there is an overall surplus or deficit for the year. Director Grove said he is projecting to break even.

Department of Public Safety

Director Holl presented the budget for the Department of Public Safety, noting that while the budgetary impact of COVID-19 had eased, it was still having some impact. Expenditures were held in 2022 where possible and budget caps did not exceed 7.5%, in accordance with the limitations established through Resolution 2020-R-07, which was adopted following the 2019 Ad Hoc Study. He noted that for each discipline, Police (411), EMS (412), and Public Safety (415), the budget meets or is lower than the base limitations maximum percentage allowed while still meeting service demands.

Director Holl highlighted new projects for 2023. First, in the Police Department, the new SRO position to begin in August 2023. For EMS, the hiring of a replacement hybrid trained EMT and the implementation of a professional development opportunity. For Public Safety, an increase in part-time PSO hours and the addition of a specialized full-time PSO for training, onboarding, and mentoring beginning in July. Finally, he introduced the new Cumberland County Radio Project, anticipated to launch in the fall of 2023, with the implementation of the P-25 Motorola national system, capable of multi-county interoperability. He provided funding details for the expenditure, including the application for ARRPA funds.

Commissioner Caron inquired about the life expectancy of the radios and systems. Director Holl said the radios were about ten years and the system about 20-30 years.

Next, Director Holl addressed specific significant changes for each operating budget.

410 – Police Department Budget
410-132 – Salary Patrolmen: The budget represents an increase of .75 officers with the addition of the SRO. Also, there could be an additional new hire if a current officer leaves.
410.191 Uniform Purchase: Significant reduction of (-18.1%) Replacement of five of each (vests, helmets, and gas masks).
410.245 Operating Supplies: Reduction of (-17.5%) Replacement of older taser unites and accessories.
410.260 Minor Equipment: 34.6% reduction – firearms purchased last year, along with other costly items that do not need to be purchased this year. Adding Cellebrite cell phone cracking/copying hardware and software ($7,000), Zetx phone tracking and analytics ($5,000) and laser light replacement for handguns ($7,500).
410-312 Software and License: $28,000 – Cody Pathfinder Transition, major change in records management system to upgrade to a cloud-based system with anywhere mobile access and a direct link to COBRA. $11,000 LPR Maintenance, $6,000 TraffiCloud Web-based Traffic Device and Management System.
410.318 Other Professional: Cell tower data dumps $4,000
410.421 Training: four officers seeking tuition reimbursement at $4,000 each. (-24.1%)

Commissioner Caron asked about the policy for tuition reimbursement. Director Holl noted that once an officer accepts the funds, they are required to stay with the department for two years.

410.730 Machines, Equipment & Vehicles: The two highest mileage patrol cars will be replaced. $136,070. Cumberland County Radio Replacement project $346,680.

Commissioner Nagy asked about the mileage of the patrol vehicles. Captain Crone explained they are usually driven about 30,000 miles per year. Commissioner Nagy also noted the importance of the cell phone data software being integral to investigative work.

There was a brief discussion about the early adoption in using gas-electric hybrid patrol vehicles in the Township. Those earlier vehicles experienced some electronic issues and are being phased out.

412 – EMS Department Budget

Director Holl explained the addition of new personnel has been delayed by improved efficiencies operationally and administratively, and professional development of the AEMT’s.

The 2022 EMS budget was impacted by inflation and unplanned personnel challenges, which were successfully managed. A hybrid position will be filled that will split scheduled time between EMS and Fire and will encompass both EMT certification and minimum entry level PSO qualifications. This enhances the current program to use dual certified EMS staff in a limited fire-rescue response. The 2023 fulltime staff complement continues at 11 providers.

412.140 ALS Salary: $296,700 – 4 Paramedics with one Flex FT
412.140 EMT’s Salary: $276,160 – 6 FT EMT’s authorized (2 at the IALS level) – currently 5 FT EMT’s and one replacement with a “Hybrid” duly trained EMT with Firefighter I credentials

Director Holl reviewed increases in the 2023 EMS Budget, and explained they are due to inflation, quality improvements, organizational structure, and personnel. Medical inflation is estimated to be 8% in 2023.

Inflationary Costs
412.231 Gasoline (+$1,000)
4121.232 Diesel (+$1,000)
412.243 EMS Supplies (+$4,000)
412.245 Oxygen (+$250)
412.246 Medications (+$1,000)

Quality Improvements
412.18 Other Professional: reduced 28.1%
412.321 Communication: addition of an iPad and modem, increase of $10
412.374 Maintenance and Equipment Repairs: increased to cover the cost of hydrostatic testing for O2 cylinders, increase of $760.
412.378 Radio Repair & Maintenance: Increase in pager batteries of $300.
412.421 Training: no budget impact
412.730: Cumberland County Radio replacement project: $164,154

415 – Public Safety
Director Holl addressed significant changes to the operating budget.

415.132 Salary – $314,060 for seven full time Public Safety Officers (PSOs), which includes filling the 6^th FT position in fall 2022 and an additional PSO beginning in July 2023. The new position will be dedicated to training programs for all personnel, onboarding, and mentoring.
415.134: Increase in hours of PT PSOs from 2500 to 4500 annually to cover additional shifts experiencing reductions in volunteer turnout. There was a brief discussion regarding the volunteer shortage, particularly during overnight hours. The increase in part time hours for added staffing is targeted to meet minimum compliance requirements with NFPA.
415.191 Uniform Purchase: reduced (-24.1%)
415.192 Uniform Maintenance: Reduced (-33.3%)
415.210 Office Supplies: Reduced (-37.54%)
415.220 General Expenditure: Reduced (-25%)
415.245 Operating Supplies:  Reduced (-47.4%)
415.260 Minor Equipment: Reduced (-84.5%)
415.312 Software and License: Increased expenditure of $1,100 for increase in Power DMS licenses. Also, purchase in the amount of $3,750 for Power FTO, providing greater simplicity and accountability for the field training and onboarding processes.
415.312 Other Professional: Phase 3 of the Station Location Study. $4,995 for Station 2 architectural digitized schematics following the 2022 building assessment completion. $4,900 for fire-rescue township apparatus study. $4,950 for Public Safety Township fire rescue staffing study to complement the apparatus and previous facility study. Phase 4 station two feasibility study is anticipated as budget funding request in 2024.
415.321 Communications Expense: $8,200 for the ReGroup “LA Alerts” software (an increase of $334), $900 for increase in mobile data charges, and $1,000 increase for cell phone upgrades.
415.325 Postage was reduced by (-50%).
415.421 Training: Reduction of (-20.4%) for tuition reimbursement since there were fewer requests.
415.422 Public Relations: Reduction of (-5.6%)
415.730 Machines, Equipment & Vehicles – Capital Budget Items: $12,500 for preemptive device for one intersection, which is part of an ongoing annual program to build-out all traffic signals with emergency response devices.
411.730 Cumberland County Radio system replacement: $359,650. The expenditure includes mobile vehicle radios, portable radios, base stations and cache radios for Public Safety and Township EMA.

In conclusion, Director Holl reported that the Lower Allen and Lisburn Fire Department budgets would be presented during the regular meeting on 10/24/2022.

President Villone expressed appreciation for the presentation and for adherence to the fiscal policy that was established and noted that the budgets were in good shape and all needs were being met.

ADJOURN

The meeting was adjourned at 7:35 PM.