Plumsted Twp. Committee presents 2000 budget

For the 11th year in a row, the Plumsted Township budget will not feature a local purpose tax to support it.

"This is our 11th year maintaining a stable tax rate. There is no governmental portion supporting it," Mayor Ron Dancer explained adding that two thirds of a taxpayer's bill also includes school tax and one quarter of it includes the county tax bill. "Three percent represents the Board of Fire Commissioners portion."

"We have no bonded indeptedness in this budget.

There was no fan fare or diagrams to accompany the introduction of this year's budget. Only a few residents attended the evening's session. The budget hearing will be held on March 13, during the committee's regular meeting at 8 p.m. It will be published in the March 2 edition of The New Egypt Press.

Deputy Mayor Joseph Przywara announced that this year's Community Development Block Grant would be the installation of bathroom facilities at the Senior Pavilion near the Rec Field. "Two years ago we paved the parking lot for it. What we've seen is that seniors are reluctant to use the facility as it has no bathroom facilities."

Other proposed projects included, "the First Aid Squad is also in need of being ADA compliant but there was not enough county support to do that this year."

An ordinance to set the speed of Tower Road to 25 miles per hour passed. Committeeman Ken Francis said that the speed limit had never actually been set for that road. "It was previously unposted, this will clear things up." Committeeman Francis also responded regarding a question pertaining to the township's business district in New Egypt.

"Our Economic Development Authority released a survey last year which was very comprehensive. We got 400 responses which for the size of the survey was pretty good. The replies stated that they liked the small town feel, the country atmosphere, the schools, some said they want to see the installation of sewers and a business revitalization," Committeeman Francis said. "Parking is a big factor and we're working on that. We are negotiating to purchase a lot on Main Street. We're hoping that once a week we could utilize this lot and have a farmer's market or some kind of outdoor activity," the committeeman added.

"We want to spruce up the downtown area. We all want to have a vital town. We're looking at establishing a new business office where those coming to the township wanting to start a new business can get help with all the necessary paperwork," Committeeman Francis said.

One of the steps to stream line this project was introduced during the evening's meeting. The combining of the township's planning and zoning boards.

Mayor Dancer explained that communities below the population of 10,000 are permitted to combine the boards. "It will certainly stream line the process," Mayor Dancer said.

Deputy Mayor Przywara said that the membership of both boards discussed the idea before the ordinance which was introduced Monday night was developed. The ordinance authorizes the planning board to exercise to the same extent and subject to the same restrictions all of the powers of the zoning board of adjustment pursuant to the authority granted in the state code.