from the bcct:
Property taxes to increas $20
By: GEMA MARIA DUARTE
Bucks County Courier Times
MORRISVILLE
The money from the tax hike will go toward paying off debt accrued by the municipal pool's owner.
It's final. Morrisville residents will pay $20 more in property taxes in 2011.
Despite objections by Mayor Rita Ledger and Councilman Todd Sanford at Monday night's council meeting, the extra money from property taxes will be used for debt - including liens - accrued by Morrisville Swimming Pool Inc., owner of the municipal swimming pool in Williamson Park.
Morrisville officials are trying to work out an agreement with the group that would transfer ownership of the closed pool to the borough for the debt payment.
The vote to approve next year's $5.9 million operating budget was 4-2. Sanford and Eileen Dreisbach voted against it. Voting in favor were council President Nancy Sherlock, Kathryn Panzitta, Rhonda Davis and Fred Kerner. Missing were Victor Cicero and David Rivella.
Sanford argued that if the pool management did run up high debt and liens, the borough should use other accounts to pay for it rather than raising taxes. Ledger said she researched the possibility of liens on the pool and there aren't any.
But borough solicitor Sean Kilkenny insisted, "There is debt on this property." His firm researched the property, so did former solicitor James Downey of Begley, Carlin & Mandio, said Kilkenny.
According to Sherlock, the pool's debt is about $75,000 and the extra money from property taxes will help pay $58,898 of that total.
Property owners will be assessed taxes at a rate of 40.93 mills. That means someone with a home assessed at the borough average of $20,000 will pay about $818 in municipal property taxes next year.
The independently operated Morrisville Community Swimming Pool closed in 2008 after years of trying to stay afloat financially. The swim club board blamed the financial strain on declining membership and attendance as well as keeping up with new safety laws.
Though the borough wants to buy the closed pool, there's no official plan for their future, officials said.
Before the council decides on anything, it intends to offer the public a chance for input.
Sherlock said the pool is "blighted and is an eyesore" and Morrisville has to do something about it.
The newspaper was unsuccessful in reaching the pool owners for comment Tuesday.
Gema Maria Duarte can be reached at 215-949-4195 or gduarte@phillyBurbs.com
Follow Gema on Twitter at twitter.com/deadlineduarte.
December 15, 2010 02:11 AM
Showing posts with label sanford. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sanford. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
New Boro manager starts today
Bates starts as Boro manager today
By: GEMA MARIA DUARTE
Bucks County Courier Times
morrisville
Morrisville has a new borough manager after more than a year without one.
Tom Bates Jr. starts his new part-time gig today.
Bates' salary will be voted on at today's council meeting, council President Nancy Sherlock said Friday. The council hired Bates during last week's work session with a 5-2 vote. Council members Eileen Dreisbach and Todd Sanford voted against the hire.
George Mount III, the borough's former manager, retired from the part-time, $41,000-a-year manager's post June 2009 after serving 12 years.
After Mount's retirement, the council agreed to an acting borough manager for a year, Sherlock said. Dorothy Gaydula, the borough's assistant secretary and treasurer, was appointed to the position. Appointed to help Gaydula was Robert Seward, who was named acting assistant borough manager. He also is Morrisville's code enforcement officer and fire marshal.
Sherlock said the borough moved fast to hire a borough manager because Gaydula gave the council notice about three weeks ago that the one-year deadline was up and she no longer wanted to continue as acting manager. Gaydula will resume her secretarial job duties at borough hall, Sherlock said.
Morrisville advertised the manager position on the borough's website, channel and at borough hall, Sherlock said. The borough received two applications and interviewed both, she added. For Sherlock, Bates has the financial background Morrisville needs and she liked his demeanor, she said.
In other news, Councilman Victor Cicero rescinded resignation comment at the work session. In September, a frustrated Cicero abruptly resigned and left the council meeting after members voted 5-3 to table a discussion on the disposal of videotapes of old council meetings.
The council didn't vote on accepting his verbal resignation in September. And Cicero didn't provide his resignation to the council in writing. All resignations must be officially submitted in writing and formally accepted.
At that time Cicero, along with council President Nancy Sherlock and Councilman David Rivella were in favor of getting rid of the tapes, some of which are as old as 15 years.
At Tuesday's work session, the council voted 4-3 to dispose of the meeting tapes. Opposing the disposal were council members Eileen Dreisbach, Fred Kerner and Todd Sanford.
Gema Maria Duarte can be reached at 215-949-4195 or gduarte@phillyBurbs.com.
By: GEMA MARIA DUARTE
Bucks County Courier Times
morrisville
Morrisville has a new borough manager after more than a year without one.
Tom Bates Jr. starts his new part-time gig today.
Bates' salary will be voted on at today's council meeting, council President Nancy Sherlock said Friday. The council hired Bates during last week's work session with a 5-2 vote. Council members Eileen Dreisbach and Todd Sanford voted against the hire.
George Mount III, the borough's former manager, retired from the part-time, $41,000-a-year manager's post June 2009 after serving 12 years.
After Mount's retirement, the council agreed to an acting borough manager for a year, Sherlock said. Dorothy Gaydula, the borough's assistant secretary and treasurer, was appointed to the position. Appointed to help Gaydula was Robert Seward, who was named acting assistant borough manager. He also is Morrisville's code enforcement officer and fire marshal.
Sherlock said the borough moved fast to hire a borough manager because Gaydula gave the council notice about three weeks ago that the one-year deadline was up and she no longer wanted to continue as acting manager. Gaydula will resume her secretarial job duties at borough hall, Sherlock said.
Morrisville advertised the manager position on the borough's website, channel and at borough hall, Sherlock said. The borough received two applications and interviewed both, she added. For Sherlock, Bates has the financial background Morrisville needs and she liked his demeanor, she said.
In other news, Councilman Victor Cicero rescinded resignation comment at the work session. In September, a frustrated Cicero abruptly resigned and left the council meeting after members voted 5-3 to table a discussion on the disposal of videotapes of old council meetings.
The council didn't vote on accepting his verbal resignation in September. And Cicero didn't provide his resignation to the council in writing. All resignations must be officially submitted in writing and formally accepted.
At that time Cicero, along with council President Nancy Sherlock and Councilman David Rivella were in favor of getting rid of the tapes, some of which are as old as 15 years.
At Tuesday's work session, the council voted 4-3 to dispose of the meeting tapes. Opposing the disposal were council members Eileen Dreisbach, Fred Kerner and Todd Sanford.
Gema Maria Duarte can be reached at 215-949-4195 or gduarte@phillyBurbs.com.
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