What You Missed from This Week's Council Meeting ...

For those who couldn’t make it to Monday night’s township council meeting, there were a few items on the agenda that didn’t make it into a full story, but were nonetheless noteworthy. Here a few leftover tidbits from the meeting:

• Council held off on approving a bond ordinance to pay for replacement of the lights at , and parks, while they wait to find out if they’ll get a $250,000 county recreation grant to help pay for the project. “We agreed to move forward (on these projects) based on getting the grant,” said Councilman Mike Testa. “Absent that money, I’m not sure where this money would come from, other than raising taxes.” because they had deteriorated and were deemed unsafe. Township manager Scott Carew said the county told recreation director Theresa Miller, who applied for the grant, the township would know by the middle of June whether it was receiving the grant. Council unanimously voted to table a vote on the bond ordinance until their next meeting. Asked by resident Greg Newcomer—who has been pushing for the township to complete the project—what council would do if it did not receive the grant, Mayor John Button said they would “cross that bridge when we come to it.”

• Council passed a resolution to keep the tax levy for the Open Space, Recreation and Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Fund at 1 cent, which raises approximately $469,000 a year. Carew said council may have to reconsider the levy , because with the overall ratable base likely (almost certainly) to drop, “to collect the same amount of money, that rate will have to increase,” he said.

• Mayor John Button presented organizer Dave Schill with a proclamation for his role in keeping the parade going after the township handed Schill the reins a few years ago. The parade kicks off at noon on Wednesday, July 4, at Chester and Central avenues, though participants should arrive by 11:15 a.m.

• Just a reminder: Council will hold a special meeting to introduce the budget at 8 a.m. Wednesday at the . , with Button, Testa and Deputy Mayor Greg Gallo voting “no” because they want to push for a balanced budget without imposing a tax increase. The version of the budget presented by Carew and financial officer Tom Merchel included a $53 tax increase. If council doesn’t introduce a budget by Friday, June 22, the state will begin imposing $25/day fines on each council member every day until it’s introduced.

Council’s next regular meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. Monday, June 25, in the IT room at  (enter the school from the side nearest the ).