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The West Lebanon Township Board of Commissioners unanimously agreed to advertise a balanced budget of $1,423,466 in expenses and revenues at its meeting Nov. 4. The board also discussed employee matters.
The budget, which does not propose a tax increase, will be put to a vote at the board’s Dec. 2 meeting.
Over the course of the meeting, commissioners voiced several concerns about the role of township employees, primarily with regard to secretary Antoinette Issis adding items to the agenda without prior permission from commissioners.
In October, the board unanimously voted to pay the fire company $584 for the township’s annual Knox Box fee, with plans to increase the annual Knox Box fee for local entities (including apartments, businesses, and churches) to recoup the funds.
Read More: West Lebanon Township agrees to pay annual Knox Box fee for fire company
This month, Issis added an item to the agenda suggesting the board instead subtract these funds from the township’s annual $6,000 donation.
Commissioner Phylis Dryden immediately objected to the item, calling it an “absurd idea.” This was echoed by Commissioner Michelle Testerman, who objected to reducing funding to a volunteer-driven fire department.
“If I’m ever in an accident, please send someone who is well equipped and not fighting over $584,” said Testerman.
Testerman added that she did not know why this was added to the agenda, as the board had already rendered a decision on the matter.
Issis also added to the agenda a resolution to accept a quote from a payroll provider, which would switch providers.
Dryden was immediately opposed, saying that she would not approve a payroll change treasurer Julie Clouse was not previously aware of. Clouse confirmed that she had only recently learned that a payroll change was in consideration.
Clouse added that, while Issis had believed that the change in providers would be a significant cost savings, she believed there would be at most $50 difference in cost.
Testerman asked the other commissioners whether they had been aware that this was under consideration, to which they replied that they had not. Issis said she had put papers with more information on their desks, but Testerman said that had to have been in the last week as she had not seen anything.
Testerman criticized Issis’s decision to add multiple items to the agenda without prior consultation of the board. Issis countered that she had added them so the board could take immediate action on them, if they chose.
Legally, municipalities are not allowed to take action on most matters (other than trivial or certain time-restricted matters) without them being present in an advertised agenda.
“There’s a process that goes along with this,” Testerman told Issis, urging her to consult the board before adding items to the agenda.
This comes just two months after Testerman voiced concern that the township had hired a new employee without her knowledge. Issis said that in the future, she would allow commissioners to sit in on interviews if they had availability.
Read More: West Lebanon Twp. prohibits parking on 25th St.; discusses pensions, hiring
Issis was not the only township employee to come under fire Monday: Commissioners were shocked to learn that solicitor Paul Bametzreider — who was absent, giving two hours notice — had not attended a hearing for a proposed real estate tax reduction for Lebanon Valley Mall.
Bametzreider had both been asked to attend the hearing and supplied with background on the proposal, which commissioners said he had read (and billed time accordingly). Testerman asked Issis that the matter be put on the board’s December agenda.
Before the meeting closed, chairman John Gurganus applauded township employees’ work on the budget, saying their time and effort saved the township a lot of money hiring outsiders to work on it.
“Our employees went above and beyond what is typically involved of their duties,” said Gurganus, specifically noting Issis and John Brenner for their contributions.
Illegal parking on North 18th Street addressed
The board discussed measures that have been taken to prevent trucks illegally parking along 18th Street.
The township has been in communication with nearby Rutters, and trucks have been directed to park either at one or two spots on Berry Drive or standby at the Rutters lot.
Anyone, truck or otherwise, parking on North 18th Street will be ticketed, and the North Lebanon Police Department has been directed to pay attention to that area.
Commissioners called recurrent parking on the street a safety concern, and expressed hope that it has now been resolved.
In other news, the board:
- Unanimously agreed to pass a resolution amending the joint municipal agreement for law enforcement to reflect the police merger into the soon-to-be-operational Lebanon County Regional Police Department.
- Unanimously agreed to seek bids for the installation of a GAGA Pit and pickelball at the township park using a $58,832 grant, with the stipulation that township recreation funds not be used.
- Heard that “no parking” signs were installed on North 25th Street following a September ban.
- Unanimously agreed to adopt a resolution accepting the Lebanon County Treasurer’s office increased cost from 50 cents per bill to a dollar each.
- Unanimously agreed to authorize Issis to apply for a stormwater rehabilitation grant.
- Heard a presentation from Ron Birch and Carol Hickey of the Lebanon Valley Conservancy.
- Unanimously agreed to approve minutes and bills as presented.
West Lebanon Township meets the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. Meetings are open to the public and do not require prior registration.
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