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YOU NEED A PERMIT IN NOCKAMIXON

MINUTES OF NOCKAMIXON TOWNSHIP
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

OCTOBER 9, 2007

The budget meeting scheduled for October 9, 2007 in conclusion to the September 26, 2007 budget meeting was held in the Township building in Ferndale, PA. Attendees were: James A. Litzenberger, Chairman, Kenneth Gross, III, Vice-Chairman, Nancy Janyszeski, Supervisor, Bruce Keyser, Supervisor, Henry Gawronski, Supervisor; Nancy Alessi, committee member and S. Tenney, co-chair for Open Space, Helen Nast, Al Santopietro and 6 residents

Call to Order: at 7:11 pm of the Nockamixon Township Board of Supervisors Budget Meeting – Second session.

Pledge of Allegiance: Salute to the flag.

Approval of Minutes: The board reviewed the September 26, 2007 minutes.  Chairman asked the board members if they had an opportunity to review the minutes. Nancy replied that she sent her comments in.  James Litzenberger requested that the minutes be revised and corrected to show the votes that were not in the minutes after each motion.  The minutes should also show that a motion carried and the amount of votes. 

A motion was made by Henry Gawronski and seconded by James Litzenberger to table the September 26, 2007 minutes and that the minutes are corrected and presented for approval at the next scheduled meeting. Motion carried 5-0-0

James Litzenberger commented that any document that is drafted by the Township must have a file name field and a date field.  They should also have revision dates for each revision.

James Litzenberger commented that he would like Column K to show the projected year to date and column G would be the as of with an as of date.  James Litzenberger stated that Column G plus Column I would equal K.  Nancy asked what the definition of Column I is and how the numbers come about.  Angelic Morales answered that column I is the amounts of the increase of funds or decrease of funds in that specific line item.  Nancy would like to know where the projected amount figure coming from? Angelic Morales responded that it is the difference of the actual 2006 Budget item and what we received year to date. 

The board called an executive session to discuss personnel at 7:26 p.m. and returned at 7:40 p.m.

James Litzenberger commented that the board would like Angelic Morales to hide column I, but we want you to add a column near column K, call it Column L and add column G and column K together.  James Litzenberger commented that the board would move forward with the remainder of the lines items while the changes were made. James Litzenberger commented that there will be another session, but the board will continue with the expenses and discuss the different line items.

The board began with line item number 94 400.11 Supervisor Wages of expenses.  Line item 95 300.34 Advertisements is to be decreased from $7,000.00 to $5,000.00. Line item for dues and memberships line number 97 400.42 Dues/Memberships is to be decreased to $300.00. Line item 98 400.46 Meetings/Conferences is increased to $3,000.00 and line number 99 400.47 Training/Education to be added at $250.00.  James Litzenberger would like to increase line 100 400.50 OSC Land Acquisitions/Easements to the full amount of what is in the account as of this date for the purchases of Open Space. Bruce Keyser commented that for Open Space funds are for just that.  Nancy asked S. Tenney, Co-Chairman for the Open Space Committee can you purchase 10 acres of land with Open Space monies? S. Tenney replied and noted that if the township buys the land it comes out of the general fund, if the township buys the easement that is different.  James Litzenberger stated that the Township voted to use the open space monies to buy land or easements.  Nancy asked does it matter what you do with the land when you buy it?  James Litzenberger stated that part of it must be preserved land.  N. Alessi commented that the fund should include the balance of this year and the entire 2008 expected amounts that should be about $900,000.00.  James Litzenberger stated that line item will be increased to $613,700.00 from $400,000.00.  Line item 101 400.51 Open Space Appraisals is to be added at $25,000.00 to cover the costs of appraisals for Open Space purchases. 

Discussion took place regarding future appraisals for basic land purchases and easements.  James Litzenberger stated that line 103 400.61 Land/Easement appraisals should be decrease to $5,000.00.  Henry Gawronski commented to be safe the township should leave it at $7,500.00.

James Litzenberger began discussion regarding the budget for the printing of the newsletter.  N. Alessi stated that there was no decision to continue the newsletter for next year and that the decision should be made to accurately plan for next year.  James Litzenberger commented that the board will leave line 104 400.65 Township Newsletter at $5,000.00 until it is discussed at the next budget meeting.  James Litzenberger would like the postage for the newsletter to be added into the expenditures for the newsletter. Angelic Morales commented that the postage expenditure will be added into the line item. James Litzenberger asked why line 105 400.99 All other charges is set for $500.00 after discussion with the board; the amount is to be decreased to $250.00.

The board continued with discussion regarding the Township’s CPA firm, Hutchinson, Galihan and Freeh, PC. The board agreed to allow $7,150.00 in line 109 401.10 CPA – Fees and Charges.

Line 110 402.11 Auditors Wages is acceptable at $200.00 and Line 111 402.12 Treasurer will be skipped till the next meeting.   James Litzenberger commented that all the wages were estimated at a 3% increase.

Henry Gawronski suggested that line 112 402.20 Supplies to be increased to $400.00. Line 113 402.26 Minor Equipment will be replaced with line 121 402.49 Equipment - Minor to reflect the new DCED Chart number of 402.49 for Equipment – Minor for purchases.  James Litzenberger decreases minor equipment to $500.00. 

James Litzenberger asked about the Bonds and what line 114 402.30 Bond reflected, after discussion line 114 402.30 Bond was found to be acceptable. 

The board continued with line 115 402.30 Other Charges and Nancy Janyszeski commented that she does not see why there needs to be such a high amount in other charges.  The board agreed to decrease it to $100.00.  Line 116 402.33 Travel and 117 402.34 Advertising are acceptable. 

Line 118 402.42 Dues/Memberships to be decreased to $100.00 and line 119 402.46 Meeting/Conferences increased $500.00. Lines 120 402.47 and 122 402.70 Capital Purchase are acceptable.  James Litzenberger commented that there is no need for capital purchases.  Henry Gawronski commented that it would cover the costs to replace any large item that the treasurer would use in her daily work schedule like a computer or calculator etc.  The board agreed to set line 122 402.70 for capital purchase at $3,000.00. 

After discussion and deliberation regarding the use of postage within the Township, line 123 402.71 Postage was decreased to $1,500.00. Lines 127 403.11 Tax Collector Commission through 132 403.161 FICA are acceptable with the board directing the Treasurer to get more information regarding the rates and formula used to calculate the collection bills generated by the EIT office.

James Litzenberger reminded the board that tonight’s session would be ending at 9:00 p.m. The board discussed solicitor’s fees both for the Township Solicitor and the Zoning Solicitor. Special counsel and/or expert counsel, line 139 404.40 Special Counsel/Expert Counsel to be decreased to $2,500.00. 

James Litzenberger asked why line 140 404.45 Settlement Costs/Fees would be necessary at $2,000.00, after discussion the board agreed to decrease line 140 404.45 Settlement Costs/Fees to 0.

Reviewing line 144 405.20 Supplies, discussion regarding the other inexpensive options and suppliers.  S. Tenney commented that Quill is about 50% percent cheaper then staples.  The board agreed to decrease supplies from $4,700.00 to $3,500.00.

The board discussed software and internet providers, line 155 407.11 Internet Provider/Web Fees decreases to $300.00 and 407.12 Software/Virusware and upgrades will be expended against line 156 which is set for $500.00 in 2008. 

James Litzenberger discusses the next budget meeting and scheduling possibilities.  Henry Gawronski commented that the Township Secretary is out all this week and maybe we can schedule it the week after. 

The board decided to set the budget meeting at the October 16, 2007 Board of Supervisors meeting.

Motion made by Henry Gawronski, seconded by Bruce Keyser to adjourn the budget meeting at 9:06 p.m.     Motion carried 4-0-0

Respectfully submitted

________________________                        ___________________________
Angelic Morales                                               James Litzenberger, Chairman-Treasurer
Assistant Township Treasurer                                                  
Assistant Township Secretary                           ___________________________     
                                                                        Supervisor
                                                                                   
                                                                        ___________________________
                                                                        Supervisor