Township Passes 2015 Budget with Zero Increase

PETERSBURG – Committee unanimously passed the township’s 2015 budget in an amount of $2.689 million April 13. “This budget represents a lot of hard work among committee members and department heads to maintain spending levels at last year’s amount while not cutting services,” said Mayor Richard Palombo. “While we do not know what the county and school equalization rates will be for this year, we have spent a lot of time at our budget workshops and behind the scenes to try to do our best and be frugal with the funds we receive from township residents and taxpayers.”
Prior to the unanimous approval for the budget by committee, and during the public comment period, a resident identified himself as living on Social Security and drawing down what remains of his 401K funds. “I’ve asked at earlier committee meetings to have the township’s budget workshops televised; it’s too late for this year since I know you will be passing this budget. But many other municipalities televise these important discussions, and nothing’s going to change if residents don’t know what you’re discussing. With other nearby counties having unemployment and foreclosure problems we can’t let that happen here. You (addressing Palombo) said there’s no tax increase but a couple of years ago you passed a local purpose tax and we’re still paying that. Everything’s going up and I know you can do better. Slow down! And think of everyone else who has to pay for your decisions.”
Both Palombo and John Coggins, committee member and chair of the revenue and finance committee, agreed that televising workshops can be done and will start doing so.
Leaf Pick-Up
Deputy Mayor Edward Barr, also responsible for Public Works, announced that leaf pick up has started. “Please be certain you only, repeat, only include leaves for disposal. This means no twigs or branches and certainly no logs or timber. The township will not pick these up and the home owner will be in violation of an Upper Township ordinance and fined,” he warned.
Park Replenishment
Paul Dietrich, township engineer, reported on the latest status for the beach fill for Strathmere. “We’re now looking at April 18 for dredging to commence followed by pumping to begin April 21,” he announced. “We were estimating we’d need 460,000 cubic yards but now it looks like we’ll need 1.3 million cubic yards. The Army Corps of Engineers will still cover the entire amount, including this increase, of the project. Beach replenishment and sand moving is always a fluid situation. Couple this development however with the fact that some of the necessary equipment for the project is also being used about the same time in Avalon and that means the replenishment completion schedule is being pushed out for the late June-July timeframe,” he continued. Palombo asked if pipes then will be on the beach during the Fourth of July and Dietrich responded in the affirmative. “We’ll make sure though that there are both pedestrian and vehicle cross-over and access points.”
Road Repair
Barr asked residents, drivers and the general public to watch out for various township and county road crews active on township streets these next few weeks as they repair potholes and other damage from the winter. “Hope Corson Road is especially damaged,” he said and Dietrich promised to look into its improvement as soon as possible.
Public Comment
During the general public comment, a resident identifying himself as from the Seaville area pressed Palombo on his and committee’s efforts to attract more business to the township, especially in industry sectors associated with Palombo’s work as a pharmacist such as medical supplies and pharmaceutical sales. “These types of products require close access to efficient shipping such as around New York or Newark although we’d love to have new businesses come to Upper,” replied Palombo.
The resident continued with a prepared list of questions regarding the lack of a fishing pier at the now-demolished Tuckahoe Bridge to which Palombo answered that that area is not a township property. To his asking the reason for concession stands the answer was that these stands generate much-welcome revenue and as to construction of bathrooms at township athletic fields that is a sanitation necessity.
As to why a number of township buildings, such as the Verizon Building, the Auto Plaza on Route 9 in Marmora and the old municipal building do not have occupants, Palombo noted that the economic downturn has had its effects but with the economic situation improving finding new tenants could be more feasible and would be highly desirable.
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.