Upper Committee Hears Complaint on Tax Hike

PETERSBURG – Upper Township Committee met Feb. 8 and opened with recognition for a father and son, Dan and Daniel Bowersock, who saved a Seaville neighbor’s house from burning to the ground in November.
“Through this unanimous approval of the resolution honoring the heroic efforts of Dan and Daniel Bowersock we are reminded what a great community we have in the township,” said Mayor Richard Palombo. In reply, Daniel said, “What we did was all reflexive action, what the police and fire departments do every day is truly heroic.”
Prohibit Tuckahoe Road Parking
Township Solicitor Daniel Young alerted committee that because Tuckahoe Road is a county route officials there need to be notified of an ordinance recently passed on first reading to prohibit parking along Tuckahoe Road in Marmora.
As a result, committee did not vote on final adoption upon second reading of the ordinance but invited the public in attendance to comment. A Stagecoach Road resident who lives at this intersection queried Young, “How will this ordinance be enforced? When the last accident happened, the car that’s always parked on the road was moved into the driveway and as soon as police and fire left he moved it back on the road. This is the kind of individual we’re dealing with even though State Police have come to his door a couple of times.”
Young replied that if and when the ordinance is adopted upon second reading March 7, committee will meet with State Police who will then have the means to adequately enforce no parking and ticket any vehicles in violation.
Palombo asked township Engineer Paul Dietrich to prepare public advisory signs regarding the no-parking ordinance in anticipation of the committee eventually passing it.
Invasive Plants
Committee unanimously passed on first reading an ordinance that will amend property maintenance regulations. It is designed to control the spread of existing invasive plants and prohibit their planting. Second reading and public comment will be March 7.
“Accessory Apartments”
Committee passed on first reading an ordinance that will permit “accessory” or secondary apartments which concept was first proposed in 2008.
The ordinance has been revived as a response to the township’s affordable housing obligations under COAH (Council on Affordable Housing) regulations.
Young asked Dietrich to ensure that the planning board has time to review the ordinance and that it is consistent with Upper’s master plan as required by state statute.
“Committee needs to receive this report prior to the scheduled March 7 second reading and public comment,” advised Young.
Taxpayer Chides Committee
During public comment, Strathmere resident, Ted Kingston queried Palombo “Why has committee deviated from the fiscally-conservative mentality of previous eras and committees and before the initiation of a local purpose tax a few years ago, you need to tighten up this budget.” 
Kingston continued, “We can’t borrow everything through bonds, it’s just a way for department heads to circumvent the 2 percent spending limit (imposed on municipalities by the state). Taxpayers aren’t making more money so why should the township keep spending more? The proposed increase of 16 cents (per $100 assessed value) is just way too much.”
“We’ve been incredibly frugal; all of us on committee live in the township. I have family members who live here but we can’t put off some of this spending like on road repair or decrepit trucks, it will only get more expensive,” replied Palombo.
“We have expenses that keep going up like health insurance, building insurance, salaries, and we need to pay those, of course, but we still are trying to find ways to be frugal,” he added.
Committee member Jeffrey Pierson said, “We’ve only just had our second budget workshop, there’s bound to be areas to be cut, others we can’t cut,” to which Kingston quipped “Am I too late?”
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.