Notes from North Strabane: 2012 Budget Ready for Vote and More

During its non-legislative meeting Tuesday evening, North Strabane’s Board of Supervisors discussed a number of items. Here are the highlights.

Major Story

Board Says 2012 Budget is Ready to Pass
No changes have been made to last month's  proposal and manager Frank Siffrinn is recommending the board give its final approval next week.

The $10.3 million spending plan holds the line on property taxes. “These tax rates have not changed for the last 19 years,” Siffrinn said. The budget keeps annual real estate taxes at 11.48 mills, or approximately $1,148 for a property worth $100,000.

During his report, Municipal Authority Manager Matt Marasco said his department’s budget includes a $170,000 deficit and requested that the township make up the difference.

Marasco said the department took care of previous debt with revenue generated from a sewer project on Linden Creek Road, and he expects additional money from residents who haven’t yet tapped into the sewer line.

Parks Director Proposes Changes
Greg Sulc, director of Parks and Recreation, submitted a revised parks policy to township solicitor Jim Jeffries who said he would review it by next Tuesday’s meeting

Among policy changes:

• Park hours would be extended to 11 p.m., owing to new lights.
• Smoking would be prohibited everywhere except the park’s large pavilion, and signs reading “young lungs at play” would be posted.
• Alcohol would be allowed in the large pavilion. People renting the pavilion and wishing to use alcohol would make a total deposit of $200. Deposits without alcohol would be $150 for the large pavilion, or $100 for the park’s smaller ones.

In addition, Sulc recommended that the township change the Parks and Recreation department from a board to a committee. Doing so, he said, would allow for more volunteer members, since the second class township code limits the number of members allowed on a recreation board.

YMCA Agreement Tabled
The board tabled discussion on a pending agreement with YMCA, which has been in talks with officials about bringing a new branch to the township.

Sulc, who recommended the tabling, said he had been in contact with YMCA and that a representative from the organization plans to send a letter modifying the proposed agreement. A YMCA representative is expected to speak at a board meeting in January.