Royersford Borough Hears Out Budget Requests

The Royersford Borough Council met for a preliminary budget meeting on Sept. 20 with intentions of hearing out certain departments within the municipality on budget issues. Officials from the fire department, fire marshal, office of public works, wastewater and were all in attendance.

The biggest concerns came from Conrad Bauer of public works. Bauer had much to say about trash collection within the borough. He started off by expressing his opinion on grass collection. The borough spends between $5,000 and $7,000 every year to provide the community with bags to put grass in.

"My personal opinion on the grass bags is to let people buy their own and put it out themselves," Bauer said.

Bauer also asked council for $7,800 more in the 2012 budget to go into the capital reserve.

"There are a number of problems with trash collection costing the borough thousands of dollars per year," he said. "I would say 25 to 30-percent of the people in this borough recycle. Fifteen percent more recycle when they feel like it."

Coupled with that, Bauer said, is the fact that many households do not have lids for their trash cans, meaning "thousands of pounds per week" of water gets into the trash cans from precipitation. Bauer said that computes to 500 tons per year that goes to the landfill.

"Cans weigh 15 to 20 pounds more after rainfall," Bauer said. "We have three employees that just can't pick it up anymore without a back brace. That is a serious problem."

Bauer said he could see those three employees, who are 60, 55 and 54 years old, not working anymore in a few years because of this problem. He said they might have to retire and go on disability.

Councilman John Kring suggested a conveyer belt to dump the trash into the trucks so that the heavy lifting would not be an issue, but Bauer said he has never heard of anything like that. Council also suggested the 92-gallon bins that are lefted by an electronic arm into the truck, althought that "slows down the process."

Bauer also recommended getting rid of spring and fall cleanups, because people save their large items until then and also tell friends from other municipalities to come drop their stuff off to be picked up. Bauer said this computes to about six workdays being lost.

Public works also asked for a $2,500 increase for overtime after last year's snow, an increase in the budget for gas prices and a $33,000 increase for a new pickup truck. The current truck is a 1999 model and would cost too much to fix.

Police Chief Kevin Schurr gave his presentation on the police department's budget. The major highlight there was for police cars.

Schurr said the department hasn't purchased a new vehicle since 2007, although it has obtained a few "giveaways." The 1999 Durango the department currently uses is on its last limb. Schurr said the department is trying to purchase a $30,000 Ford Expedition as its replacement, which will add an additional $14,000 to prepare it for police activity.

The department's best option is a lease-to-purchase on the Expedition. Schurr estimated the vehicle would serve 10 good years for them. They would also try to get bids to sell the SUV and another vehicle to put toward the purchase of the new vehicle.

Aside from that, Schurr said the big ticket over the past few years was replacing outdated office furniture, which has been in use since 1989. This will be the fourth year in a row the department makes a request for the new furniture, which would include desks and other office furniture. The total request would be for $15,000. Schurr said the department already installed new carpet, office chairs and paint.

Bob Perciccante of the Royersford Fire Department also spoke, saying there was a bunch of good news to report.

"This year, compared to last year, we did a great job and have come far, especially with ," said Perciccante.

Perciccante explained that the Royersford Fire Company is now an incorporated entity, but contributions continue to fall. Federal and state grant money, according to Perciccante, is being cut "to the bone."

With insurance, gas and maintenance all going up, it has been difficult. However, Perciccante reported that the department finally received a $235,000 FEMA grant, which it had been applying for half of a decade.

Overall, they are looking to complete and continue consolidation efforts to operate out of one station. Within this budget, the department is doing property and survey assessments to see which station would be best to operate out of. With all of that being said, the department needs help.

"Long story short, we are looking for the borough to give us a hand in consistent funding for the Royersford Fire Department," Perciccante said. "We're looking to consolidate, but to get there, there are a significant number of things that need to be addressed."

After the fire department representatives left the meeting, the council discussed Upper Providence.

"It's not right that they determine what is to be given to us," said Kring, who brought up the fact that Upper Providence only gives the fire department $35,000 per year for assists.

Township Manager Michael Leonard gave the presentation for wastewater, noting a $1,500 increase in the chemical budget, $330 less in lab supplies, a $1,000 increase in oil, a $200 increase in gas, a $50 increase in flood insurance and a $300 increase in dues and training.

Leonard also said the department also needs a new pickup truck, which would be worth about $35,000. He said the truck, a 1997 model, is in bad shape.

Fire Marshal Harry VanHorn told council that nothing really has changed from last year's budget.

Leonard said he planned to have a preliminary budget drafted for the Oct. 11 borough council meeting.

"My schedule is to complete and advertise the budget on Nov. 29 and have Council consider the budget for a vote on Dec. 13," he said. "Thats my schedule subject to change."