Trash Fee Coming for Trappe Borough Residents?

Councilman Marshall Stomel read a letter at the monthly Trappe Borough Council meeting on Tuesday, August 07. The letter referred to the current budget as a “ticking time bomb” and stated that the road maintenance program will become “increasingly burdensome” and that the streets and fire department have been neglected too long. The proposed remedy included in the letter is to bill Trappe residents for trash collection.

“Is this letter penned by you?" asked Councilman Nevin Scholl of Marshall Stomel.

“Yes,” Mr. Stomel replied.

“I believe this is the worst possible option,” Mr. Scholl said as he defended the work of the Finance Committee. “Why tax people for no good reason?” he continued, stating that the amount of money to the fire company has not been reduced and that the road maintenance project is a budgeted item.

As other council members asked what the fee would be and whether it made sense to consider making it a tax, Solicitor Dave Onorato boiled the discussion down to four possible options:

1. Make no changes and continue to offer trash collection as a borough service.
2. Eliminate trash collection as a borough service.
3. Impose a real estate tax.
4. Charge a fee for tax collection.

Mr. Onorato pointed out that option number four would involve many other issues, such as when to begin charging, how much to charge, who would collect fees and how to bill for trash services. After further debate, council determined that they will collect more data to have an educated discussion about the issue at the September meeting.

Additional News from the August Trappe Borough Meeting

A conditional use hearing has been scheduled for September 4, 2012 for Checkerberry’s owner, Heather Geissler. A hair salon and dog grooming service is proposed for the business currently located at 12 West Main Street.

The ordinance committee has submitted a proposal to council to amend the current Recreational Vehicle ordinance. All RV’s (including boats, trailers, motor homes, etc.) will be subject to the amended ordinance if adopted during a September 4 hearing.

There is an opening on the Planning Commission. Interested residents should submit a resume’ to Trappe Borough Hall by August 24, 2012. The personnel committee will review all candidates.

Improvements continue at the Borough Hall building. New handles will be installed on the front door and work is currently underway on the new sidewalk. The sign in the front of the building has been moved and Council authorized an expenditure not to exceed $791 for electrical work to be completed around the sign.

The next monthly meeting of the Trappe Borough Council will be held on Tuesday, September 4, 2012. The public is invited to attend and speak at the meeting. The September meeting will include a discussion about trash services, a conditional use hearing for 12 West Main Street and the proposed amendment to the RV ordinance.