Council agenda 3/13
Quick recap on the council agenda for Tuesday's meeting...
I don't see anything on the consent calendar that will generate a discussion.
As for the new business:
1) Adoption of amendments to elderly tax relief - Make sure you tune into the Henry Channel on Tuesday night. This one could get interesting. Again though on my main concern... as a matter of tax policy, I prefer credits over a freeze, but currently the freeze is targeted at those most in need ($27k singles, $33k married). So I really am undecided on what to do here. Nonetheless, if a freeze were adopted in lieu of the credits, I wouldn't see the point in having a lien.... The real issue is spending though. So maybe we should cap spending (or have certain increases go to referendum automatically, such as a Massachusetts-style Prop 2 1/2). But I suggested that when I first got on the Council and was summarily dismissed.
2) Approval of bid award for construction of Fire House #3 - Although $1.4million was approved at referendum, the bid came in at $979,000. That's great news.
3) Waiver of bid for removal of pool bubble - I may vote no on this one. I voted against the pool budget last year. And I believe my recommendation was to turn it into a summer facility. So voting against this might make sense.
4) Acceptance of Government Channel Report - I hope this doesn't cause a stir. It really shouldn't.
5) Set public hearing to accept 5.1 acres by I-84 & Rte 70 - I think this is the old entrance ramp to 84. And now we're hoping to use it for parking and access to the Dime Savings property.
6) Economic incentives - we've got several: PA Steel, Napoli Foods & Whitright Realty.
7) Dedominicus property - apparently we need to pay Milone & MacBroom $1,300 for a survey map to assure the state about conservation easements. Then I guess the state gives us the grant money.
And that's about it.
Tim White
Town Council, 4th District
11 comments:
Tim - Wow the fire station came in that far under budget? Should we add more to it or not use the entire amount. Great news.
I don't see any need to expand the current project.
Tim
Will the R's come out against the tax relief for seniors-that would seen like sure political death for them.
Tim do you see a lot of changes coming to the ETR program from what we saw at the public hearing?
8:13 I doubt the "R's" will come out against tax relief for the seniors. They've always tried improving upon the program. If the "D's" keep the tax lien in the equation though, it probably won't get supported by the "R's" and will likely be the sure political death of the "D's".
The R's have never tried to improve the program. When they had control they did nothing to expand it. Some of them said "we were giving too much away". Look at the major funding increases in the program and you will see the D's always increased the funding and the R's didn't. Only when they lost power did they find this as an issue that they think can help them get control again.
Do not even make a suggestion to use the balance not spent on the fire house for anything else. Reduction of capital debt, or cost avoided debt is a good long term way of lowering the tax burden.
The ETR as is. is not right. There should have been a freeze on the taxes the seniors currently pay. No increase until the property is sold. There should be no lien. The Town should figure out how much tax money they would not collect and develop programs to reduce expenses that equal that amount. A zero net approach.
Tim - Can the balance of the fire house savings go to pay for the turf? I think it would be great!!
11:44 definitely not.
Why? The poor children of Cheshire need it.
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