Coolbaugh Township Board of Supervisors online meeting. top row, L to R, Erin Masker, Township Secretary, Supervisor Alma Ruiz-Smith, Board Chair Bill Weimer; middle row, Supervisor Clare Colgan, Vice Chair Tony Lamantia, Township Business Manager Meredith Thompson; bottom row, Tax Collector Gratz Washenik , Controller Darren Dixon, and Solicitor Patrick M. Armstrong, Esq. (Boro File Photo)

COOLBAUGH – After 11 years, Coolbaugh Township’s 104 sewer customers are going to be paying more to flush.

With the sewer plant running a $169,000 annual deficit, the supervisors all reluctantly agreed that an increase was necessary this year. Currently residential customers are paying $54.34 per EDU, Commercial/Multi-Family is $62.47, and the Industrial rate is $71.86 a month. The proposal on the table is to hike residential rates by about $18 a month, with the Commercial rate going up $12, and $5 a month more per EDU for the lone industrial customer.

“Not increasing taxes or rates is not good management,” Supervisor chair Bill Weimer noted, referring to the 11-year span with no increase despite rising costs to operate and repair the plant.

The township has signed a letter of intent to sell the operations to Pennsylvania American Water and are currently negotiating the purchase agreement. Until the sale occurs, the municipality remains responsible for the operations. Weimer noted several breakdowns and repairs have put the sewer service in the red, necessitating the increase.

The proposal to increase the rates will be discussed at the supervisors meeting on April 20.

 

Fireworks Curfew
Under Review

The supervisors also discussed a fireworks ordinance to regulate the use of consumer fireworks in the district. The board is currently working on a draft ordinance, which the township declined to provide to this newspaper. Based on the discussion at the meeting, the board is looking at requiring that the fireworks be set off at least 200 feet from any structure. This is fifty feet more than the minimum under state law. In addition, they discussed cutting off fireworks at 11 pm except for New Years Eve and July 4, when they could go until 1 am.

Once the board settles on a final draft, they plan to distribute it to homeowners associations in the township to solicit their input. If the association rules are more lenient than the ordinance eventually adopted by the township, the supervisors want to make sure the homeowners understand they need to comply with the township restrictions.

The supervisors will set a work session once they and distribute the plan. Supervisor Alma Ruiz-Smith expressed a hope to have the ordinance on the books in time for the memorial Day holiday. “Memorial Day is coming real soon,” she said. “People are going to want to pop off.” Weimer agreed, but said that rather than rush something in before the holiday, it was more important that “we don’t miss anything.”

 

Millions in Federal COVID Money Coming to Township

The township said it will be receiving $2,036,582 in federal COVID funds over the next two years. Supervisors discussed potential uses for the money. Ruiz-Smith asked if the funds could be used to support the firehouse restoration. Business Manager Meredith Thompson said there was a great deal of flexibility in how the municipality could use the money.

 

Code Enforcement and
Mechanic Slots to be Filled

The supervisors terminated Richard Barnes as code enforcement officer and will be looking to hire a replacement. They also voted to advertise to hire a new mechanic for public works at a starting wage of $25.50 an hour

 

Summer & Fall
Cleanup Dates Set

The Township Cleanup and Recycling dates were set for June 4 & 5, July 9 & 10, August 6 & 7, and October 1 & 2. Due to COVID restrictions residents will need to unload their own vehicles and the township recycling center will be closed at other times.

Supervisors meet on the first and third Tuesdays at 6pm. Currently they are meeting online only, but check the township website for meeting information: coolbaughtwp.org.