Octorara welcomes new board members

The Octorara Area School Board has reorganized, welcoming two new school board members and electing Lisa Bowman board president. New board members John McCartney and Shawna Johnson were sworn in during a Dec. 7 work session. McCartney was elected to his seat in November, and Johnson, a Republican, was the only applicant for the position and was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Peter Mango, who retired to begin a business. Johnson, a Christiana Borough resident, works in the insurance industry and said in an interview she is going into the job “with a 100 percent open mind. I have no agenda. “People complain, but they don’t do anything,” Johnson said. “I’m not someone to talk and take no action.” Nelson Stoltzfus was re-elected vice president and appointed as the board’s representative to the Chester County Intermediate Unit board. Also re-elected were John Malone, treasurer, and Jill Hardy, secretary. Chloe Dean, a junior at Octorara High School, was selected student representative. Although it’s early, business manager Dan Carsley said during the regular Dec. 14 meeting his “very preliminary” work on the 2010-11 budget predicts a $47.6 million budget, up about .33 percent over the current spending plan. Carsley said the increase is due mainly to five categories: increases in salaries, medical costs, retirement contributions, debt service, and vocational/technical education. He said he will have more formal figures in January. In addition to higher costs, income from property taxes is likely to be less because the assessed valuation of real estate in Lancaster County is down about $300,000, and down about $1.1 million in Chester County, Carsley said. Stoltzfus noted Octorara has not been hit as hard by decreasing property values as other districts in the region. Tom Houghton, legislative director for state Rep. Tom Houghton, spoke at the meeting, telling board members Houghton’s office continues to work for legislative initiatives which could lower property taxes. He said the Octorara Regional Council is also working to attract businesses to the district. In a related matter, the school board adopted a policy establishing a fee-for-use policy which will take place on July 1, 2010. The policy means businesses and community groups which charge fees, such as the YMCA, will pay fees for using school facilities. School groups will have free access. Superintendent Tom Newcome said the school board will hold clinics for student H1N1 vaccines Jan. 5, 7, and 9. The school district has received 2,700 doses. If there are extra vaccines, the Chester County Health Department will hold clinics for the community. Also the school board approved paying Matthew King, who is farming the Aldus King farm neighboring the school campus, $3,200 for a storm water project. Newcome said there has been a water drainage problem between the properties. King obtained a grant to repair the project, but the payment represents the 8 percent of the problem the grant did not cover. Newcome also said the district will likely take part in the state Department of Education Race to the Top initiative, but he plans to meet with the Octorara Area Education Association for input before a final commitment. In personnel matters the school board hired: Brian Johnston as a computer technicial at a $30,000 salary; Laura Duff as a substitute learning support teacher until April; and several athletic coaches. The school board also held an executive session for personnel matters.

New building for rural township in 2010?

At $2,767,368, Sadsbury Township’s 2010 budget is the rural municipality’s highest ever, but the spending plan calls for no tax increase. The budget climbed into the millions because of one line item, $1.98 million for a new township building to replace the aging structure at the corner of White Oak and Noble roads. However, construction of a new building, which would likely include purchasing from PP&L a small strip of neighboring land at an as-yet undetermined price, is not a sure thing. “It’s in the budget but if we can’t get grants, donations and the help, we can’t have the building,” said Supervisor Linda Swift. “We don’t want to commit to put the township in debt but we wanted to put it in the budget just to make sure.” Swift said the modest building was inspected two years ago and while the building inspector said it “wouldn’t fall down, he recommended not putting any money into it because it would fall down within 10 years.” A volunteer building committee has been working on plans for an energy-efficient municipal center incorporating green technologies. The township, whose supervisors passed the budget Dec. 8, has not increased taxes for the past five years. The mill rate will remain at .8 mills. On the revenue side, the township will begin 2010 with $127,406 in cash and savings. The township anticipates receiving $436,475 in real estate and transfer taxes (down about 15 percent); $16,300 in licenses and permits; $57,50 in fines and forfeits; $1,610 in interest, rents and royalties; $33,625 in intergovernmental revenues; a $32,000 county grant for a safety construction project on White Oak Road; $4,025 for hearing fees; $14,350 for building and sewage permits; and an estimated long-term loan of $2,095,827 for the building project, for a total revenue figure of $2,767,368.59. On the expense side, Sadsbury anticipates spending $52,766 for employment taxes; $2,093,550 for general government (including $1.98 million for the building); $53,340 for public safety; $6,000 on public works and sanitation; $390,685 on public works/highways/streets; a $7,250 donation to Moore’s Memorial Library; $43,105 in debt service; $100,622 on employee benefits and withholding; $19,200 on insurance; and $800 in miscellaneous expenses for a total of $2,767,368. In addition, the township anticipates receiving $221,492 in liquid fuels funds and spending the same figure for road maintenance.-30-