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Commissioners Want Comment on
Senior Housing Proposal
After four years of
discussion and debate, a plan to build 182 age-restricted condos on
a 10-acre parcel between Pennell and Old Pennell rds. is nearing
final consideration. Before commissioners render a decision at their
Dec. 19 meeting, however, they would like to hear citizens’
concerns.
The preliminary
development plan will be on the agenda of the Dec. 10 New
Construction Committee meeting. A number of building plans have been
floated by the Joseph Grace Company, but all the earlier versions
were scrapped for a variety of reasons. The current proposal calls
for four residential buildings (two at 51,800 sq. ft. and two at
63,000 sq. ft.) and a two-story clubhouse to be constructed in and
around very steep slopes. The site would be served by an access off
Rte. 452, while an emergency-only access comes off Old Pennell,
across from Manor Dr.
(continued on page 2)
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No
trash collections
will
be made
Christmas
Eve and Christmas Day, Dec. 24 and 25.
Monday and Tuesday’s routes will be picked up on Wednesday, Dec.
26; Wednesday and Thursday’s routes will be picked up on
Thursday, Dec. 27; while Friday’s route will be picked up on
Friday, Dec. 28.
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The
annual Christmas
tree
lighting will be held at
7pm
on Wednesday, Dec. 5 at the Community Center
on Concord Rd. Santa Claus will
arrive prior to the ceremony, riding on a fire truck and handing out candy
canes to
all the good boys and girls in attendance.
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Eagle
Field was officially renamed Lewis H. Fisher Memorial Park
on Nov. 17, honoring 26 years of public service by the
late Second Ward Commissioner and District Justice. |
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Officials Striving To ReduceTax Increase
The township’s
preliminary 2008 budget calls for a modest property tax hike of
.54 mills, but officials have pledged to make every effort to
reduce the increase by final budget adoption at the Dec. 19
commissioners’ meeting.
“This is a
preliminary budget, and we will be working hard with (Township
Manager) Mr. Lehr to try to chop anything else we can out from the
budget,” stated Commissioner/Finance Chairman Michael Higgins.
The
preliminary budget predicts expenditures in excess of $10 million
for the first time in Aston Township history. Anticipated expenses
such as higher debt service ($190,000) for the Community Center,
two new police cars, new park equipment, a new dump truck and
trash truck, and salary increases of 3% for full-time township
employees and 2% for part-timers have combined to increase the
budget total by $427,472 or 4.4 % over
this
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year’s
expenditures.
“These are just
preliminary numbers, so hopefully we can come in with a smaller
increase,” Commissioner President Joseph Possenti said. “We
may have to make a decision to not purchase these items and keep
the taxes flat,” he suggested, noting that the year-end cash
balance will play a role in the chosen course of action.
If the preliminary
figures were to remain unchanged at final adoption, the new tax
rate would be 3.65 mills, while the annual trash collection fee
would remain at $175 per household. For a property owner with an
assessment of $175,000, the proposed preliminary tax hike would
mean payment of an additional $94.50 in township tax.
The preliminary
budget will be available for public inspection at the township
office during regular business hours up until final adoption.
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The
Aston Business Association recently enjoyed a service
dog demonstration at their luncheon meeting at Dexters.
Participants included (l to r) Township Manager Dick
Lehr, ABA Secretary Terry Yannuzzi, Cindy Widmaier and
her hearing assistance dog Lynnette, and ABA VP Jim
Stigale. |
Township Adopts Park Rules
Commissioners
have enacted a revised set of rules and regulations for the use
of public parks, playgrounds, and open space. A summary of the
15-point resolution is as follows:
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