Fri. Mar 29th, 2024

Tyrone Borough council met Monday night and adopted its 2005 budget.
The budget contained no increase for taxpayers. The real estate tax assessment will remain at 29 mills.
The highlights include: a total budget of $7,687,400 which breaks down to $3,075,000 for the general fund; $2,647,000 for the sewer fund; $1,808,000 for the water fund; $144,000 in the highway fund and $13,400 for the capital expenditure fund.
The budget includes a compensation of $50,000 for the borough manager’s position. The borough has been without a manager since Nathan George was fired in June. There has been no indication as to when the borough plans on filling the position.
Solicitor Larry Clapper said the borough manager’s duties were being carried out by department heads. He also said the borough’s charter does not specify a time period in which the borough is required to appoint a new borough manager. He indicated funds designated for the manager’s salary have gone unused since George’s departure and that would remain the case until a replacement is on board.
Council also accepted the resignation of vice president Jeffrey (J.R.) Watson. Clapper asked someone from council be appointed as a signatory for the borough to sign official documents. Watson had been appointed to handle the duties after George’s dismissal. After Clapper’s request on Monday, council person William Latchford was selected to act as a signatory for the borough.
Council will be accepting applications for the vacant council position until Dec. 27 and then is expected to take up the issue of appointing a replacement for Watson at its next scheduled meeting on Jan. 3, 2005.
In other business related to the budget, the borough also approved a 43 cents-per-hour increase for both union and non-union employees. Police officers are to receive a three percent increase as stipulated in their contract.
The borough also approved fees and fines its charges for various services or for violations of its codes.
Earlier this year, the borough had adopted a new set of fees for residential and commercial construction including repairs and renovations. The move was part of the borough’s decision to “opt in” to the state’s new Uniform Construction Code. After much discussion brought on by state legislative action which made changes to the UCC, the borough decided to revert back to a fee structure in place prior to the implementation of the UCC for certain types of residential repairs and renovations effective Jan. 1, 2005. The commercial construction fees remain as adopted earlier this year.
Finance director Phyllis Garhart explained other fees for services and fines for violations of borough codes would remain the same as the ones adopted for the 2004 fiscal year or put in place during the year by passage of additional ordinances.
On Tuesday, the Tyrone Borough Authority met and set the rates for sewer and water service for 2005. The rates will remain the same as 2004. The authority also adopted 2005 water and sewer budgets.
In other business at the authority meeting, it was noted authority member Vance Clark had resigned. Borough council accepted the resignation on Monday night. Council took no action on naming a replacement for Clark at their meeting.

By Rick