Supervisors say they expect new loan will be needed to fund police station
By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times
Shane Morgan, the management plan coordinator for the White Clay Wild and Scenic River Program, describes a restoration plan for Lamborn Creek. On display to her left is a check from PECO for a Green Region Grant to help fund a Landenberg Road trailhead project.
Finances dominated the New Garden Township Supervisors’ meeting on Monday night, with one easy decision and one that prompted some angst.
With minimal discussion, the supervisors voted unanimously to pay off a $2 million open-space loan that had been costing the township about $80,000 a year in interest payments. Supervisor Bob Norris explained that after paying off the loan with no penalty, the township will still have $1.7 million available for possible purchases. “I think it’s good business to get rid of that loan,” he said.
Gary Bell, who heads the New Garden Open Space Review Board, did not disagree. “We feel as though we have adequate funds on hand,” he said, adding that he would approach the board for additional money if an unforeseen need arose.
Attorney Neil Land offers the New Garden Township Supervisors an overview of a plan to expand Manfredi Cold Storage.
The status of the loan on the existing township building created a thornier issue. As requested, interim Township Manager Spence Andress presented figures for two scenarios: refinancing the existing $1.25 million debt at 3.16 percent over 20 years, creating a monthly savings of $5,700; or using township reserves to borrow $1 million for the same savings and debt service, but with payments over just seven years.
Although several supervisors favored the ability to reduce the time frame, they expressed reluctance to tap into the reserves to pay down the debt. Supervisor Robert J. Perrotti took a different approach, suggesting that the supervisors should increase the loan to $2 million so that it would accommodate a much-needed permanent home for the police department.
Perrotti suggested that a quick decision on that project would benefit the township, which is about to spend money renting a trailer so that the police can get out of their current facility, also a module that was intended for short-term use and has developed problems with mold infestation.
Several supervisors said they were reluctant to guess what the police relocation will cost, whether it’s retrofitting the existing township building or renting or constructing a new facility. “We not going to have that answer by Oct. 31,” the deadline for refinancing, Norris said.
Perrotti said he favored using the township building, a structure he voted against as being too lavish, to house the police. He said the space is available, and it would lessen the burden on taxpayers. “I’ll say it until the cows come home … We overdid what we should have done,” Perrotti said, suggesting that the supervisors set a spending limit on the police facility and then stick to it. “If I had so much to spend, that’s what I’d spend.”
Supervisors’ Chairman Stephen Allaband said he would prefer to deal with the police issue “when we have the facts.” The supervisors voted 4 to 1, with Perrotti dissenting, to refinance $1.25 million for 20 years.
In other business, the supervisors applauded the receipt of a $10,000 PECO Green Region Grant Award for a trailhead accessibility project on Landenberg Road, enthusiastically supported grant applications for restoring the Lamborn stream bank, gave a go-ahead to Frank Manfredi after viewing a sketch plan for expanding his cold storage facility, and received an invitation to scoop ice cream.
Shane Morgan, the management plan coordinator for the White Clay Wild and Scenic River Program, said she was applying for two grants that would help fund the stream project, which she estimated would require about $88,500, the bulk of which would not come from the township.
In addition to adding erosion controls and riparian buffers, the effort would also improve the water quality, she said, estimating that work would not begin until next year. Asked by the supervisors whether he could spare some of his crew to assist with the labor, Public Works Director Kenneth Reed said yes. “I’m tired of sliding into the creek when we mow the park,” he said.
Manfredi, who currently employs 224 people on three shifts, said he expected the expansion to add 30 to 35 jobs. Manfredi’s attorney, Neil Land, said they wanted the supervisors to have an overview of the project at Chambers Road and Baltimore Pike, a plan that would likely require some zoning relief.
In principal, the supervisors favored the concept. “I think it’s a great use for the parcel,” said Norris. Supervisor Betty Gordon said that based on Manfredi’s previous township projects, she was optimistic that he would apply the same high standards.
Parks and Recreation Director Barbara Underwood said Tuesday night’s free Family Fun programs have been popular. “Our numbers are great,” she said. The series will end Aug. 20 at 7 p.m. with a rocket launch from the Mad Scientist, who was rained out Aug. 6, and an ice-cream party. Volunteers are needed to help scoop, and the supervisors would be welcomed, she said.
In closing, Supervisor Peter Scilla said he enjoyed visited the New Garden Airport recently, and he praised the efforts of its manager, John Martin. “I think he does a super job,” agreed Perrotti.
Scilla recommended that residents support the 2013 New Garden Flying Field Air Show, which will be held Aug. 24 and 25. Tickets are available online at www.newgardenflyingfield.com.
