The Penn Forest Board of Supervisors anticipates passing a preliminary budget keeping taxes in line with last year.

Penn Forest Township Supervisors met Monday night tentatively approving a $3.5 million budget keeping the real estate tax at 3 mils with anticipated collections of Real Property Taxes totaling over 1.2 million dollars in 2012. The remainder of income is generated by the Earned Income Tax, The Amusement Tax, The Real Estate Transfer Tax and a 5.00 per capita tax under the Local Tax Enabling Act Taxes. Public Safety is expected to generate almost $60,000.00 with $50,000.00 in expected sewage permits which in previous years was not an aggressive undertaking by the township in collecting fees.While total income anticipated for Penn Forest Township in 2012 is just above 3.5 million dollars it pales in comparison to last year's budget of 1.6 million dollars according to the Preliminary Budget set for approval at the upcoming year end Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday, December 27 at 7pm in the Penn Forest Township Building.Some high ticket items under expenses in the preliminary budget include the Meckesville Bridge Project and listed under improvements "Other than Land" which is given a line item 1.6 million dollar expense to the township in 2012.Total snow removal is expected to run low at $112,500.00 as Township Supervisors voted Monday to contract for snow removal with Walsh Company of Jim Thorpe totaling $15,000.00 of that total amount.The Township expects to pay its' solicitor $25,000.00 in 2012. In past years depending upon the affairs of the township the payments for legal services varied from $45,000.00 and upward. Monday night Supervisors discussed a draft Attorney Fee Ordinance allowing the solicitor to represent the Township on matters pertaining to Municipal Liens and Municipal Claims. That Ordinance will be reviewed again in 2012.The Transfer Station budgeted income is $307,600.00 for 2012 with the total operating expenses for the Transfer Station at the same, $307,600.00.Supervisor and Chairman Paul Montemuro cited Transfer Station and Septic Department Manager Cindy Henning as an outstanding staff member in her Department.Montemuro nominated Henning, seconded by Supervisor Alan Katz to be included among nominees across the state for the Leadership Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors Award in recognition of an employee who does an exemplary job for townships residents also exhibiting leadership assets. The candidate must be nominated by an elected official and the deadline is Jan. 31, 2012. The preliminary budget notes in 2009 the income exceeded expenses at the Transfer station and boosted the success that carried forward to the present budget.Penn Forest 1 and Penn Forest 2 Fire Companies will receive an additional $10,000.00 if the budget is finalized Dec 27 or $110,000.00 total split 2 ways as a contribution from the township to the two Township Fire Departments.Additionally, Supervisors placed $60,000.00 for "apparatus" in the budget calling it a rolling fund. It may or may not be there. Under total amount under Fire Companies it lists simply Fire Company Contributions as $110,000.00.The Foreign Fire Insurance Premium Tax is income to the Township that gets dispersed to the fire department that gets cut in half this year for the Township to distribute to both fire Penn Forest 1 and Penn Forest 2 Fire Departments.The amount the state will give the Township from the FFIP tax for distribution is $69,000.00 as opposed to the 2011 distribution of $139,000.00. The $69,000.00 comes with certain restrictions and the firefighters must be specific in what the money is used for or it must go back to the treasury.Over the past year firefighters from both department members have been attending Supervisor meetings requesting funding for new apparatus, namely a water tank and a truck some said was a danger in the past to the firefighters themselves getting safely to an emergency situation.In other matters, No members of the public addressed the Supervisors at the Monday meeting.Penn Forest Township has 14 homes listed on the docket for Sheriffs Sale in December. There are 20 homes listed for Sheriffs Sale within the Township slated for Auction in January 2012. While most municipalities are addressing budget concerns about the collecting of Real Estate Taxes to balance their budgets Penn Forest appears to be confident in the collections of Property Taxes in spite of it being one of the highest areas for foreclosures.Supervisor Alan Katz has stated on numerous occasions that delinquent collections by the Township are positive so much that the 2012 budget anticipates a real estate tax delinquent collection of $75,000.00 in the proposed budget while the actual to date collected this year is $53,092.48 in real estate delinquencies, that amount exceeds the 2011 budgeted amount of $30,000.00.Katz attended the Supervisors meeting for the second month from a conference call and was professional at all times except for the sound system which at times made him sound like he was speaking from a can during his reports.The contention between Supervisor Alan Katz and Supervisor Judith Knappenberger was controlled until the very end of the meeting and became obvious momentarily when both tried to show their prowess of township regulations on when to have a meeting on the budget following the New Year Organizational meeting.Knappenberger crossed her arms defiantly speaking louder than he toward the phone as Katz voice got lost and garbled from the conference call in her dominance of knowing the law inside and out. "Twenty Days after advertising the budget," She said about when to have the year end budget meeting.More recently, Knappenberger has become more verbal in correcting others about protocol and obvious background in township matters especially to Katz on the phone..When asked if there was money in the budget for a sound system in the public chambers, Knappenberger said that she thought the room was small enough for people to hear.Christmas bonuses will go out this year to Penn Forest Township Staff members who are full time and have at least 90 days will receive $1,000.00. Part time employees who have at least 90 days will receive $300.00.It was not known if this would be implemented into the Employee Manual as a standard practice. Penn Forest Township adopted the Employee Manual a year ago supported by Katz who helped write and research it for conformity while employed by the Township.The New Zoning Ordinance Books were approved and distributed to Supervisors by Zoning Officer Darlene M. DeCurtis.Patrick Rogers took the Oath of Office of Fire Police and was sworn in at Mondays meeting Effective December 5, 2011 in front of members of the public.Katz updated Supervisors on the Amusement Tax Ordinance and an Application for Amusement Permit.There will be a big race covering about 200 miles affecting a few nearby municipalities next year and Officials are working out the details now. The Ragner Relay is coming on October 5 & 6 in 2012. Chairman Montemuro said he is not aware of the details at this time but he indicated again, "It's a big race and covers a large area."Zoning Officer Darlene DeCurtis is anticipating more details about the race soon.The Transfer Station in Penn Forest has new hours for 2012: Sun-9-5, Monday-8-4, Wednesday-11-7pm and Saturday 8-4pm.Residents are reminded that there is a $600.00 fine per day for not having an enforced address marker making residences identifiable to emergency personnel from the road.Supervisors in Attendance Dec. 5, 2011: Paul Montemuro, Judith M. Knappenberger, Warren R. Reiner, Alan S. Katz, (Teleconference), Floyd Day.Staff: Mary Ann Lewellyn, Secretary/Treasurer, Darlene DeCurtis, Zoning Officer, Cindy Henning, Transfer Station/Sept Dept.Appointed: Thomas Nanovic, Solicitor, Scott Brown-Hanover Engineering