Mount Joy BoroughCounci Special Budget Meeting Minutes November 21, 2023 The Mount Joy Borough Council held a Special Budget Meeting on November 21, 2023. Council President Hall called the meeting to order at 6:30pm. Invocation was given by Bill Hall, followed by Pledge of Allegiance. present were Police Chief, Robert Goshen, Borough Manager, Jill Frey; Public' Works Director, Dennis Nissley; Parks Superintendent, Barry Councilors Castaldi, Eichler, Fahndrich, Greineder, Hall, Haigh, and Ruschke. Roll Call - Present were Councilor Youngerman and Mayor Bradley Officer, Duane Brady Jr. were in attendance via Zoom. Councilor Ginder was absent. Also Mark Pugliese; Assistant Borough Manager, Geltmacher, and Codes & Zoning On al MOTION by Ruschke, and a second by Greineder, approval was given to approve the agenda. Pugliese labor to the to include an executive session to discuss information given by the made an amendment health care agenda benefits. Motion with amendment carries unanimously. attorney concerning Public Input Period Dale Murray, 120 Farmington Way, benefit overhead was at appreciates the Manager asked if employee benefits were included in the cost of the new hire for Coordinator. He said he estimated for 2023's budget that the Township up1 directly beside the Mount Joy Borough. He said they are the Community & Economic 57% Development and for 2024 iti is to 61%. Murray spoke concerning the Chiques Crossing apartment complex going into and Rapho hei is concerned about the impact it will have on the Borough. He said he planning for 378 apartments, sending al letter to Rapho Township expressing concern, and he appreciates the Mayor attending and speaking at the meeting Rapho feels the Mount Joy Borough should take a stronger Township had about this. He said he thinks the letter did not express complete opposition to the project and stance in opposition. He asked Council to consider creating a Chiques 14, 2023, Special Council Meeting. Motion carries unanimously. Crossing Ad-Hoc Committee. Greineder, and a second Ruschke, approval was given for the minutes fromt thel November into executive session at 6:38pm. Council returned from executive session at 6:52pm. No Onal MOTION by Council went decisions were made. by 2024 General Fund Budget Discussion Council agreed and change was made. from $45,000 to $37,000. Pugliese said that we changed line item 01.400.311 (Auditing Services) Pugliese said that we can remove $106,500 and $35,000 from line item 01.492.100 (Transfer from of and use Capital Fund balance to cover those items. He said we have over $700,000 Capital) unallocated funds available in Capital Fund. Council agreed and change was made. said that he heard back from PFM concerning an updated figure for the debt service. He said Pugliese Notes) should be $257,353 to reflect the update. Council line item 01.471.100 (General Obligation agreed and change was made. and pay with Capital per agreement, and that amount Council agreed and change was made. Greineder asked if we can do the same with 01.409.372 (Rail Enhancements Maintenance Mark's & Repairs) lot, unallocated funds. Pugliese said that $8,500 is to seal coat St. parking could be paid with Capital funds, leaving $4,000 int that line item. Fahndrich said that she voted not fort the new salary oft the Community & Economic Development have Coordinator it in 2024's $55,000 plus benefits. She said she feels that we are not in a position to Fax (717) 653-6680 -- and for spending budget. Greineder said that ift the salary were to everything under Section 463 would go as well. Haigh go, said he does not agree and feels the position will pay for itself. He said revenues, not cut expenses. Fahndrich said it takes out. She also said she agrees that we need to Economic Development Coordinator is we have to find a way to increase Development. She said it would be best to contract out years the to see at turnaround for Community & Economic hired for the position, which to the time, included Community Grants Economic Development. He said we had circumstances, never had a chance to see it come to fruition. He said Stormwater, but due to unfortunate fori itself and is in favor ofit. Greineder asked ifi it must be full-time. Youngerman said that feels the position will pay anymore. Hall asked if we have a consensus to take the grants, we do not have the time to take on Hall said that his thoughts are that once we have body, if we are comfortable with a tax increase. expenses, then we would discuss a tax increase, if maximized all the revenues and minimized all the want to consider rolling back the contributions. Hall said organizations have increased. He asked if we would typically hold events ini town, is Bradley not a new that Community & Economic Development, which is who in a different way. He said we had paid $50,0001 to expense Main to the Borough. He said it was just accounted for service, and that it is a great service to contract generate more revenue. Hall said that the more than & and Community & but that we would have to put money ini the budget for that. that with everyone who has taken on the responsibility for entertain a motion. No motion was made. Fahndrich said that there was never a discussion, as a that contracting outi is not a bad idea, Youngerman said yes. Pugliese said position out of the budget. He said he would on come last. necessary. He said that discussion should typically Castaldi said that our contributions to a couple of different Municipality hosting events. Mayor said he was referring to the 456 line items Economic Development). said that he is not sure of his thoughts on the Street Mount Joy and they would handlei it. Castaldi (Library/Other Organizations), not 463 line items (Community & Haigh asked if line item 01.433.022 (Street Painting/Marking) includes Wood Capital as we did St. Mark's parking lot. Hall said that he sees Castaldi asked about line item 01.387.000 (Fees-In-Lieu of that line item. Chief Goshen and Pugliese said itis accounting for thermos plastic on Main St. Haigh asked if we could St. Nissley said no, and that it will wear out much faster and not last as long as St. Mark's the crosswalk painting as different because exempt properties in the Borough. Hall asked if they we are working on seeing what can be done with the tax- be hard to properly do it for the 2024 budget. Hall said wanted to leave to change the number. Pugliese said it would move the painting for Main St. to parking lot. Taxes) and if there is any chance of increasing it as is. Pugliese suggested reducing, under Community & Economic Development, & Supplies) from $3,500 to $1,000, and line item 01.463.340 Chief reported that there are 125 non-profit properties in the Castaldi asked if the Earned Income Tax rate is capped the 1% according to Section 245.71 ofthel Borough code. Dale line item 01.463.200 (Materials Council agreed and changes were made. (Advertising & Printing) from $2,500 to $1,000. Youngerman said that there are two churches that will be back on Borough, the tax roll totaling $37,975,500 in value. of the Borough code levies taxes and would have to see ifit by includes State. Youngerman said that Section 1302 soon. Brady confirmed. EIT. Brady said that EIT is capped at Murray said that the Borough is at 1% according to the County. Greineder said that we are showing $159,000 short to balance the 2024 mileage rate chart, we would have to go to 4.47 mills to cover Council on where they stand with thati increase. Haigh said that we still must consider the cost of the Municipal the December Council meeting. He said ift the 2024 are saying from a budget standpoint that we budget. He said that looking at the that. He asked if we could get a sense from said that if the debt service is in the budget it continue in the complex and the Refuse Fund as well. He Ad-Hoc Building Committee meeting it was recommended to budget year after year. Hall stated that at the start over. Haigh said that he agrees with agree. The alternative is to go back to the first scenario and move to full Council to approve the building at budget passes with the scenario we currently have, we the current scenario but wanted Council to be aware. Fax (717) 653-6680 hapughomauntoymaomg "mamiponugt.conm Castaldi asked if Council considered a six-month hiring freeze. Haigh said we already did that at a prior Mayor cautioned Council to make sure we are not sO scarce with finances that in the future we are faced Fahndrich said that if we are going forward with the building project, how are we going to get through the next four or five years of budgeting and asked if Council has a plan. Hall said that we know some properties that are going to be going back on thet tax roll, we have a possible revenue source with fees-in-lieu-oftaxes, and we will have a grant writer position that will be filled and hopefully pay off. He said it is hard to say Pugliese reported that hel has provided a sheet called "Municipal Office Building" and it shows that the Mount Joy Borough. Authority is willing to contribute one million dollars toward the project and that the appraisal for Haigh said that ai friend oncet told. him that the most important decision al Municipal body can make the hiring of the Police Chief and Borough Manager, and the second most important decision is giving them the freedom to do their job. He said that we will be ok for 2024's budget and for 2025 and beyond there are On a MOTION from Haigh, with a second by Ruschke, approval was given to increase the mileage rate in the budget to 4.47 mills. Castaldi stated that this is a 6% increase. Greineder said this increases revenue Hall said line item 01.301.100 (Real Estate Taxes - Current Year) will be increased to $2,597,055. Change was made. Hall suggested to reduce 01.301.001 (Transfer from Fund Balance) by $480.68, taking the budget meeting. with a large tax increase at one time. exactly what those things will mean, but we have to move on. the current properties came in at all but one million dollars. different ideas and revenue sources we have to work on. by $159,873. Motion carries unanimously. number down to $116,781.07. Council agreed and change was made. Council went on to look at and review the 2024 proposed Capital Fund budget. Council went on to look at and review the 2024 proposed Highway Aid Fund budget. Council went on to look at and review the 2024 proposed Refuse Fund budget. Pugliese explained that 04.301.001 (Fund Balance) has $87,516.60 projected carry over from 2023 fund balance. Haigh said we could move the $87,516.60 to Fund Balance. Hall said we could move $139,039 Hall said that he does not think we should do two years in a row with at tax increase and two years in a row Mayor Bradley said that next year's budget will be speculation and most indications show Council will be looking at a difficult budget season again next year. He said that although he is not in favor of holding a large balance in the Refuse Fund, he also feels we are dwindling it down now to where there is no wiggle Pugliese said that the Commercial rates last year were only set $10 above the Residential rates and feels they should be adjusted. Haigh said he is in favor of an increase, especially to Commercial. Mayor Bradley stated that he does not understand why there is a separate charge for woody waste. He said that there are people who do not need or use the woody waste pick up option and do not feel the residents should have to pay for something they do not utilize. Frey said that there was always a separate Hall suggested we change the Residential rate to $357 per year, increasing line item 04.364.301 to $1,038,870, and change the Commercial rate to $457 per year, increasing line item 04.364.302 to $28,500, and eliminate line item 04.364.304 (Woody Waste). He also suggested to change the annual key fob key to Fund Balance. with at trash increase. room. line item for woody waste and is not exactly sure why. Fax (717) 653-6680 p pooucn@moumioypaog wwmounopoouan.con cost for East Donegal Township residents to $40 per year, increasing line item 04.364.312 (Key Fobs) by Haigh made a MOTION to raise woody waste bags from $.50 each to $.60 each. Motion dies for lack of On al MOTION by Greineder, and a second by Ruschke, approval was given to authorize Borough staff to advertise the 2024 General Fund, Capital Fund, Highway Aid Fund, and Refuse Fund proposed budgets to be available for public review prior to the December 4, 2023 Council meeting. Motion carries unanimously. On a MOTION by Greineder, and a second by Ruschke, approval was given to authorize the preparation of an Ordinance or Resolution as needed with regards to an increase of the mileage rate from 4.2 mills to 4.47 mills for 2024, as well as authorization to advertise any ordinance with regards to tax rates for 2024 if On a MOTION by Greineder, and a second by Ruschke, approval was given to move the 2024 General Fund, Capital Fund, Highway Aid Fund, and Refuse Fund proposed budgets to the December 4, 2023, On a MOTION by Castaldi, and a second by Ruschke, approval was given to adopt the new fee schedule. Mayor Bradley said that he is opposed to charging residents to the use of the pavilions int the Borough and $3,750 for ai total of $22,350. Council agreed and changes were made. second. required to do SO. Motion carries unanimously. Council meeting for action by Borough Council. Motion carries unanimously. Motion carries unanimously. that the pavilions should be al benefit to the residents at no charge. Public Input Period No public input. Any Other Matter Proper to Come Before the Council Pugliese said the numbers provided tonight are the updated numbers. Haigh requested to see the debt service numbers updated by the December 4, 2023, Council meeting. On al MOTION by Greineder, and a second by Fahndrich, meeting was adjourned at 9:55pm. Respectfully Submitted, Mark Borough Manager ENI Fax (717)6 653-6680 . borough@mountoypagtg-www.mountoyporougn.com