113  LOWER PAXTON TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS  Minutes of the meeting held on September 3, 2024  A budget meeting ofthe Lower Paxton Township Board of Supervisors was called to order by Chair Lindsey at 5:32 p.m. on the above date at the Lower Paxton Township Municipal  0 CO 3 2  Center, 425 Prince Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.  In addition to Mrs. Lindsey, the supervisors present were Norman Zoumas, Chris Judd, Paul W. Navarro, and Pamela Thompson. Also in attendance were. Bradley Gotshall, Township Manager; Sam Miller, Assistant Township Manager/Finance Director; Jada Dunlap, Finance Manager; and Amanda Zerbe, Community Development Director.  Pledge of Allegiance  Chair Lindsey led the Pledge of Allegiance.  Presentation of 2025 General Fund Budget Proposal (Community Development Department) Mr. Gotshall announced that the 2025 budget presentations will differ slightly this year. In the past, the individual department budgets were already set. He and Sam would have reviewed the proposals with each department head in conjunction with the General Fund bottom line. This year, it'sar new approach, and the supervisors will get presentations with unfiltered proposals and come to the Board from a natural position based on what the department is requesting moving forward. In succeeding presentations, there will be requests from the Board to decide whether it meets their vision of funding Municipal Services. He suggested that the Supervisors allow the department head to review the proposal and avoid getting stuck on individual line items. He suggested that they ask  questions indicative oft their vision moving forward.  1    114  Mr. Zoumas noted that the federal government and corporations do not allocate budgets similarly. The Federal Government presents a dollar amount, and the job is to figure out how to spend those dollars based on the needs at that time; the Township is doing it backward. Mr. Judd added that at the state level, the. Administration makes ai request, and then the legislature holds a hearing and goes through the request; there are different ways of  doing it.  Mr. Gotshall explained that in the past, the Township Manager gave the Board members a prepackaged budget. This process gives the Board al budget that the department  heads have put forward, and it's closer to what the departments want.  Mr. Judd asked Mr. Gotshall what the purpose oft the change was. Mr. Gotshall explained that now. This year is perfect for trying this model with a new board constitution. With new board members needing to complete the strategic plan as discussed, moving forward, a strategic plan will be done in consultation through DCED's Strategic Management Program (STMP). Hopefully, the Township will receive a grant, allowing the Board to get together and discuss vision and strategy. With the new Board makeup, now is the time to enable the Board to drive vision and where the money is being spent.  Ms. Lindsey asked ifthe directors were okay with the change. Mr. Gotshall explained that this process allows the directors an unfiltered way of presenting their  proposals.  Amanda Zerbe, Director of Community Development, reported that the only changes in the Community Development Department Budget would be to the fund accounts and how  different permit types are entered into those fund accounts.  2    115  Mrs. Zerbe reported that four different permit types are currently going into four different residential fund accounts, and five different permit types are going into commercial fund accounts. The plan is to consolidate those, and all: residential permits will go into one residential fund. All commercial licenses will go into one commercial fund. The staff can pull reports, but the licenses will no longer be entered into the cash register as separate funds. All the other funds remain the same. She reported that industry forecasters are pointing toward a strong building market in 2025 as the cost of goods stabilizes, interest rates are forecasted to decrease, and the national number shows 4.78% of Single-Family residential units. The Township is tracking a 70% increase over the national forecasted numbers for residential housing. She noted that al lot of Townhouse projects are coming next year. While working through the budget, she spoke with some developers, and they projected about 200 new units. After completing the budget, she spoke with another developer who indicated another 15 - 20 units would be developed next year. Thus, it will result in a strong year in 2025. The most significant expenditure in Community Development is staff, both' Township employees, and payment for third-party services. Expenses related to third-party services are offset by applicant reimbursement for engineering costs and  Co CO C 2  permit fees for building-related services.  Mrs. Zerbe reported that the 2025 initiatives include increasing the department staffto include a full-time Codes Enforcement Officer, which would expand the response to resident complaints utilizing an active enforcement model, which isn'tcurrently in use. All department processes will bei moving through SmartGov, such as building plan submission, Zoning Hearing Board applications, and complaints. The goal is to engage residents by providing complete documentation for subdivision and land development projects and Zoning Hearing Board  applications.  3    116  Mrs. Zerbe noted that no decision has been made about how that is going tol look yet, but there is aj public portal in SmartGov. This feature is on the front page, and it takes the user directly to the information entered in the system for plans. Therefore, ifai resident wanted to go on the portal to see what's current, they could go directly to the public notice board, where the  plans would bel listed. This feature has never been available before now.  Mrs. Zerbe noted that the process to satisfy PA: DEP for on-lot 0&M requirements would be administered by a new Codes Enforcement Officer and the current Permit Technician. The goal is to enhance the 904 Recycling Grant by expanding the recycling media presence and using ar recycling coordinator to ensure proper reporting. Currently, the Permit Technician handles this task. She noted ai need to begin conducting active property maintenance with ai new: full-time employee who would utilize the active property maintenance code in the' Township to protect the health and safety of the public by requiring existing structures oft the premises to comply with property maintenance and basic zoning codes. Currently, one Codes Enforcement Officer also shares in the planning processes. So far, in 2024, the Codes Enforcement Officer has sent 301 violation letters and conducted over 850 inspections. She presented photographs of typical code  violations in the Township.  Mr. Judd asked Mrs. Zerbe if the code violations weren't being enforced. Mrs. Zerbe explained that the violations are being enforced, but it takes al lot ofv work with one person to enforce the number ofissues in the Township. The Township continuès to expand in age, and the resident services are rising. When the Codes Enforcement position was created in 2003, there was one Codes Enforcement Officer for aj population of 18,054 units. In 2024, there are approximately 22,944 units. Since 2003, there have been 44 additional neighborhoods. She noted  that Lower Paxton Township has 20% oft the housing in Dauphin County.  4    117  Mrs. Zerbe demonstrated the workflow for the Codes Enforcement Officer, noting that the complaint is received through email or telephone, which will be tracked through SmartGov. Then a case must be opened, and the following steps are followed: complete an inspection; if there's a violation after the inspection, a courtesy letter is sent, then a follow-up inspection is done; ifit's abated the case is closed ifnot, ai notice ofviolation goes out and the notice requires 30-days for correction, after the 30-days, another inspection is required and ifit's abated the case is closed, ifnot, then it goes to a non-traffic or civil citation based on the violation.  CO CO 3 2  Mrs. Zerbe presented a comparison chart ofMunicipalities comparable to Lower Paxton  Township but not comparable in department size.  A discussion followed about the comparison chart, 904 Recycling grant, permit fees, budget changes, job duties, and compensation for the proposed Codes Enforcement Officer.  Adjournment  Mr.J Judd motioned to adjourn the meeting, and Mr. Zoumas seconded it. Mrs. Lindsey  called for a voice vote, and the meeting adjourned at 6:15 p.m.  Respectfully submitted, Shellie dLBe Recording Secretary  Approved aw  Secretary  5