Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Proposed municipal spending plan totals $24 million.
The Sparta Township Council will introduce on March 12 a proposed 2013 municipal budget that calls for a $39 tax increase for a home assessed at the township’s average, roughly half the increase of the previous year. Township Administrator David Troust presented the tax figure Tuesday at a council budget workshop where he and finance director Grant (Sam) Rome outlined the new budget for the council. He said it is the smallest percentage increase in the past four years. The $24 million spending plan will be introduced at the next council meeting, said Mayor Gilbert Gibbs. The council also scheduled a workshop session before the public hearings on the document, set for April 9. Gibbs said the council should be prepared to detail their …
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Homeowners could save on tax bill by shopping locally.
Instead of just getting extra cheese on that pizza, Sparta property owners might soon be able to get a property tax credit at the same time. That is the heart of a program presented to the Township Council Tuesday by Carmine DeFalco and Nicholas Campanella of Fincredit Inc., a Marlboro based company that offers a property tax reward program. It works in the same way a regular credit card reward program functions: Merchants enrolled in the program offer a percentage discount on their goods and services. Instead of the credit being applied to the cardholder’s balance, it is placed in an escrow account to be credited against the homeowner’s property tax bill. For renters, Campanella said, the credits would be paid to them yearly as a …
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Officials aim to reduce debt service in new spending plan.
The Township Council plans to introduce the 2013 municipal budget at a special public meeting next week. Mayor Gilbert Gibbs called for the special meeting. He said earlier when setting goals for the year, the council would address the amount of debt and borrowing in the budget and bring in a budget below the mandated 2 percent cap. The council will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 5 at town hall. The township’s 2012 budget called for a $23.53 million spending plan supported by a local tax levy of $15.6 million. State aid in the 2012 budget was $1.2 million. The budget was based on a total township property assessment of $2.358 billion, down $37 million from 2011, when the township’s total value was 2.395 billion. The 2012 budget was $238,000…
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Township's newest elevations come with history of law enforcement pedigree.
On Tuesday, the Sparta Township touted its police department. Three officers were promoted and a fourth was celebrated on his retirement from the force. Promoted were Lt. Neil J. Spidaletto, Sgt. Joseph H. Pensado and Sgt. Terrence J. Mulligan. Detective Sgt. John Schanstra was honored upon his retirement after 20 years with the Sparta department. “This is a very proud day for the Sparta Police Department,” said Chief Ernest I. Reigstad. He said Schanstra was “a great officer and will be greatly missed. We are also promoting three outstanding officers, which is an indication of the future of the department. They will learn quickly and bring us forward.” Mayor Gilbert Gibbs said the ceremony was something special and on behalf of the …
Monday, February 25, 2013
Residents told cable company would not offer credits for lack of service.
The Township Council supported a resolution at their last meeting seeking credits from Service Electric Cable Television for the days that the service was off-line during Hurricane Sandy. Electric power and cable was out for up to two weeks in some parts of Sparta during the Oct. 22 to 29 storm. The local resolution is modeled on one passed by Andover, demanding the company credit residents for 10 days of service not provided during the storm. Resident Richard Sullivan said he called Service Electric, which is based in Pennsylvania, and was told the company was not offering any credit for service lost during the storm. He said another cable provider which serves another municipality where he has a second home offered to credit him on the …
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Historical Society plans conversion of 1790s home to a museum, and township officials may ask the county inmate labor program to provide some of the work.
The Sparta Historical Society is seeking the township’s help to convert the historic Van Kirk house into a museum, and a councilwoman has suggested county inmates help with repairs. The school district had purchased the 95-acre site for the construction of the township’s middle school, and the historical society purchased the 1790s-era home and three acres on Route 517 from the Sparta school district last year. The site has been used in the past for Civil War re-enactments. Historical society president Ed Fritche told the council Tuesday the society was seeking help to cover the costs of insurance on the site, especially liability insurance, the costs of legal and engineering services, and seeking a commitment of $5,000 from the township …
White Deer Plaza facility is at end of useful life, town says.
The Sparta Township Council agreed to hire CP Engineering to prepare a study of options for the White Deer Plaza waste water treatment facility. The facility operates near or at its 50,000 gallons-per-day capacity and is in need of upgrades, Township Manager David Troust said. The study could cost $50,000. The facility is approaching the end of its effective 30-year lifespan. CP Engineering owner Stan Puszcz said the first step is identifying the regulations that apply to the facility and preparing the documents that would be needed to move forward. He said the options for the facility are to upgrade the facility for better treatment, or to convert the site into a pumping station. The White Deer Plaza station serves the township center, …
Monday, February 18, 2013
Township Council lays out plans for improvement in the township for 2013.
Cutting down the township’s debt, bringing in a 2013 budget below the state cap, setting up emergency protocols and improving communication are among the top goals set by the Sparta Township Council recently. “This is a township council that will work for you,” said Mayor Gilbert Gibbs. “We’re going to have a big year.” Overall, each council member set goals based on their committee liaison assignments. Gibbs' first goal is reinvigorating the township’s development and construction efforts to show businesses interested in moving to Sparta that the township is business-friendly. He called for tighter budgeting. He also wants to improve the township’s water system, begin to reduce the debt service paid annually with better financial planning…
Friday, January 4, 2013
Veteran Jerry Murphy and newcomer Christine Quinn sworn in at reorganization meeting.
In a calm and efficient reorganization meeting Thursday night, incumbent Jerry Murphy and newcomer Christine Quinn were sworn into three-year terms on the Sparta Township Council. Coincilman Gilbert Gibbs was chosen as mayor for 2013, and Councilwoman Molly Whilesmith was selected as deputy mayor. Murphy is beginning his fourth term on the council. Quinn was appointed to the seat held previously by Councilman Scott Seelagy, who chose not to seek a fifth term. Murphy has served on the council during a time of budget cuts and tight spending that resulted last year in cuts to the police department. Quinn in her campaign called for careful spending and said she would promote the use of grants to support township programs. Gibbs and Murphy …
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Township still waiting for a full estimate from FEMA.
Sparta Township will get reimbursed for 75 percent of the damage costs from Superstorm Sandy, Township Manager David Troast said at Tuesday's council meeting. The remaining 25 percent will be paid for by the township. He said the exact cost of damage has not yet been determinned because there are still estimates being done. He said there are several categories of damage assessments, including debris removal, and damge to municipal buildings and cars. He said two well structures in the township were damaged, and several vehicles, inclduing a police car and a firetruck were damaged by the storm. Troast said the storm brush is still being picked up around the township. He said there is already a stack of debris piled behind the DPW buidling …
The Watcher
8:22 am on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
We would need businesses in town in order for this to work more ›