Delaware Explores Tax Break For Firefighters
By Wayne Witkowski
DINGMANS FERRY -- Delaware Township supervisors, during the workshop prior to their bi-monthly regular board meeting last week, began a dialogue with officers from the township's volunteer fire company about possible tax breaks for its members.
Discussion was ignited by a proposal sent to the township from fire company president George Beodeker for a possible enactment of a stipend/tax abatement in 2023. If approved, it likely would mean that the volunteer firefighters who are homeowners in the township would get a reduction in their real estate municipal taxes as compensation for their non-salaried services. Members of the fire company who rent would receive a compensation.
"It seems to be working in Lackawaxen (Township), " said Delaware Township Solicitor Tom Farley, who also serves as Lackawaxen's solicitor. Neighboring Lehman Township last fall enacted reduced real estate tax payments for volunteers on the Bushkill Volunteer Fire Company starting in 2022 and a lowered Earned Income Tax fee for members who rent in the township. Lehman officials said they have been gathering the list of eligible recipients.
"We're going to dig deeper into this," said Delaware Township Fire Chief Michael Cairns afterward. Cairns had presented the fire company's 2021 Year End Report with Fire Captain and former Chief Sean Hughes. The report mentioned that the fire company lost three volunteers, who relocated, but gained five new ones, including a junior firefighter. Retention is a key, said Cairns, amid the ongoing reduction of volunteers statewide amid the job demands and the many demanding hours of training by firefighters as well as other job commitments needed to support their families.
Supervisor Jane Neufeld said work on the 2023 budget begins in July.
Also discussed was possibly developing and approving a Cost Recovery Ordinance for DTVFC that would enable it to recover costs for emergency responses from victims' insurance providers. Lehman and southern neighbor Middle Smithfield Township in Monroe County have similar ordinances. Neufeld said the board would examine the Lehman ordinance.
Cairns said approving a Cost Recovery Ordinance would come at a good time.
"We can't continue like this with costs (for emergency response) that keep going up," said Cairns.
Supervisors said the 1.5 mills fire tax, which ranges from $12 to $75 per household, also can be examined for a possible .5 mills increase. But Cairns pointed out that the insurance revenue from a Cost Recovery Ordinance "would not cost township taxpayers more money" for emergency responses.
Supervisors also pointed out that some emergency victims may not have insurance coverage, or have an insurance policy that would not cover that emergency situation. "You can't go after residents for a fee if they're paying their fire tax," added Farley.
Hughes said the Delaware Township fire company "has had numerous conversations with Bushkill" on its cost recovery ordinance. "We need to see how many times they (Bushkill fire company) got insurance money," said Neufeld. Lehman supervisors reported to the Dispatch that there have been favorable results already.
"We're not saying 'no' to these (proposals). Just get back to us with more information," said Board of Supervisors Chairman John Henderson to Cairns and Hughes.
Their report pointed out that a new brush truck and assistant chief's truck were purchased in 2021.
It also said Beodeker was in the process of meeting with state representatives for a Loan Share Account grant (from Monroe County casino gaming funds) that would go toward upgrading the fire company's substation.
In other report highlights, a $15,000 State Fire Commissioners 2020 grant covered the installation of exhaust removal systems at apparatus bays in both stations in conjunction with the state fire commission's Cancer Prevention Initiative.
Another $15,000 from the State Fire Commissioners grant of 2021 offset the cost of hose replacement in engine 1, which is the only vehicle of the fleet still being paid off.
About $20,000 funds from the Robert and Marie Orr Smith Foundation that was received last spring went toward replacing thermal imaging cameras.
As for emergency response, 177 calls were answered and included 17 percent fire related (including 11 building fires), 14 percent to assist EMS (22 incidents, including 3.8 percent for CPR), 20 percent for motor vehicle accidents (33, including six with injuries), 13 percent as false alarms/system malfunctions and 36 percent other calls, including 13 downed power lines.
Akenac Park use request by the fire company last Saturday from 9 a..m. to 1 p.m. for the annual ice rescue refresher was approved at the supervisors' regular meeting. The fire company also was approved the use of Akenac Park on Tuesday nights from 7-10 p.m. beginning March 15 through Nov. 22.. In both approvals, the fire company was expected to provide proper insurance coverage
Also during the workshop, supervisors said that they would interview on Friday last week a candidate for Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator after receiving a letter of interest. Matthew Light had served that post last year but was moved up to Emergency Management Coordinator when Beodeker retired from the post at the end of last year.
During the regular meeting, supervisors approved advertising for a public hearing on the land development for Independence True Value on Wednesday, March 9 at 7:15 p.m. It involves a conditional use permit approval for True Value for an addition to its property. The application went through the township's Planning Commission, which granted a variance for a reduction in parking.
Supervisors approved Township Administrator Krista Predmore's appointment to the Delaware Township Building Hearing Board.
The board also approved adopting the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors (PSATS) Trustees Insurance Fund Disclosure Statement for 2021 as required by Chapter 7-A of Act 44 of 2009, the Municipal Pension Plan Funding Standard and Recovery Act.
Dingmans Ferry-Delaware Township Historical Society was approved use of the municipal hall for presentations on the following Sundays from 1-4 p.m.: March 20, May 15, Sept.18, Oct. 16 and Nov. 13 and also for meetings and presentations on the following Thursdays from 6-10 p.m.: April 21, June 16, July 21 and Aug. 18.
Dingmans Ferry Theatre was approved a request for use of Akenac Park in conjunction with the Delaware Dingmans Ferry-Delaware Township Historical Society for outdoor shows on June 25 and on Sept. 25, both at 2 p.m.., which would include having liability insurance coverage.
Supervisors during the workshop discussed established procedures for approved use of the municipal building and Akenac Park. Although more applicants have been including a certificate of liability, as recommended, a few still are approved with a waiver of the certificate. Some with waivers are not a legal entity with liability insurance for the township.That includes softball teams that do not have their own certificates for playing games on township fields but are approved under a request and certificate from the league.
Supervisors also discussed an update of the township employee handbook. Henderson objected only to the section that bans gossiping on the job, saying some of it can be regarded more as an exchange of information and said the ban violates the constitutional right of freedom of speech. The board will further examine his point.
Supervisors announced at the end of the regular meeting that the Short-Term Rental Ordinance Public Hearing will be held 7:15 p.m. on Feb. 23. Farley said that he can not attend that meeting but assured residents who expressed concern because of Farley's familiarity with the issues that his partner who will attend will be well prepared.
The year-round road weight maximum again was discussed during the workshop amid concerns of heavy commercial trucks detoured from Deep Hollow Bridge onto Park Road, which township Roadmaster Vince Flatt said could increasingly damage the road bed. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation lowered the weight limit on the bridge because of its condition until repair work is done sometime around 2025, forcing the commercial truck detour..
To set a township road weight limit different from the one last established about 40 years ago, Farley said a traffic study must be conducted so the weight restriction can be properly enforced in a court of law. Signage on the weight limit also would have to be posted on any roads with weight limits. Discussion will continue through upcoming workshops.