ASHLAND - The borough council delayed the tentative adoption of the 2014 operating budget at Wednesday's meeting for one week until it can be further reviewed.
The special meeting was held mainly for the budget adoption and to advertise the tax ordinance. According to the proposed budget numbers available at the meeting, total revenues were estimated at $2,449,957.34 and total expenditures estimated at $2,440,012.95.
Borough Manager Raymond Jones Jr. reviewed some line items in the budget plan, including slightly raising the real estate tax.
"In fire protection, we added 0.2 mills for estimated payments on the fire truck purchased by the American Hose Company," Jones said. The estimated monthly payment on the 15-year loan is about $400.
If the proposed increase is approved, the total real estate tax would increase to 22 mills.
In another budget area, Jones said the workers compensation insurance has been split, with borough employees under one insurance plan and the firefighters under another. By going with two different insurance plans, the borough will save about $14,000 in 2014. Jones said Capital Blue Cross premiums will increase 2.1 percent next year.
Jones said salary increases for full-time employees would be the same as the current year at $1,000. He said part-time employees who did receive a raise in 2013 would see a 2 percent increase in 2014.
Council President Ann Marie Groody advised that the proposed budget should be reviewed further. Groody set the new meeting date for the tentative budget adoption at 6 p.m. Nov. 27.
Groody called for an executive session to discuss personnel matters. The session lasted 50 minutes, and the first topic afterward dealt with parking enforcement. At the October meeting, borough council approved the retirement request from Susan Jones, who is the borough meter officer. Her retirement is effective Saturday.
"We need to decide what to do for the meter zone since the meter person has retired," Groody said.
"I'd like to make a motion to put on a townwide parking enforcement officer," council Vice President Raymond Walacavage said. "The mayor would have to handle this. This is not just for the meter zone, but throughout the town for approximately six hours per day with a part-time police officer."
The second to Walacavage's motion was made by Councilman Frederick Spieles and accepted in a 5-0 vote.
In another personnel matter, interviews are being scheduled for part-time police officers, Groody said. She added that Civil Service Commission tests were given to 15 people who applied for a full-time police officer position.
In other business, borough council approved free parking at all meters during December for the convenience of shoppers during the holiday season. Metered parking will resume on Jan. 2.