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Hilltown increases Mill Road bridge funding
May 12, 2010
By Jennifer Mohan
Staff Writer
The Hilltown Township Board of Supervisors voted to increase funding for its Mill Road bridge design project at its Monday, May 10 meeting.
The board voted unanimously to increase the township’s contribution to the design of the Mill Road bridge project from the original $300,000 to $578,000.
“Just to make this clear,” Supervisor Jack McIlhinney said, “this is only for the design, not for the construction, of one 28 foot bridge.”
“This is going to be one hell of a bridge,” Supervisor Barbara Salvadore said.
The rehabilitation of the Mill Road bridge is a part of a federal, local and state government match grant. The grant leaves the township responsible for 5 percent of the total cost of the project, which means the township must provide all of the funds on the front end of the project and they will be reimbursed for all but 5 percent of the cost.
In other Hilltown news:
• The board agreed to grant Police Chief Chris Engelhart permission to study the traffic on Chalfont Road, to determine whether the current unposted speed limit of 55 mph is too high. The specific area to be examined is the stretch of Chalfont Road between Hilltown Pike and South Township Line Road.
• The board of supervisors appointed David W. Taylor to the post of township zoning officer/building inspector at an annual salary of $31,000. Taylor’s appointment will be effective as of Wednesday, June 9.
After the appointment was approved, Supervisor McIlhinney noted his displeasure with the decision stating it was “not the way to go.”
McIlhinney pointed out that it was his thinking that the investigation into making the post permanent was predicated on the fact that the board was looking to cut costs. He stated that while contracting the work to a third party vendor cost the township $106,000, they brought in $218,000 for a return of $112,000. McIlhinney said this appointment will cost the board much more than the listed $31,000 when you factor in benefits such as FICA and pension.
“It doesn’t seem appropriate, at least not in this market,” McIlhinney said, noting that many of the applicants for the position were let go from their posts with other townships. “I don’t understand why we are going in the opposite direction.”
McIlhinney added that a “fiasco” the last time the post was held in-house is what led the board to the decision to hire outside vendors.
“To go back to the system that caused so many problems, and to do it at an additional cost is unconscionable,” McIlhinney said.
He added that he was disheartened that the successful effort to turn things around in that department was now being abandoned.
Taylor addressed the Board and the public stating he looks forward to working with the township and hopes to gain the confidence of the entire board.
• The board of supervisors has received five applications to fill two vacancies on the parks, recreation and open space citizen’s advisory committee.
The five applicants will be invited to formally speak to the board and to the public one half-hour before the next regular board meeting.
• An amendment to the nuisance ordinance regarding the operation of ATV’s within the township, as well as the parameters for a township sign ordinance will be presented at the next board meeting.
• The next Hilltown Township Board of Supervisors meeting will be held Monday, May 24 at 7 p.m. in the Hilltown Municipal Building, 13 W. Creamery Rd., Hilltown.
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