At the regular meeting of the Burlington Township Council on Tuesday, May 28, following a presentation of awards for the kindergarten and elementary school student winners of the “What Burlington Township Means to Me” contest, several ordinances representing a slew of capital improvement projects were adopted on first reading.
One of the first was an ordinance authorizing the use of PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) funds for the acquisition of computer and telephone equipment for the emergency office command center at a cost of $15,000.
During his report for the evening, Mayor Brian Carlin acknowledged the timely nature of this particular ordinance given the impending storms forecast throughout the week.
“I thank the council for passing the various ordinances this evening, particularly allowing us the upgrades to communication systems over at the emergency operations center. It’s fitting facing this storm of storms that’s going to hit us tonight, that we’re taking steps to make sure that that center is operational in the event that we need it,” said Carlin.
A bond ordinance was adopted that will provide for various water utility capital improvements at an estimated cost of $655,500.
Planned improvements include retrofitting of one of the township’s water wells at an estimated cost of $81,950, the purchase of a utility truck at an estimated cost of $40,950, construction of new water mains on 14th Street, Springside Place and LaSalle Drive at an estimated cost of $174,100, $184,500 and $117,650 respectively, repairs to water mains at several locations at an estimated cost of $35,850 and the addition of an insertion valve on a 12-inch main on Route 130 at an estimated cost of $20,500.
A second bond ordinance was adopted that will provide for various sewer utility capital improvements at an estimated cost of $285,500.
Planned improvements include sewer pipe repairs at various locations at an estimated cost of $42,300, upgrade of a control panel and Variable Frequency Drives at the Sunset Road pump station at an estimated cost of $121,600, pump station upgrades at various locations at an estimated cost of $52,870 and the replacement of a wye pipe at the main sewer plant at an estimated cost of $68,730.
A bond ordinance providing for the rehabilitation of the sanitary sewer systems of various roads at Lagorce Square, Northgate Apartments, Center Avenue, Pinewald Lane, Little Oxmead Road, Jacksonville Road, Old York Road and Columbus Road was also adopted at the meeting. Appropriations for the improvement projects total $813,000.
Appropriations for another bond ordinance providing for the reconstruction of Elbow Lane total $302,100. Some $250,000 of that comes from a state Department of Transportation grant. The same bond ordinance provides for microsurfacing on Landsdown Road, Latimer Way and Latimer Court at a total of $85,400, and $75,000 of that total comes from a Community Development Block grant.
The final bond ordinance adopted at the meeting provided for several purchases for municipal entities like the police department, public works, information services and the recreation department. Appropriations included in the ordinance total $1,093,600.
Appropriations included items such as $12,655 for a riding mower for public works, $75,975 for the replacement and addition of several rifles and shotguns for the police department and $55,705 for computer equipment for information services.
Finally, an ordinance was adopted appropriating $70,600 from the Developer’s Recreation Fund for various recreation-related improvements throughout the township. Improvements will include restroom repairs, new or replaced wood tie borders, signs, lighting, wood chip safety surfaces, benches, tables, fencing and a new storage building.
A public hearing on these ordinances is scheduled for June 11.
