When you or I get money and spend money, we keep a running total of how much extra we have at the end of the week, month and year.
Governments at all levels should know how much money they have left over at the end of the year, or if they are in the red (as is the case with our Federal government).
At West Easton’s last council meeting on December 8th, the carry-over of money from 2014 to 2015 wasn’t known and it was stated that the number would be available at tonight’s council meeting.
It wasn’t.
Because it still isn’t known.
And the budget was approved by a 4-1 vote, with only Councilman Nixon voting against approval.
Of the two other councilmen, Lou Niko is still recuperating from a stroke he suffered and Dan DePaul is out of town on a family emergency.
In an email I received, Councilman Dan DePaul informed me that he made arrangements early Monday morning with the borough office to attend the meeting by phone that night. This can and has been done in accordance with law in the past, by other council members, but he stated that no one connected to his phone calls after many tries.
By law, I’m told, the budget had to be approved before the start of the new year.
Even Mayor Gross indicated he would liked to have known the carry-over amount.
I honestly don’t know what would happen if a budget wasn’t approved, but what was approved is sorely lacking in accountability and some questionable expenses.
A “website” for $1800 listed under “Web Hosting.” Supposedly, that cost will cover the domain name for 5 years and the initial design. Considering the domain name westeastonborough.org is already owned by some outfit that hasn’t even finished their own business website (it’s been “under construction” for at least 2 years), it’s either the same jokers who provided us with the dead site the borough has had under construction since they put it up years ago, or somebody got suckered again.
A proposed $60,000 Secretary/Borough Manager position for a borough of 1200 residents. 70 percent to be paid from the General Fund and 30 percent paid from the Sewer Fund. I thought the sewer fees went up last year because we were keeping even with increased costs to the borough. Apparently, we have enough extra money in it to budget $18,000 out of it for a Borough Manager.
According to Councilman Tom Nodoline, $60K is the going rate for surrounding municipalities.I should have asked if he meant Wilson and Palmer.
As if we need to pay a borough manager as much as other boroughs, even though we have no police force, a two-man road department, and few residents lined up at borough hall waiting for service.
I hate when somebody pees on my leg and tries to convince me it’s only raining. Show us the money!
*Updated 12/23 to include Dan DePaul’s statement.
Disclaimer: On January 4, 2016, the owner of WestEastonPA.com began serving on the West Easton Council following an election. Postings and all content found on this website are the opinions of Matthew A. Dees and may not necessarily represent the opinion of the governing body for The Borough of West Easton.
