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Borough manager warns trash and service fee increases will strain budget; council to enforce 7:00 a.m. construction start time
Summary
The borough manager told council that anticipated county trash and DelCorps fee increases could significantly affect next year’s budget, described tax‑collection performance, and said the borough will enforce a prohibition on construction starting before 7:00 a.m.; council accepted the manager's report.
The Clifton Heights borough manager told council that two fees — the county trash fee and a county DelCorps fee — are likely to rise and could materially affect the borough’s budget next year. The manager said the borough has been covering the cost from reserves but that the pending increases will “significantly impact the budget.”
That fiscal pressure is occurring as borough staff work on next year’s budget. The manager said tax collections continue to be strong; he credited staff member Jane with meeting a typical collection target “around 98%.” He also said the borough has $5.5 million in grant awards tied to an ongoing project (referenced in the report as “Ranch”) and that demolition and roadway work at 2 Springfield Road is planned to begin early fall to widen Springfield Road and create a parking lot.
On street maintenance, the manager described a practice of back‑charging the school district for cleaning when construction leaves streets excessively muddy, and said the borough is charging one hour of police time in the morning and one hour in the afternoon to patrol side streets after school construction activity. “We are back charging the school district if we feel that the street is not cleaned up properly,” the manager said.
The manager also said the borough will strictly enforce start times for construction activity to prevent early‑morning disturbance. “They cannot begin before 07:00,” he said, adding that enforcement will include letters to contractors and potential police follow‑up.
Other operational updates included Diamond Street Park playground equipment ordered and expected in September, and planned work beginning on Madison Avenue with a demolition kickoff at the corner property at 2 Springfield Road. Council later approved acceptance of the manager’s report by voice vote.
The manager and council did not adopt new fees or tax changes at the meeting; the comments described emerging budget pressures and enforcement practices rather than formal policy changes. Letters about the Walnut Street parking lot have been drafted but were not sent; the manager said final edits will be finished the next day.
