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Franklin Park eyes using unexpected tapping‑fee to secure county grant for accessible Blueberry Hill playground
Summary
Borough staff told council a $205,000 county grant plus a $183,000 one‑time tap‑fee reimbursement could fund a $474,000 replacement of aging Blueberry Hill playground equipment; staff recommended using the reimbursement to cut the borough match to about $85,970 so work can proceed this year.
Borough officials on Monday pressed for approval to pair a $205,000 county grant with an unexpected $183,000 tap‑fee reimbursement to replace aging playground equipment at Blueberry Hill.
The project’s total budget is $474,000. Borough staff said the county awarded $205,000 and proposed using the one‑time tap‑fee reimbursement to reduce the borough’s cash match from $100,000 to roughly $85,970. According to staff, failing to provide the required match could forfeit the county grant award.
"If we use this unexpected one‑time money for tap fees... our expense to the municipality [would be] $85,000 instead of $100," a staff speaker told the council during the work session. Staff said the county asked that the project be executed this year and that materials and labor prices are rising, increasing the urgency to proceed.
Officials said they have not yet executed the full grant agreement and that the borough is completing the county environmental review before contracting. Council members asked whether the $183,000 payment is already in the capital reserve or must be formally appropriated; staff said the amount was an unanticipated reimbursement placed into capital reserves but recommended attaching it to the playground match so the project can move forward without delay.
Several members flagged timing and budget tradeoffs. Council discussed whether to treat the tap‑fee money as discretionary borough funds (available for any use) or to dedicate it as a de‑facto grant match. Staff noted that if the tapping‑fee reimbursement remains undedicated, the borough would still owe about $270,000 to fully fund the project; staff are pursuing additional grants and scaling options if necessary.
The council asked staff to provide the final grant agreement, the environmental review status, and a specific appropriation request before the regular meeting where appointments and motions will be formalized. The council also requested a construction timeline and an updated capital reserve balance that reflects the proposed $85,970 commitment.
What’s next: Staff will return with the executed grant documentation, the environmental review findings and a formal appropriation request for council consideration at the next regular meeting.
