The Durham Township supervisors looked ahead to the warm weather at their December meeting, generally favoring the idea of a series of Family Movie Nights in the summer of 2020.
Two young women, Rebecca Kutys and Maria Radus, approached the supervisors with a plan to stage outdoor movies on the Village Green. There would be one each in June, July and August.
They said they would like to plan for “an old-fashioned community movie night,” where families could bring blankets and beach chairs and watch a film suitable for children and adults.
They suggested movies such as “Goonies,” and the Harry Potter films would be appropriate. Kutys even suggested they could make a screen, and there might even be opportunities for food vendors.
They also would like to confine the audience to a neighborhood one for Durham and Riegelsville families, partly due to traffic and parking concerns.
The supervisors generally approved the idea and asked the women to obtain information about liability insurance from other townships who have sponsored similar events. Township solicitor Peter Nelson gave them the names of specific township representatives to contact.
It was announced township residents will see no increase in taxes, according to a budget the township supervisors adopted for 2020 at their December meeting. The vote was unanimous. The budget had been unveiled at their November meeting.
Taxes will remain at 6 mills. One mill is equal to $1 of tax for every thousand dollars of assessed property value and is worth $19,000 in Durham.
The owner of the average township property assessed at about $38,000 pays about $228 in township tax each year.
The township expects revenue of $436,818 with expenses equaling that sum for a balanced budget next year. The spending plan includes a 3 percent increase in wages for the road department.
In other business, the board appointed members to the township’s Agricultural Security Area Advisory Committee. They include Scott Lehr of the Hager Farm, Joel Roney of the Trauger Farm, Tim Koplin of the Koplin Farm, Peter Cox, resident representative, and Kathleen Gentner, representing the board of supervisors.
Louis Bucci, who has been chairman of the township’s board of auditors for several years, has resigned. No replacement has been named.
The township office will close at noon on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve and will be closed all day on Christmas and New Year’s Day.
