Nockamixon adopts budget, hears groundwater report

With no tax increase for the ninth consecutive year, Nockamixon Township has adopted its 2019 budget. The action was taken as a unanimous vote of the board of supervisors at their Dec. 20 meeting.

The vote was taken after a public hearing on the matter was conducted by Ernest “Bucky” Closser, of Curtin and Heefner LLP, who noted at the outset that there had been no changes from the budget that was approved for advertising at the Oct. 18 supervisors’ meeting.

At that time, Township Manager and Treasurer Keith DeLuca said that the real estate tax remains at 6 mills, and that there was little change from the 2018 budget.

Later in the Dec. 20 meeting, Lauren M. Williams, also of Curtin and Heefner, conducted a 45-minute discussion on the status of the revision of the township’s 2009 groundwater ordinance. Participants included supervisors Bill Sadow, Frank Ganiszewski, and Carl Bahnck; township engineer Steven Baluh; Steve Donovan, a chemist, and the township’s representative on the joint Bridgeton-Nockamixon-Tinicum Groundwater Committee; Glenn Neebe, a local builder and developer; and Chief Bill Shick of the Ottsville Volunteer Fire Company.

The discussion of the revision was described as not being presented for approval, but to help “move the process along,” which is to include further review by the township and county planning commissions. The revision effort began about five years ago, as an effort to help make the ordinance more defensible against any challenges, and to incorporate advances in hydrology and related sciences. Before the 2009 ordinance, there were only well drilling permits.

With no public water supply in the township, residents rely on well water. A primary objective of the joint, three-township committee has been to adequately preserve the underground aquifer, as well as the water supply of already existing users, in the event of any new development that is to also draw on the aquifer.

The focus of the Dec. 20 discussion was a 23-point list of comments and recommendations, compiled by Baluh, from the township planning commission’s review of the latest revision draft, for consideration by the supervisors.

Also at the Dec. 20 meeting, supervisors accepted the resignation of Supervisor Martin Focazio, who was about to complete the first year of a six-year term. Supervisors also approved advertising the vacancy, toward their appointment of a replacement to serve through 2019. The election next November is to determine who fulfills the final four years of the term.