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Solebury Supervisors approve budget with no tax hike

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The final 2022 meeting of the Solebury Township supervisors saw the board pass a 2023 budget with no tax increase and establish rules for its new Facebook page.

The new budget, which has a millage of 24.81, calls for incoming revenue of $7.57 million, expenditures of $7.52 million, said Township Manager Chris Garges.

Board Chair Mark Baum Baicker said, “I just want to express thanks to Chris and (Assistant Manager) Michele (Blood) and of course (former township manager) Dennis Carney for many years for their efforts ... that allow us to adopt a budget that provides ... the expected high level of service and is once again a balanced budget.”

Among the budget items, Garges said, are $125,000 for deer herd reduction, $270,000 for municipal building HVAC repair and updates, $25,000 for engineering and permitting for trail projects, and $17,000 for a property consultant for the 13-acre township-acquired tract on Route 202 near Logan Square.

The supervisors also approved a Social Media Policy for its Facebook presence, for which Baum Baicker thanked “our newest township administration team member,” Renee Scally.

Among content that will not be allowed on the site, according the the policy submitted by Garges, are obscene or vulgar content, content that promotes discrimination, sexual content or links to sexual content, solicitation for donations, advertisements, name-calling, and spam.

The township reserves the right to restrict or remove any content that is in violation of its Social Media Policy or any applicable law.

The township cannot block users unless they create “an illegal or unmanageable situation.” In that case, a block must be approved by the supervisors or a designee.

In other business, the board, on the recommendation of the Historical Architectural Review Board, approved a Certificate of Appropriateness for Steve and Christine Huber of 6134 Carversville Road. They want to replace the existing slate roof on their house and the existing shingle roof on their garage.

As an aside, Baum Baicker, also a Carversville resident, said, “I’d like to welcome Christine and Steve – who is the lead pastor at Covenant Church on Route 202 in Doylestown – to Solebury and specifically to the Carversville community.”

The supervisors also created two groups of nonvoting associate members – one for five people for the Environmental Advisory Council and the other for three people to the Route 202 Property Advisory Committee.

Associate members may participate in proceedings and discussions but are not entitled to vote.

Supervisor Kevin Morrissey said, “I do not want to give the impression that the township is considering building bleachers to accommodate everyone, but there has been significant interest in this committee. The candidates (of three nonvoting associates) reflect a variety of lifestyles and demographics. I think this will enable the committee to be that much more effective in reflecting community wishes for this property.”

The supervisors also accepted the resignation of Zoning Hearing Board Chair Michael Warden.

“... Mike’s is a special case,” said Baum Baicker, “he has been doing it in various capacities for upwards of 20 years and it will be hard to replace his energy and dedication.”

The board also appointed Solebury resident Stacy Smith to the Free Library of New Hope and Solebury Board of Trustees.


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