M'town Agenda: Swim Club and Budget

The regular meeting is tonight at 8 p.m. at town hall; and, there are a couple of items on the agenda that residents may want to weigh in on.

First, it’s , and the committee is in preparation mode. "This budget is a very healthy one, which will come in well under the 2 percent cap," Mayor Tony Fiore said.

As a precautionary fiscal measure, the committee is introducing an ordinance tonight to “exceed the municipal budget appropriation limits and establish a CAP bank.”

"The CAP bank ordinance has no bearing on the actual budget figures for this year, which are under the 2 percent state-mandated cap," the mayor added. "It is only a routine, precautionary measure that we, along with many other towns, enact."

Adopting the ordinance will mean that the township will be permitted, whether its necessary or not, to exceed to 3.5 percent the 2.5 percent state-mandated budget spending cap and save, or “bank” any leftover appropriations for a leaner year.

Adopting such an ordinance prevents municipalities from having to hold a special election if the budget cap needs to be exceeded for emergency spending. If the ordinance is not adopted, municipalities could lose the money that could have been put aside through the CAP bank to the state.

The second item on the agenda that people may want to take note of is the public hearing on the ordinance authorizing the sale of the .

Officials have said that adopting this ordinance is also a precautionary measure to make sure that if they ultimately need to sell the , the process will be set in motion. Otherwise, a sale of public property like this could take a very long time.

There has been no new word on whether or not the township has been able to find someone suitable to operate the club.

If it ends up being sold, there is a deed restriction included in the ordinance that requires it be sold for recreational use only.

People have weighed in on the issue on Patch and came up with some ideas, including an ice rink and indoor pool so that school swim teams could use it.

There are some other routine items on the agenda. See you there.