Monday, October 13, 2008 1:49 PM EDT
By Evan Brandt
POTTSTOWN — Whether deciding something as big as how to spend a $250,000 check from Waste Management, or something as small as making a donation to the borough's new World War II Memorial, Borough Council Vice President Greg Berry thinks nothing should be done until Tuesday.That is the day that the borough's financial consultant, Finance Services of Reading, will give a presentation on the state of the borough's finances and the challenges it will face in the coming budget season."We're going to get a detailed report on where we are and an update on our efforts to simplify the budget so we can better align revenues and expenses," Berry said.
The last time borough council received an update on the 2008 budget, in July, former finance director Robert Armelin predicted the borough would end the year $200,000 in the hole.That was before the current financial crisis hit Wall Street, ripples from which could have anynumber of unintended consequences for municipal budgets. In the meantime, Armelin resigned to take a position with a Bucks County municipalitiy.The borough has received a number of resumes for the finance director position, applications which the consulting firm is reviewing and on which it will make recommendations.However, the borough not only has to put together a 2009 budget, but also prepare itself to participate in the state's Early Intervention Program, designed to provide a five-year financial forecast to borough council.In the past, Financial Services has helped municipalities participating in this program and so is well positioned to aid Pottstown, said Berry, who has championed the program.At a cost of $65,000, of which the borough will pay half, the effort will produce a report with recommendations on how Pottstown borough government could be made more efficient and fiscally sound.Berry said it is his intention for the finance committee, which he chairs, to invite high-level business leaders in the community to participate and make recommendations not so much about the finances "but for input on management issues."The borough must decide how to use the $250,000 the borough received from Waste Management as part of the agreement it signed with the owners of the Pottstown Landfill to treat at the Pottstown Wastewater Treatment Plant the leachate the landfill generates.Berry urged council to wait until after Tuesday's presentation before making any decisions; however some ideas have already begun to surface."I'm sure there are lots of ideas on how to spend that money," Berry said.The money is the first half of a $500,000 payment the borough will ultimately receive from the company.Because the borough was the "driving force" behind getting a new agreement, said Borough Solicitor Charles D. Garner Jr., the Pottstown Borough Authority, which owns the wastewater treatment plant, has declined any claim to a portion of the money.Councilman Stephen Toroney, who served on the landmark Landfill Closure Committee that oversaw the closure of the landfill and who pushed to have a new agreement pursued, made some specific suggestions."It has always been my stance that the money should stay in the trash fund, since there is where it originated," Toroney said.It could be used to pay for larger recycling bins or paying the borough's costs for the regional composting facility being proposed by Lower Pottsgrove Township, he said."What I don't want it to be spent on is things like paying the electric bill," Toroney said. "Hopefully it won't be utilized to offset the trash bills."Another financial request, this one from Charles Pierce, an organizer behind the World War II Memorial, should also be put off until after Tuesday said Berry.He added that the organization "is immensely deserving but I think we should consider donations on a personal level instead of from the borough."
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