A Union Township official said that the township’s 2009 budget will need to include an additional $54,000 to fund the new merger of the Kulptown and Birdsboro Fire departments.”The merge will give Union Township more coverage,” said Supervisor Nelson L. Ott, Jr. He said the Kulptown Fire Department has six firefighters compared to Birdsboro’s 35 firefighters. Ott has met with the two departments on the possible merge since last fall, before he was elected and appointed township supervisor.
Recent merger discussions have determined that Union Township will contribute 36 percent of the $300,000 budget and the Borough of Birdsboro would contribute the remaining 64 percent of $192,000.
The budget would pay all of the department’s operation costs including a building fund, equipment purchases and a paid driver.
Union Township’s current contribution to the Kulptown Fire Department is $54,000.
Birdsboro Borough Council President James Arms said the merged departments would pool resources, lower costs, and provide Union Township and the Borough of Birdsboro with increased and experienced manpower to secure grants and low interest loans.
“Everyone’s watching this merger at the state level,” said Arms. “There’s been no fighting, everyone stepped up to the plate, they’re training together, and comraderie is very good.”
Basile said July 21 that the board would determine through 2009 budget discussions if a fire tax is needed to fund Union Township’s annual portion.
The township has set its 2009 budget meetings for Sept. 16, 23, and Oct. 7 and 21.
Ott said he and Union Township Manager Carol Lewis have investigated the installation of solar panels to save money at the township’s new municipal building, Route 724.
He said the installation cost would be about $1.7.
The township will relocate its offices in October.
The township’s monthly electric bill ranges from $1,200 to $1,500.
Ott said the solar energy would be enough to power the building with leftover energy to sell.
He said the project’s costs could be covered by grants and he recommended the township hire a grant writer for that purpose.
Board Chairman Donald E. Basile said the solar panels would be discussed at the budget meetings. He asked for comparable information on other companies that might install the photo cells for free.
In other business, the board voted to expend $11,000 and repair its nine-year-old back-hoe instead of purchasing a new one for $50,000, including the trade-in value of $20,000.
The repaired back-hoe is expected to last another 10 years. Repair costs include $8,000 to fix the bucket assembly, $800 for new doors, and $1,300 for new tires.
