Cap Bank, Bond Ordinances Approved by Boro

The Chatham Borough Council passed several ordinances Monday to help with road and capital improvements and establish a cap bank for the 2013 budget.

The cap bank represents the difference between the , and the maximum allowable 3.5 percent tax levy increase.

The borough can draw on this money in the next three years and still not trigger a required public vote on the budget.

The council also passed several ordinances appropriating leftover funds in unexpended bonds and establishing new bonds to pay for public improvements and the purchase of equipment in town.

The first ordinance appropriates $350,000 in unspent bond proceeds from the 2011 General Improvement Bonds for 2013 projects. The borough will use the $350,000 to pay for:

• replacement of curbs and sidewalks at various locations,
• the 2013 Road Micro-surfacing Program at various locations,
• the 2013 Drainage Improvement Program,
• installation of a flashing beacon at Coleman Avenue and Main Street, and
• the 2013 Road Resurfacing Program at various locations at various locations.

Another ordinance authorizes $305,000 to help replace the water line on Watchung Avenue, make improvements for the Water Utility, acquire new additional or replacement equipment for the Water Utility and new information technology equipment, such as remote water meter reading equipment, for the Water Utility.

A third ordinance allows for $485,700 to purchase new additional or replacement equipment and machinery for:

• The Department of Public Works (DPW), including an emergency generator, a dump truck with plow and spreader and catch basin castings
• The DPW's vehicle maintenance, including a storage tank for used oil
• The DPW's sewer processing, including a hydro-excavation tube and bypass pump and hoses
• A self-contained breathing apparatus equipment and computer equipment for the Chatham Borough Fire Department
• Equipment for online registration and umbrella bases for the Chatham Borough Municipal Pool
• Crowd control equipment, traffic and street signs, a traffic safety truck, office furniture, radar units and computer equipment for the Chatham Borough Police Department.

All these ordinances were passed unanimously and without comments from the public or discussion by the council. Councilman James Collander was absent from the meeting.