Nov 19, 2003 By Jackie Beranek 3 min read

VANDERBILT – Borough council Tuesday passed its tentative budget and gave three borough employees 5 percent raises. The 2004 spending plan calls for $37,635 in total expected disbursements and $43,160 in expected revenues.

The borough will carry over $83,774, according to secretary Mary Jane Winterhalter, who said she can’t remember the last time council raised taxes in the borough. Winterhalter did say, however, that council hasn’t raised taxes in the 10 years she has served as secretary.

Winterhalter also said that this year’s budget is up by $1,815. But that amount will change when council passes the final budget next month because of its decision to give Winterhalter, code enforcement officer Rich Keffer and borough worker George Gillespie the 5 percent raises.

Winterhalter received a $27 a month raise, which amounts to about $324 a year; Keffer received a $7.50 a month raise, which amounts to $90 a year; and Gillespie, who is paid $10 an hour and has made $10,205 so far this year, will receive a 50-cents-an-hour raise.

Councilman Joseph Ambrose said he wasn’t sure how much that would work out to be for Gillespie, but said he has been a good employee over the past five years and has never received a raise.

“All three of the workers deserve the raises,” said Ambrose. “I brought up the subject in the spring but I wanted to wait until budget time to bring it up again.”

Before taking the vote, council president Tom Sankovich expressed his displeasure with the Ambrose motion, saying that Ambrose should have brought the matter to council prior to placing a motion on the floor.

Sankovich asked that council go into executive session to discuss the matter, but solicitor Michael Macko told them that they had a motion and a second on the floor and that they would either have to vote on the issue or Ambrose would have to withdraw his motion.

Ambrose refused to withdraw the motion and council formally agreed to the raises by a 5-0-1 vote. Those voting in favor of the motion were Sankovich, Same Guariglia, Ambrose, Orlando Molinaro and Duane King. Councilwoman Betty Keffer abstained from voting because she is married to Rich Keffer.

The most expensive item on the budget is insurance at $11,360, followed by street lighting at $8,070, the secretary’s salary at $5,400 and utilities at $3,500.

Revenues are derived from wage taxes in the amount of $22,000, real estate taxes in the amount of $12,000, real estate transfer taxes and per capita taxes in the amount of $2,000 each.

Other revenue comes from mechanical device tax, licenses and permits, liquor license fees, interest/rents/royalties, delinquent taxes from the county, public utility realty tax, fines and forfeits and miscellaneous funds in the amount of $5,160.

In other matters, council agreed to hold Christmas Light Up Night on Nov. 28 at 6 p.m. on the corner of Walnut and Main streets. Winterhalter and Keffer said a cookie and hot chocolate reception would be held in the borough-building basement following the ceremonies.

In other matters, council:

– Agreed to pay Belvetone Systems of Connellsville over $3,000 for wiring, storage and the purchase of eight new Christmas pole decorations.

– Agreed to fix a pothole on Roman Street at the request of Molinaro.

– Adopted a resolution that set the tax mills for 2004 at 1.040.