Sep 14, 2003 By Jenny Susa 2 min read

EAST BETHLEHEM TWP. – The township commissioners voted Saturday to apply for a loan from the Washington County Authority to fix the damage done by 100-foot landslide on Bridge Avenue. “We have one resident who lives there and we are concerned about the conditions of the road after the landslide,” said secretary Chris Evans. “We want to fix it before someone has an accident.”

She said the commissioners knew they would probably have to get a loan for the project but were worried that the township might not have enough money in its budget to pay back the loan. Evans told the commissioners that the township’s funds are dwindling and that the commissioners will have to get the extra money from outside sources. The township’s engineer had estimated the cost to fix the road at $100,000, which the township could pay back over 10 years.

“None of us want to see a raise in taxes, but they may have to be raised eventually,” said Vice President Gasper Impiccini.

He added that the township has not raised taxes since 1984.

Commissioner Emil Faieta suggested that in the future, the board might have to cut some of the township’s expenses in order to balance the budget.

“A tax raise is the number-one sore spot with everybody, but we’ll have to get extra money from somewhere,” said Faieta. “We might be able to cut back on some services to save. For example, (we could) go part time with some of the police department and street department.”

While all the commissioners agreed that they would not be in support of a tax increase, they also said they should cross that bridge when they come to it.

“Let’s not keep meeting every week and putting the project off,” said Impiccini. “I’d like to get something done today.”

The rest of the board agreed that something has to be done with Bridge Avenue right away.

“We do need to get that loan,” said Commissioner Tom Lewis. “That project has to be done before winter.”

Faieta pointed out that the commissioners will hold workshops to discuss taxes.

“That is when we can talk about the tax issues,” said Faieta. “Right now we have an emergency situation to deal with.”

The commissioners said they will continue discussing ways to save money and keep a balanced budget in the years to come.