BY STACI WILSON

Susquehanna Borough is holding the line on taxes.

Council adopted its proposed $422,461 budget for the coming year at its Wednesday, Nov. 12 meeting. The tax millage will hold steady at 24.2 mills. Council also voted to advertise the proposed budget.

With the borough’s portion of the municipal building paid off, the 1.1 mill for debt service will be going into the general fund. The $21,000 in the capital reserve will then be distributed to budget line items, explained Treasurer Margaret Biegert.

The final budget will be voted on in December.

With winter weather approaching, Oakland Twp. Supervisor Mike Fabrizi Jr. asked council to consider entering into an agreement for road maintenance.

Fabrizi said the township has two miles of paved roads; and those roads border the borough.

He asked the borough to consider salting those roads on an as-needed basis in the winter. Fabrizi said the borough could bill the township for the work.

Councilman Roy Williams said an agreement could be reached where the two municipalities traded material, time or equipment for projects.

Williams said the borough trucks already travel the township roads when plowing.

An agreement between the township and borough will be drawn up.

Williams said the borough had documented the condition of the sidewalks before a water company contractor began working on the installation of a new main.

Williams said, “If they tore it up, they’re going to replace it.” Some of the work, he added, would not be done until next spring.

In the Dept. of Public Works report, Williams said that “unforeseen damages” were found under the road during the projects happening on Main St.

He said someone from the borough has been at the worksite each day because of the things that have been uncovered in the digging. Williams mentioned issues with sewer laterals, drainage pipes, and catch basins. He said he planned to speak with both the water company and PennDOT about some of the problems encountered during the project.

Williams reminded residents that the snow ordinance would soon be coming into effect. Within 24 hours after a storm, walkways are to be cleared, he said.

He also said that rock salt was prohibited for use on the new sidewalks and that calcium chloride was the preferred method.

Mayor Nancy Hurley said that 45 police incidents were recorded for the month.

She also announced the Susquehanna Community Awareness Committee, along with the United Methodist Church in Susquehanna, were partnering to present a program by photographer and photo-historian John C. Burdick, on Dec. 19, 7 p.m. at the church hall.

She said Burdick not only had photographs of Susquehanna, but also of the surrounding communities and urged residents to attend.

Hurley also commended council, committee members and community volunteers for what she believed were “positive changes” moving the borough forward.

The Christmas Decorating Contest will be held again this year for businesses and residents in the borough. Small prizes will be awarded. The contest is sponsored by the Susquehanna Community Development Association.

SCDA will also be hosting the annual Christmas Tree lighting ceremony on Friday, Dec. 5; and Breakfast with Santa will be held Saturday, Dec. 6 at St. John’s Church.

Borough officials plan to welcome neighboring municipal leaders and employees to an open house event on Dec. 12, 7-8:30 p.m., at the borough building.

Susquehanna County Historical Society and Free Library Association Board President Tom Kurosky provided and update to council on the library and the services it offers in the county.

Susquehanna Branch Librarian Laura Nichols thanked the borough for its yearly donation and contribution to the rent. The branch is located in the municipal building.

Nichols said that with a grant from the Constitution Pipeline, the branch has all new computers. She said the bulk of people utilizing the computers don’t have access to one at home.

She also said the library offers copy and fax services for the community.

Carol Carpenter, the library board representative from the Susuqehanna area, said that there are 1,255 active library cards possessed by people who live in the borough limits.

Councilwoman Deb Zayas said, “When I moved to the area six or seven years ago, the first thing I did was apply for a library card.”

She told the library representatives that she appreciated the update, and the services provided by the library.

Kurosky presented council members with the library’s annual budget, and noted that a goal is to restore the hours that had been cut several years ago. He said an additional $86,000 per year would be needed to restore those hours of operation at all of the branches in the county library system.

Susuqehanna Borough Council meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the borough building.