What’s the 422?

Thursday’s Board of Supervisors meeting lasted more than two hours and saw plenty of noteworthy announcements, including Elaine DeWan chairing her last meeting and Township Manager Dan Kerr receiving a five-year contract extension.

Although it is unofficial, several sources say Supervisor Ken Sperring Jr. will assume the chairmanship position next month. DeWan served for the past two years.

“It’s my last meeting as chair,” she announced.

After the Jan. 4 reorganizational meeting – when a new chair will be selected – supervisor meetings will be held on the first and third Tuesdays of the month to better accommodate elected officials’ work schedules. This is a change from the second and fourth Thursdays.

Kerr, who made $126,214 in salary this year, received a five-year extension through 2014.

“Since Dan has been here, there have been so many improvements here in the township,” DeWan said.

Supervisor Joe St. Pedro noted that Kerr did not take a salary increase for 2010. The only major benefit that changes is vacation time, according to Assistant Solicitor John Iannozzi. Vacation time will be paid out if left unused, instead of accruing from year-to-year.

“I thank the board for your confidence and support,” Kerr said. “Thank you very much.”

Kerr’s, who replaced Walter Zaremba in January 2006, had a starting salary of $105,000.

In other news:

• The board unanimously approved the $14 million-plus budget for fiscal year 2010.

Property taxes will remain the same at 1.213 mills.

• Kerr and Finance Director Beth DiPrete outlined several cost savings that resulted from employee concessions. For example, police officers agreed to the same health insurance co-pay as non-uniformed employees. This resulted in a savings of $18,600.

“That means they’ll be paying more,” DeWan said.

For 2010, police officers will receive a pay increase of 5 percent, while all other township employees (minus Kerr) will receive 2 percent.

A new state law change and different “smoothing” method related to the police pension plan saved $50,000, DiPrete said.

• A McDonald’s fast-food restaurant is planned for the Heritage Crossing Shopping Center (across from Acme on Ridge Pike). McDonald’s goes before the Limerick Zoning Hearing Board in the coming months with several sign requests.

Rob Lewis, the developer’s attorney, also mentioned that Giant Food Stores paid residents behind the new gas station a “large sum of money” to pay for landscape buffering.

• Calendar events – Dec. 30 blood drive at township, 1 to 7 p.m.; Project Outreach canned food drive through Dec. 10.
• Outgoing Supervisor Renee Chesler was commended for her four years of service on the board. She lost in this year’s primary election to Tom Neafcy.

“We really lucked out when we found Renee,” DeWan said. “You have really benefited from the skills she brings to the table.”

Come January, DeWan will be the only remaining supervisor from the slate of four Republicans elected in 2005. Both David Kane and Frank Kotch resigned over the past 15 months.