Horsham Recognizes Retiring Police Dispatcher

Horsham police and elected officials pay tribute to police dispatcher Joseph Lutz, of Hatboro.

During emergencies, police dispatchers are generally either calm - as in a dog urinated on a homeowner's lawn - or adrenalized for major emergencies.  But, not when Horsham Township Police dispatcher Joseph Lutz was on duty. "It was all the same," Horsham Township Police Chief Robert Ruxton said during Wednesday night's Horsham Township Council meeting while honoring Lutz for his eight years of service. "Joe kept everything calm, kept everybody on the street even keeled." The former Hatboro Borough Councilman and long-time Enterprise Fire Company member retires this week from his dispatching post.  As Ruxton jokingly shared that without Lutz, he will now be the oldest on the rolls, Lutz, rising from his seat in the audience, wiped away …

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Horsham Council Reorganizes

The Horsham Township Council selected its president and vice president on Monday night.

The Horsham Township Council maintained the status quo for the most part in selecting elected officials for various posts for 2013.  During Monday night's reorganization meeting, Mark McCouch was re-elected president and Gregory Nesbitt was re-elected vice president. W. William Whiteside was elected treasurer. Deb Tustin was re-elected secretary. Andrew Santacroce was elected parliamentarian.

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Horsham Approves Contract for Township Staff

The Horsham Township Council approved a three-year contract for the roughly 30 township employees.

Horsham's police dispatchers, secretaries, clerks, highway department and public works employees will earn 2 percent more in the new year under a three-year contract that the Horsham Township Council approved recently.  In all, approximately 30 employees - who are part of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union - will receive 2 percent pay increases each of the three years of the contract, which spans Jan. 1, 2013, through Dec. 31, 2015, according to Horsham Township Manager Bill Walker.  Under the contract, Walker said the township would no longer pay supplemental workers compensation pay. In addition, he said the probation period for this pool of employees has been changed from six months to 12 months. 

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Horsham Recognizes HHEF's 25th Anniversary

The Horsham Township Council presented the Hatboro-Horsham Educational Foundation with a plaque during its recent meeting to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the nonprofit group.

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Horsham Police Second-in-Command Retires

Horsham Police Captain Joseph Repkoe will retire on Dec. 28. Lt. Bill Daly was sworn in as deputy chief during Wednesday night's township council meeting.

Joseph Repkoe never set out to be a police officer. But, thanks to an unsuccessful attempt to join the military during the Vietnam War, Repkoe discovered a job that was "what I expected and more." Three years after the death of his father and soon after he became bored working at Prudential Insurance in a "windowless" room, Repkoe, then 22, began what would become a 40-year career at the Horsham Township Police Department "I was learning to be a man," Repkoe said, crediting then-Chief Jack Donovan for helping to mold him into a police officer. "He became a surrogate father to me." By 1975, Repkoe was promoted to sergeant and in 1989 he earned a promotion to lieutenant.  "When I was on the street as an officer and a sergeant I was proud of …

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Horsham Adopts 2013 Budget

The Horsham Township Council adopted its spending plan for 2013, which holds the line of property taxes.

As has been the case for the last decade, the average Horsham taxpayer will continue to pay $178.37 for municipal real estate taxes under the township's $14.1 million spending plan.  The Horsham Township Council unanimously adopted its 2013 budget Wednesday night. Councilman W. William Whiteside was absent. The spending plan increases spending by 5 percent while maintaining existing taxes, which were last raised in 2002, following a voter referendum approved to build the Horsham Township Library. Prior to that, elected officials last raised taxes in 1989. Along with upgrades to Samuel Carpenter Park and Kohler Park, replacement police and highway department vehicles, the paving of 2.75 miles of road in the Oak Hill residential development …

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Delinquent Horsham Taxpayers to Pay 5% More

The Horsham Township Council on Monday introduced an ordinance that would tack on a 5 percent fee for late property taxes.

Horsham property owners who fall behind on their taxes could pay 5 percent more under an ordinance that the Horsham Township Council introduced Monday night.  The ordinance, which would set a new fee schedule for the Montgomery County treasurer's office upon its Dec. 12 adoption, would allow an extra 5 percent to be tacked on for end-of-year delinquencies, according to Horsham Township Manager Bill Walker. Walker said the new fee would take effect on Jan. 1. Currently, the county collects delinquent taxes at face value and keeps 5 percent of the amount obtained to cover administrative costs, Walker said.  "We’re not usually made whole with the delinquent tax collection," Walker said.  But, once the new ordinance takes effect that would …

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Mike Shortall

11:34 pm on Tuesday, November 27, 2012

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Horsham Plans to Revitalize 611, Repair Parks

In its 2013 $14.1 million budget, Horsham is looking to spruce up an older section of Route 611.

The average Horsham taxpayer will continue to pay $178.37 for municipal real estate taxes under the township's $14.1 million spending plan.  The Horsham Township Council heard one final review of the budget - which increases spending by 5 percent while maintaining existing taxes - during Monday night's meeting. The governing body is expected to adopt its 2013 budget at its Dec. 12 meeting.  Along with upgrades to Samuel Carpenter Park and Kohler Park, replacement police and highway department vehicles, the paving of 2.75 miles of road in the Oak Hill residential development and a pedestrian crossing signal at Horsham and Babylon roads, the budget again includes improvements to the corridor of Route 611 from Blair Mill Road to Dresher/…

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Horsham's Proposed Budget Holds Line on Taxes

Horsham's $14.1 million budget accounts for a 5 percent increase in spending, but maintains the existing tax rate.

Horsham residents will see no new taxes - at least at the municipal level - under the township's proposed $14.1 million 2013 budget.  The Horsham Township Council voted 3-0 to introduce next year's spending plan during Wednesday night's meeting. The budget, which reflects a 5 percent increase in spending, will be considered for adoption on Dec. 12, according to Horsham Township Manager Bill Walker.  Walker said since the the beginning of Horsham's "public recession" in 2009, the township has decreased the number of capital projects carried out to help weather the difficult economic storm.  "We don't pave the amount of roads that we used to pave," Walker said, adding that Horsham has kept "staffing levels flat." If the budget is approved as…

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No Tax Hikes Proposed in New Horsham Budget

Horsham Council will vote on its $14 million budget in mid-December.

If Horsham’s proposed 2013 budget remains on track, residents will not be asked to contribute any additional tax money next year. The budget, unveiled before Township Council Monday night, does not call for any tax hikes. The budget — which totals $14,195,854 — includes a 5 percent increase in expenditures. Township Manager Bill Walker, however, said the increases are minor. Walker said borough staff began working on the budget in July and were committed to keeping expenses low. “It’s still very conservative,” he said. “We’re not paving as many roads as we could or doing as many park improvements because of how the economy and market are right now. So we have continued to be conservative.” Walker said council will further examine the …

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