The Penn Township Board of Supervisors adopted the 2024 budget at the Nov. 1 meeting. The spending plan totals $2,028,800.  The biggest categories for expenses are general government at $696,000 and public safety at $624,000. No increase in the local tax rate of 0.53 mills is required to fund the budget.

The board voted to not support a zoning hearing request for 121 Corby Road. The request is to allow building closer than the ordinance allowed—10 feet from the property line. Originally, it was thought that the structure, which Penn Township supervisor Victor Mantegna stated had been built without a permit, was just three feet from the property line but surveys revealed the distance is actually 7 feet.  An earlier request was denied when the distance was thought to be three feet, and the structure was removed, although a pad remains.

Toward the close of the meeting, the board briefly noted receiving a request from Aqua to test township land to determine its suitability for drip irrigation. The property is part of an open space parcel received from the Estates at Londonbrook development as part of that subdivision’s land development plan.

Aqua purchased the sewage disposal system from the township several years ago. The land in question might be used for additional effluent disposal. The parcel is constrained by wetlands, and one portion of it serves as the site of the township’s salt shed. 

Mantegna, who chairs the Penn Township Board of Supervisors,  indicated that the request to test the land was made to the township’s director of operations, who denied the request on the grounds that such a request would have to go to the board of supervisors. The supervisors indicated that they will take no action unless a formal request comes before them.  

Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, the township’s Planning Commission meeting for November is rescheduled to Nov. 29.