Politics & Government

Borough Defers Decision on Holiday Parade Fees

The Newtown Corporation has requested a waiver of fees for police costs associated with the holiday parade but borough officials say they're waiting on a $662 check from last year.

A decision about waiving police fees for the Newtown Holiday Parade was deferred by the Borough Council during Wednesday’s work session meeting.

The parade, sponsored by the Newtown Corporation, is scheduled for December 4 from 2 to 4 p.m. Fees for police coverage associated with special events are $60 per hour per police officer.

However, organizers of the parade are requesting a waiver of those fees, plus a waiver of the application fee, which last month was reduced from $250 to $25.

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Borough Council voted to reject a request to waive the application fee.  But there was no resolution regarding fees for police services.

According to Council President Julia Woldorf, Council elected to waive the fee for last year’s parade.  But that was before they learned that Newtown Township was reimbursed $1,000 for police services and three bands were paid $1,000 each to participate.

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After the fact, the borough requested a $662 donation from the Newtown Corporation to cover police costs, but has not received it as of Wednesday.

Paul Salvatore, who was present at the meeting and is helping to organize the holiday parade, said he believed the Newtown Corporation would be addressing the issue at its meeting later this month.

Council member Mike Sellers said it seemed wrong that the Newtown Corporation would reimburse the township but not the borough. “Why wouldn’t the same be offered to the borough?” Sellers said.

Salvatore said parade organizers were under the assumption that the borough was not charging, so they did not budget to cover those costs. Salvatore said the parade itself is not a moneymaker. He said the parade costs $12,000 to put on and organizers received $5,000 in donations.

“You can’t charge people to come and watch a parade and you have to pay bands,” Salvatore said

However, Sellers pointed out that money is tight in the borough. “We are constantly looking at nickels and dimes in this borough,” he said, noting that if the applicant can afford to pay it, they should.

But a final decision was not reached. The majority of Council decided to wait until next month to address the issue to see if the Newtown Corporation would in fact submit the requested donation.

Council member Gerard O’Malley suggested a compromise might be the best approach.

“Last year was last year. I’m less worried about last year. I think there should be some cooperation between the Newtown Corporation, the borough, and the township,” he said.

In an email Friday, Newtown Corporation Vice Chair Frank Brassell said the organization would be addressing the issue at its next meeting.

"The Newtown Corporation will still continue to seek waiver of fees, particularly police fees, from both the Borough and the Township," he said. Brassell confirmed Salvatore's comments from Wednesday, saying from the outset the borough never requested a fee until after the fact.

"The township was paid a fee for police coverage but that was prearanged.  And yes there were participants that were paid to march as a means to increase the size and value to the parade," Brassell said.


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