Middletown Council Approves Township Vehicle Purchase

This week’s Council meeting was a fairly quiet one on Monday. The council passed a resolution of support for a multi-municipal park plan funding assistance application and approved the purchase of three municipal maintenance vehicles.

Township Manager Bruce Clark explained that the township wished to replace its three maintenance vehicles: a 2000 Dodge pick up, a 2001 Ford utility truck, and a 2004 Ford dump truck. To be purchased are an F350 4WD Utility Body Truck, an F350 4WD Pickup Truck, and an F550 4WD Dump Truck. The purchases total $128,485.99, a little over $14,500 less than the $143,000 allocated in the year’s budget for replacement vehicles. Clark also noted that the purchase cost would be offset by auctioning off of the current vehicles. The proposal was unanimously authorized.

The Council also agreed to support a multi-municipal park plan funding assistance request. Clark explained that Middletown, Delaware County and Upper Providence each own undeveloped property adjacent to Ridley Creek State Park that is to be kept as permanent open space.

However, in order for something to be built in the area (such as a hiking trail that extends beyond one property owner’s lines), approval is necessary from each property owner. The Delaware County Planning Department will apply for a state grant to conduct a study on possible uses for the ground if the preliminary go-ahead is given by Middletown, Delaware County and Upper Providence. The proposal was unananimously passed.

Council chairperson Scott Galloway  noted that the next meeting regarding the Franklin Mint property will be held Thursday, April 14 in Penncrest High School Auditorium at 6:30 p.m.