Two issues facing Red Hill Borough have the usually harmonious council divided. Red Hill Borough Council discussed a new tax and the upcoming trash bid at its Sept. 14 regular meeting.

                Solicitor Mark Hosterman presented resolution 2016-525, which will repeal the current occupational privilege tax (OPT) and enact a local services tax (LST).

                The new tax will be $52 per year divided over payrolls, and will generate $22,000 per year compared to the $5,000 generated by the OPT, which consists of an annual deduction of $10 from an employee's paycheck.  The $52 is the maximum permitted for the LST. The funds will go to support emergency services in the community.

                Council member Larry Morton voted no on the resolution, stating that he had opposed it before and that he did not want a new tax.

                Mayor Dave Schiffgens declined to sign the resolution, stating that he opposes "just going to the maximum because it is there."

                Council member Donna Paul noted that the LST would help defer costs of emergency services and roads to borough taxpayers, and that it would "offset things that are being done for people passing through the borough."

                Schiffgens said he would agree to a $26 per year tax. Hosterman will check procedure for a re-vote.

                In sanitation and recycling news, Borough Manager Brad Gotshall said that the bid packet for the potential new trash hauler would need to be rewritten. Six haulers attended the original bid meeting, Gotshall reported, but brought up concerns about the bid packet.

                "The bid invitation was pretty vague," he said, adding that the haulers were looking for specifics, such as the size of totes for recycling and what kind of bags were wanted.

                The decision before the council was whether to ask for bids for wheeled totes, which are provided by the hauler for both trash and recycling, or for a tote for recycling and bags for trash. The council found itself initially divided, with more members leaning toward the tote/bag combination.

                Council Vice President Chuck McCleary said that the bag is disposable, and therefore residents don't have to retrieve the tote if the weather is bad.

                Council member Morton stated, "I think these totes are going to become an eyesore."

                At present, without bids, there is no way of knowing what the cost breakdown or cost to residents will be, but the cost of running the recycling center at $20,000 per year would be deducted from overall hauling costs.

                After a long discussion with public comment, the council settled on asking for two bids: one for 64-gallon totes for recycling and trash; and one with a tote for recycling and bags. Residents would also be permitted one bulk item per week.

                In zoning news, Hosterman reported that the zoning hearing board was in receipt of an application for the conversion of 313 Main St., the former Main Street Inn, to multi-family housing. Hosterman summarized the application, stating that the owner wanted to convert the commercial property into six apartments; that no changes were planned to the exterior; and that the owner was not planning to remove any of the extensive impervious surface. He further noted that there was no plan for any proposed façade improvements or landscaping, and that some of the units would have few windows.

                Fire Marshall John Lehr said "the design of that building will never meet the fire standards."

                The council voted to write a letter to the zoning hearing board opposing the project, and said the planning commission would need to do the same.

                The owner has no permits, and officials said he should not be doing any work on the building, though it appears that work is occurring on weekends in the back of the building.

                "The track record of this has been deplorable," Schiffgens said.