Lititz Record Express

              THURSDAY, February 25, 1993
L i t i t z R e c o r d E x p r e s s
1 116TH YEAR LITITZ, PENNSYLVANIA 26 Pages- No. 45 30 cents
D istric t a step c lo se r to fourth elementary
1994 opening projected, taxes may be hiked to cover debt service payments
CONNIE BUCKWALTER
Record Express Staff
Warwick school district moved a step closer Tuesday
night toward making the construction of an $11 million,
fourth elementary school a reality.
Several school board members and administrators —
and a handful of residents — attended the Act 34 public
hearing in the Warwick High School library on the prop­osed
site and school building.
Dr. John R. Bonfield, district superintendent, said
Tuesday night that the district hopes to start bidding on
the project in the spring and begin work in the summer,
paving the way for a 1994 fall school opening.
The figures presented regarding costs and related tax
increases were estimated at the maximum possible
expense, according to district business manager David
Zerbe. Because of current market conditions and other
factors, actual costs could be considerably lower than the
estimates, he said.
Zerbe said the district investigated different options
and decided to pay for the $11,328,569 school through a
local general obligation bond issue. Additionally, he said
the state will reimburse the district for about 20 percent of
the cost.
To raise the revenue for the 1993-94 fiscal year debt
service payment of $685,000 (minus the state’s contribu­tion),
the district may need to raise taxes by 3.65 mills.
Zerbe said the estimated millage impact is based upon the
value of 1 mill equalling $150,000.
He said the 3.65 mill increase would cost the average
homeowner about $60 for the 1993-94 school year.
During the 1994-1995 tax year, when the school is
occupied and staffed, the debt service amount will
increase to a maximum $985,000 (minus the 20 percent
state reimbursement) and indirect costs will run the dis­trict
about $482,000. Indirect costs include salaries of
additional personnel to staff the facility, materials and
supplies and building maintenance.
The two factors combined could require an extra 4.81
mills of tax money for the 1994-95 fiscal year — about
$90 for the average homeowner, Zerbe said.
During the hearing, Bonfield explained the need for
the additional elementary school in a rapidly growing
community.
“We have continued growth; we are in crowded condi­tions,”
he told those in attendance.
He said the district gained about 700 students in the
last six or seven years and is well on its way toward conti­nuing
that trend. Considering that almost every building
except the recently renovated high school is either near or
beyond recommended capacity, he said the district needs
to make some decisions to control growth and to continue
to provide students with a quality education.
Bonfield said the district considered other alternatives
to contend with the space crunch, instead of building a
To ra is e th e re v e n u e , th e dis­trict
m a y h a v e to in c re a s e ta x e s
3 .6 5 mills n e x t y e a r, o r $ 6 0 fo r th e
a v e r a g e h o m e o w n e r . A n e x tr a
4 .8 1 m ills c o u ld b e r e q u ir e d in
1994-95, a fte r th e s c h o o l o p e n s .
fourth elementary. Two of those considerations included
building additions to the schools and year-round educa­tion.
Bonfield said that 80 percent of the public indicated
interest in the construction of a new school.
Eventually, the district also plans to move sixth grade
from the middle school into the elementary schools both
to help the children and the growth dilemma, he said.
(Turn to Page 21) Borough zoning changes
reviewed a t Tues, hearing
LISA ECKEL
Photo by Jennifer Kopf
SPECIAL SHROVE TUESDAY TREATS — These kindergarteners at the Owl Hill Learning Center,
Lititz, know just how to eat a fasnacht— with big, big bites. As members of Miss Hole’s full-day kindergar­ten
class, they got to enjoy their treat at morning snack time on Tuesday. From left; Megan Kreider, Eric
Snyder, Helen Clark and Chris Hoshauer.
Boro crimes continue to rise,
up by 13 percent from 1991
CONNIE BUCKWALTER
Record Express Staff
The crime rate continued to esca­late
in Lititz Borough for the second
consecutive year.
Both serious crimes (part one
offenses) and crimes of a less serious
nature (part two offenses), contri­buted
toa 13 percent increase in total
crime from 1991 to 1992 — accord­ing
to the borough’s annual crime
report.
Although the borough’s crime rate
climbed, so did its clearance rate —
which means more people were
arrested for the crimes. The 1991
clearance rate for part one and two
offenses was 28 percent, compared
to a 43 percent 1992 clearance rate.
Furthermore, the adult and juvenile
arrest rate climbed to 71 percent over
1991.
Police Chief James S. Fritz said
that greater citizen participation in
reporting crimes and other suspi­cious
acts resulted in more criminal
reports and arrests.
“The public participation is what
helps us so much and that seems to be
increasing by the number of crimes
that have been reported,” he said.
For example, he said people filing
complaints about parties led in part to
37 arrests for violations of the liquor
law — including underage drinking.
“The most important thing that
they (citizens) can do is when they
see something wrong in their neigh­borhood...
call the police,” Fritz said.
Of part one offenses — which
include criminal homicide, rape, rob­bery,
assault, burglary, arson and
motor vehicle theft — the most sig­nificant
increase was in the number
of reported burglaries, Fritz said.
Thirty-six burglaries were com­mitted
in the borough in 1992, up 44
percent from 25 in 1991. Seven of the
burglaries happened during the same
evening and involved three churches,
Fritz said.
Fritz offered some suggestions to
help residents prevent their chances
of becoming a burglar’s target.
“Number one, I would encourage
everybody to keep their doors and
windows locked even if they are at
home and working outside.... or even
if you’re in a different room in the
house,” Fritz said.
“If you’re going away, put your
lights on timers, notify your neigh­bors
and notify the police,” he said.
He also advised people either to stop
news and mail deliveries or to have
someone pick them up.
In other part one offenses, there
were no 1992 reports of criminal
homicide, forcible rape or robbery.
Larceny-theft remained at the 1991
level and accounted for 149 of 212
crimes in the category.
The number of adults arrested for
part one offenses decreased by 18
percent, from 22 to 18, while the
number of juveniles arrested jumped
76 percent, from 17 to 30. Both the
adult and juvenile arrest rates for part
two crimes increased by 107 percent
and 68 percent respectively.
Fritz said that the number of
alcohol-related arrests could be con­nected
in some way to the number of
crimes in other areas.
“Usually when you have people
involved in excessive drinking and
so forth, then they get involved in
other crimes too,” Fritz said.
Of the part two offenses, the most
significant increase was in the num­ber
of liquor law and disorderly con­duct
arrests. These two categories
accounted for 43 of the 110 adult
arrests and 37 of the 59 juvenile
arrests.
Cases of vandalism/criminal mis­chief
rose by 14, from 98 in 1991 to
112 in 1992. Only seven individuals
were arrested, a figure Fritz said he
would like to see change. The lack of
witnesses and evidence involved in
vandalous acts makes it difficult to
track down the culprits, he said.
“I wish we could do more, but it’s
a tough job,” he said.
Other figures for part two crimes
in 1992 include forgery & counter­feiting,
four reports; fraud, seven;
sex offenses, three; drug abuse viola­tions,
one; offense against family and
(Turn to Page 21)
Record Express Staff
A formal hearing was held during
the Borough Council meeting Tues­day
night to give borough residents
an opportunity to discuss the new
drafts of the Zoning and Subdivision/
Land Development Ordinances with
the Council. Mark Lauriello of
Rettew Associates, Inc. was present
to give residents and the Council a
review of the proposed drafts.
“We will take action next month,”
on the issue, Council President Rus­sell
Pettyjohn said. Another public
hearing will be scheduled for March.
A committee was formed to deve­lop
the new ordinances on Sept. 8,
1992. That committee has been
meeting twice a month and regularly
has updated Council on their
progress.
The committee decided that a
separate ordinance for storm water
was needed. In the executive sum­mary
submitted at the January 26
meeting, Lauriello wrote that a new
storm water ordinance is being deve­loped
“to regulate land disturbance
activities,” including driveways and
parking lot expansions, that do not
come under the jurisdiction of the
current Subdivision Land Ordinance.
Pettyjohn could not make a motion
to accept the drafts. The Borough
Planning Commission has urged the
Council to delay a decision, Petty­john
said, because they requested
more time to read the drafts.
He also announced that planners
for the new Warwick elementary
school are willing to comply with the
new regulations, although they
would be permitted to follow the old
ordinances even if the new are
passed.
• In other business, Dr. Victor
Baer of Moravian Manor spoke on
behalf of the residents who inhabit
the 16 cottages on Moravian Avenue.
Baer expressed his concern about the
number of vehicles, driven by high
school students, that are parked
along Moravian Avenue making it
difficult for residents to see oncom­ing
traffic when they pull out of their
driveways.
The parking situation has become
an annoyance to the residents and
also a hazard. Baer’s priority was the
safety of the residents, but he said he
is worried that the issue might spark a
negative reaction from high school
students if they are no longer permit­ted
to park along Moravian Avenue.
Borough Police Chief James Fritz
has been conducting a comprehen­sive
study since Jan. 27 to determine
the number of cars parked along
Moravian and Lemon streets during
different times of the day.
So far the study has proven that
there is consistency in the number of
cars parked daily in those areas, said
council member Ruth McKennon,
who also emphasized that the com-
(Turn to Page 21)
Cummings’ contributions
recognized by township
CONNIE BUCKWALTER
Record Express Staff
When W. Scott Cummings talks,
the Warwick Township Board of
Supervisors listens.
Cummings, 331 Owl Hill Road,
has regularly attended supervisors
meetings and offered constructive
H
DUCKS BRAVING THE COLD
Road in Warwick Township after
Photo by Lisa Eckel
-A family of snow-sculptured ducks decorates a lawn on Snavely Mill
last week’s snowfall.
comments on the issues for more
than 10 years.
During last week’s board meeting,
the supervisors presented Cummings
with an award for outstanding civic
interest.
Michael Brubaker, chairman, said
that the award was in recognition of
Cummings’ dedication to the town­ship
and the community. In addition
to being a regular attendee of super­visors’
meetings, Cummings also
served on the township zoning hear­ing
board from 1984-1992 and now
serves as an alternate.
“Mr. Cummings is quick to point
out constructive criticism that we all
appreciate,” Brubaker said when he
presented Cummings with an
engraved plaque.
Cummings thanked the supervi­sors
for the recognition.
“This was quite a surprise,” he said
of the award. “I never expected any­thing
like this.”
Cummings’ interest in township
affairs began around 1979 when the
township considered installing publ­ic
sewer and water in his neighbor­hood.
He said he opposed both
because he felt he didn’t need those
services.
Those issues eventually became
resolved, but Cummings had become
hooked.
“I just wanted to know what was
going on and I liked to voice my
opinion,” he said.
Because he has lived in the town-
(Turn to Page 21)
THIS WEEK IN THE RECORD EXPRESS THE INDEX
Matmen top Middletown, earn berth in Tourney Contemporary artist recreates Lititz in 1700’s
^ The Warwick wrestling Joseph S tu rg is ’ son,
team nearly pulled off a huge Samuel Justinus, was a direct
upset against Cumberland ancestor of a contemporary
Valley last Monday, Feb. 15, Lancaster artist, June Goyne
and then two days later, it Corotto, who has used her
. defeated Middletown 44-17 to talents, and her tenacity in
" , clinch a berth in the District research, to recreate the Lititz
Three Team Championships. of 1784. Read more on page 7.
1 / Read more on page 8 .
Business 17
Church 16
Classified 22-25
Editorial 4
Lunch Menu • 6
Manheim 20
Obituaries 2
Out of the Past 4
School News 6-7
Social 14-15
Sports 8-11
WEATHER: Fair Thursday,
low near 15. Chance of snow Fri­day.
Low in the low 20s.