After a moment of silence for the people affected by the tragedy in Paradise Township, as well as President George H.W. Bush, the Ross Township board of supervisors meeting came to order Monday night in Saylorsburg.

The board agreed to adopt a $731,290 budget for 2019, decided in favor of appointing a CPA to perform a 2018 audit, and approved the elimination of the township real estate tax.

The township tax has been eliminated a few times. It was revived six years ago when the township built the new building.

Six years ago the previous board decided to build a new building and reinstated the real estate property tax. Fast forward, the building is long done and the tax is not needed.

But Chairman Howard Beers Jr. said the elimination of the township’s tax does not mean they don’t have to pay county tax or school tax.

In other matters, the board agreed to install park signs.

Beers said, “I’m in favor of the signs for the sake of certain rules, like park hours and cleaning up after your dog. However, I do feel they could be unappealing or unsightly.”

There was a short debate over building codes and where the border lines are in which to enforce permits. This also included the Lehigh Valley inspection fees for 2019.

“The building code and inspections manual is a very expensive and very large book. The intricacies of these codes are numerous.” Solicitor Tim McManus said and suggested a deferment to next month’s meeting.

The board tabled the stormwater ordinance proposal by Carson Helfrich.

A sample Stroud Township Ordinance was circulated to the Ross Township Planning Commission and zoning officer. The ordinance was until the regional meeting in January.

The township also approved all bills, receipts and expenditures along with the hiring of Randy Delp for one additional part-time snowplowing employee and the approval for the Valor Clinic to place a collection box for spoons in the foyer of the municipal building.