CNBNews

By Sara Martino

NEWS Correspondent

An ordinance allowing Brooklawn to make an increase in the 2008 budget was okayed on first reading during the recent Brooklawn Council meeting.

  The Local Government Cap Law provides that in the preparation of the local budget, a municipality may limit any increase in the budget to 2.5 percent un-less authorized by ordinance to increase it to 3.5 percent over the previous year's final appropriations.

  Mayor John Soubasis and members of Council, according to the ordinance, find it advisable and necessary to increase the 2008 budget over the previous year in the interest of promoting the health, safety and welfare of the citizens.

  The increase will only be 1 percent in the budget for 2008, he said, amounting to $20,776.73.

  The ordinance will be considered for final adoption after a public hearing on Tuesday, February 19, in Brooklawn Borough Hall at 6:30 p.m. Copies of the ordinance are one file in the clerk's office.

  In other business, the Council awarded a contract to Office Basics for purchase of office supplies; adopted an indoor air quality program; authorized Interlocal for animal shelter services; and formed a records management committee.

  Council also approved a telephone allowance for mayor and council and approved Bingo and Raffle licenses for the American Legion.