MIDDLESEX TWP - While township manager Roger Dunlap on Thursday presented a mid-year township budget review to let taxpayers know how spending is going, two residents accused the township supervisors and Dunlap of intentionally trying to hide the spending report.

Eric Urbanowicz and Jack Redman were the only two residents to attend the special 5:30 p.m. meeting. Regular township meetings are at 7 p.m. and often draw 30 residents or more.

The men accused supervisors of holding the meeting at a time when many residents cannot attend to keep the public in the dark about the items discussed. Those items included the budget review and the road repair plan.

"I strongly object (to the meeting time) and urge you to table the items until the regular July meeting," said Urbanowicz. "This is not in the best interest of the residents of Middlesex Township."

Chairman David McMaster asked his fellow supervisors for a motion to end the meeting and continue it later, but no motion followed.

The supervisors' regular monthly meeting will be Wednesday.

Redman accused supervisors of scheduling the early meeting to avoid public input on the budget review and road program.

"Shame on the three of you (supervisors) and Mr. Dunlap,"he said.

McMaster said the reason for the 5:30 p.m. session, which was announced at the June meeting, was for Dunlap to apprise supervisors on the township's state of affairs regarding administrative and financial matters. He said the meeting was advertised in the Butler Eagle, as required by law.

Urbanowicz then accused supervisors of advertising the meeting on the last possible day so residents would not have enough time to plan on attending.

"We are using due diligence to do the best possible job we can for this township," said Dunlap. "Everything is public. Ask around how many communities even do a mid-year budget review."

Regarding the 2004 budget review, Dunlap said the general fund has a $15,800 increase. He said unexpected revenues total $22,000, including more than $11,000 received as a result of a lien lawsuit that was settled.

Unexpected expenditures in the general fund totaled $6,200. Dunlap said $2,500 of that was paid in legal fees in the township's denial of Mars School District's proposed ball fields.

Dunlap said he is concerned that increased utilities costs at the township building and fuel for police and public works vehicles may push costs beyond the budgeted amount in December.

"Obviously we have no control over these things," said Dunlap.

Unlike the general fund, the capital fund will have $94,300 in unanticipated expenditures because of the aggressive road program and for engineering fees for the design of the proposed new salt storage facility.

Dunlap said $125,000 was budgeted for repairing and maintaining 10 of Middlesex's 54 miles of roads.

He said the actual amount needed to rebuild or fix the 10 miles of road on this year's slate is $208,000. Dunlap said because the road improvements are paid through borrowed bond money, there would be no increased burden on taxpayers as a result of the spending increase.

"I do not feel that overspending would be a bad idea at all," Dunlap said in his report. "I feel confident that the roads selected as projects for this year are both necessary and important projects. I would advise the board to proceed with the 2004 road program and amend the budget accordingly at a later date."

Dunlap went on to say $200,000 to $300,000 is going to be needed each year to bring roads up to accepted standards. He said the $165,000 the township receives each year from the state liquid fuels fund is paying road crew salaries this year, but next year it will be available for road projects.

Also, the township's highway aid fund incurred about $36,000 in unexpected expenses. The largest is $21,500 for storm sewer supplies to divert water off roads, thereby protecting existing road surfaces and sub-bases.

"Again, I have a hard time recommending to you against authorizing these expenses given the overall condition of our roadway system," said Dunlap.