Nice if tax preparation site was in Jim Thorpe

Dear Editor:

During the Borough Council meeting March 10, 2011, Memorial Hall, Jim Thorpe, I made comment on the Tax Aide preparation regarding a site change from Memorial Hall to Penn Forest Township. The problem surfaced when a resident questioned why Memorial Hall was not being used for tax preparation this year? The response given provided by the charge AARP Official when at Penn Forest Wednesday, March 2.

The AARP official explained scheduled the Memorial Hall site was not done because of problems with heat and not having a warm place to work, coffee service was bad or lacking, on arrival to start work doors are found to be locked so access to building is prevented, spend too much time looking for maintenance or someone able to unlock door. This poses delay for those present for tax preparation. So the decision was made to use Penn Forest among two or three other sites.

Also mentioned was that AARP would be at Penn Forest site only Wednesdays 9 a.m. to noon until April 13 unless otherwise notified. There are usually three AARP volunteers in attendance. This means each preparer aides four individuals with a cutoff after 12 people have signed up for tax preparation. All others need to return the following week or seek other arrangements.

In summary, I attend Borough Council meetings on a regular basis and find council members and business manager to be sincerely concerned, dedicated to work ethic and seek outside funding sources in order to support resident needs and borough expenses. From the tax preparers response the opinion was left in the dark was council or the business manager approached for their awareness a problem existed. It would be nice if AARP and Borough Council could meet for a tax preparation location within the borough.

Making prearrangements with those in charge is an appropriate responsibility to prevent mishaps from occurring.

Thank you

Kathleen F. Jones

Jim Thorpe