Borough Council

COLLEGEVILLE BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES APRIL 6, 2022 The meeting was called to order at 6:30PM by Council President Cathy Kernen. ROLL CALL: President Cathy Kernen, VP Gary Hoffmann, Marion McKinney, Kathy Costello, Valarie Beckius, Dean Miller and Mayor Aidsand Wright-Riggins. (Craig Farr absent) ALSO IN ATTENDENCE: Solicitor Rebecca Geiser, Engineer David Leh, Police Chief Bart Bucher, Manager Tamara Twardowski and Assistant Suzanne Robertson MOTION to approve the minutes from the March meeting by Costello with a second by Hoffmann MOTION carries 6-0 PUBLIC COMMENT: Jan Snovel 432 Chestnut St asked if we could look into construction debris near the Freeland Square work site as two of her neighbors have gotten flat tires driving by there. Mr. Leh said he will address with the builder. Terri Stagliano noted that the electrical box that lights the park sign at 3rd Avenue needs to be reset. BUDGET & FINANCE: MOTION to approve checks #5425-5477 and to pay the bills totaling $154,154.52 by McKinney with a second by Costello MOTION carries 6-0 COMMITTEE REPORTS: BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT: Ms. Kernen reported that at their March 28 meeting, they discussed the status of the new College Gateway Overlay District Zoning, the borough’s grant application for a Main Street Master Plan, and Ursinus College’s commitment to our Main Street. They also heard an update on the former DaVinci’s Pub, information on the borough’s work toward cleaning up the blighted Perkiomen Bridge Hotel and a new development regarding the proposed Reading to Philadelphia Rail Line. Her entire report can be read on the CEDC website, www.collegevilledevelopment.org. Ms. Kernen noted several new businesses opened in the borough: G&S Style www.gsstylehomedecor.com, Yoga Six and The Barn Yard Kids www.barnyard4kids.com. She encouraged everyone to support these new ventures. REGIONAL PLANNING: Ms. Beckius reported that at their meeting this month there was a representative from Montgomery County Planning Commission who gave a presentation on the Climate Change Potential Volume Analysis. It is available on the county website and allows anyone to see how climate change affects an area down to their neighborhood. It is a tool for better planning, the regional trail map is out! It has a QR code to access points of interest on the phone. It was reported that the median home sale price for Montgomery County is $370K which is up 10.4%. Collegeville Borough median sales price is also up 14% at $420K. The next meeting will be May 18. PERSONNEL: MOTION to approve the resignation of Josh Macel for Planning Commission by McKinney with a second by Costello MOTION carries 6-0 MOTION to approve Chris Louten to the vacant seat on Planning Commission by McKinney with a second by Miller MOTION carries 6-0 CTMA/PUBLIC WORKS: Ms. McKinney noted that at the last meeting they paid the bills, approved an escrow release for Glenwood Reserve and approved bidding on a new dump truck for Public Works. Public Works purchased a sonar leak detector and it has proven to be valuable in finding leaks which cuts down on random drilling to find and repair leaks. MOTION to approve the T-Mobile Lease Amendment by McKinney with a second by Beckius MOTION carries 6-0 LPVRSA: Ms. Stagliano reported that the middle interceptor construction is progressing nicely. 79% of the work is completed. The duration of the project has been 999 days complete to date. They have projected completion in July of 2022, but she feels it will be more like October of 2022. Approximately 3300 linear feet remains to be installed of the original 16,800 linear feet. 45 of the 59 manhole covers have been installed. Evaluations and designs are still underway on the emergency generator, chemical building roof and grit building pipe replacement. Many preventive maintenance actions were performed. PARKS: Ms. Costello reported that two concerts have been scheduled: Bigg Romeo www.biggromeo.com, on June 9 and The Bachelor Boys www.bachelorboysband.com on June 23. St Eleanor’s is planning a spring cleanup of the park and playground areas soon. She thanked Mr. Gehringer from Ursinus for the new backstop at the ball field and said it has made a huge difference with the foul balls! MOTION to approve using up to $3500 to remove a tree from the park that is dead and leaning toward a home on Jonlyn Lane by McKinney with a second by Hoffmann MOTION carries 6-0 MOTION to approve Resolution 2022-04, ratifying Ms. Twardowski as the borough representative to submit a grant application to resurface the basketball court and create an ADA accessible walkway around the park by McKinney with a second by Costello MOTION carries 6-0 PLANNING COMMISSION: Over the last six months, the Planning Commission has worked on a College Gateway Overlay Ordinance that would encompass the four corners of 5th Ave and Main Street. The draft ordinance has been referred to Council for consideration of adoption. This new zoning, which concerns the area where the Ursinus campus connects with the top of our Main Street, encourages mixed use buildings with retail and restaurants on the first floor and residential housing or dorms above. The zoning respects our small-town character and encourages any new architecture to fit in with the current historical buildings on our Main Street. It also allows buildings up to fifty feet high to encourage development. In addition, it encourages a provides standards for a walkable and safe streetscape, building setbacks, parking and infill between buildings, lighting, water features, art and gardens. It is important to remember that this does not change the zoning for any of the affected parcels. It allows an overlay zoning that the owner may utilize to develop the property if desired. MOTION to approve advertising and scheduling a public hearing for the College Gateway Ordinance by McKinney with a second by Costello MOTION carries 6-0 Craig Penuel stated that he thought that the Fire Company should have been involved in this discussion of the zoning on their property since it is part of the overlay. The response was that the zoning is not being changed, but rather an overlay would be added. It was noted that this overlay has been mentioned numerous times over the last few months and all meetings are open to all. Ms. Kernen noted that once Council approves the advertising of the new zoning, which occurred tonight, that begins the public review and comment period. STREETS & PUBLIC SAFETY: No report ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS ENGINEER: Mr. Leh reported that we are approximately 50% complete with our field evaluation of the Borough roads. The traffic counts for the Second Avenue and Freeland Drive intersection is complete. Unfortunately, the results do not meet the threshold for consideration of a left turn arrow onto Freeland. Gilmore is working through a sanitary sewer conflict for the 8th Avenue culver with Joe Hastings. We hope to have our general permit applications submitted to PA-DEP next week. SOLICITOR: Ms. Geiser said she worked on the College Overlay District with the Planning Commission MANAGER: MOTION to approve Marion McKinney as our voting delegate at the PSAMB conference by Beckius with a second by Costello MOTION carries 6-0 MOTION to approve Resolution 2022-05 which outlines the directives to destroy old files by McKinney with a second by Miller MOTION carries 6-0 MOTION to approve Resolution 2022-06 which approves the actual destruction of the files listed with the resolution by McKinney with a second by Hoffmann MOTION carries MOTION to authorize the solicitor to research and write an ordinance for historic properties and one for blighted properties by McKinney with a second by Costello MOTION carries 6-0 POLICE: MOTION to approve a request for our Fire Police to assist at the Memorial Day Parade in Trappe by McKinney with a second by Costello MOTION carries 6-0 MAYOR: The mayor gave the following report: Engagements this Past Month:  Attended and participated in the Grand Opening of the “Restore Wellness Center in Providence Center.  Served as a Judge for the Rotary 4 Way Test.  Interviewed by John Pierce of Good Faith Media on “Being a Mayor and Minister and the Separation of Church and State.  Taught a course session at Ursinus College on the intersection of spirituality and politics. Upcoming Engagements: April 10-12 – “Welcome Home” In July, 2021, Ursinus College began a collaboration with the Perkiomen Valley School District and the Delaware Tribe of Indians. This collaboration and the resulting Welcome Home Project recently led to the creation of a land acknowledgment statement which recognizes “that our community carries names derived from the Lenape language - names holding spiritual and cultural meaning while also bearing the remembrance of the systematic removal of the Lenape people over 250 years ago by European colonial powers, whose legacy still reinforces and benefits from the Lenape’s disenfranchisement.” The acknowledgement also states that “Ursinus College commits to collaboration, representation, and inclusion as we work together with the Lenape people to bring about healing and reconciliation between and among all our communities.” Mayor Wright-Riggins will be participating in a meaningful moment in this collaboration, a special signing ceremony for the Ursinus College, Perkiomen Valley School District, and Delaware Tribe of Indians Statement of Mutual Intentions. Tuesday, April 12. Schellhase Commons at Ursinus College 601 E. Main Street, Collegeville, PA 19426 The timing of this event is in connection with the reburial ceremony on Monday, April 11, at Pennsbury Manor, and the Welcome Home Community Day at the Perkiomen Valley School District on Sunday, April 10. We are honored to host this event for our friends from the Delaware Tribe of Indians and their fellow Lenape Tribes: Delaware Nation, Eelūnaapèewii Lahkèewiit (Delaware Nation at Moraviantown), Stockbridge-Munsee Community, and Munsee-Delaware Nation (Ontario). April 20, 7:00 PM - “Reimagine Ursinus-Collegeville” Sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania. The event will bring Ursinus College students and faculty and Collegeville community members together to envision a healthy and sustainable future for the Collegeville community. Members of the audience will then have an opportunity to participate in a visioning session to discuss economic prosperity, sustainability, climate mitigation and environmentally healthy communities. Residents of Montgomery County and League members wishing to learn more about the Reimagine Project are welcome. This is the first of several visioning sessions. If you are interested, but can’t attend, please contact environmentalpolicy@palwv.org. This event is free and open to the public but requires an RSVP. Register here to attend. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfCgXKN3In8Rfpn7NFsYW8mXxA- 7ntYB7QAOFw62aki13Y_8Q/viewform FIRE: Mr. Penuel reported 30 calls and 523.29 hours of service to the community. The Collegeville Fire Company also participated in the funeral of Branden Cisca. TRAPPE AMBULANCE: No report MOTION to approve the Administrative and Committee reports by McKinney with a second by Costello MOTION carries 6-0 PUBLIC COMMENT: Gary Sassaman 209 11th Ave commented that, although the circumstances were sad, it was nice to see Trappe and Collegeville Fire Companies work together during the time of mourning the death of Trappe’s Fire Chief Branden Cisca. Alex Tweedie 316 Colonial Ave noted that PV Middle School has a program coming up at which all five Indian tribes will be in the same place, which does not happen often. He urged everyone to go to PVMS website for more information on events. Evan Stinson, Ursinus student, invited everyone to their program “Reimagine” on April 20 which will feature the Lenape. MEETING ADJOURNED 8PM