Borough Council

April 21, 2025 7:00 p.m. The regular meeting of Doylestown Borough Council was held on the above date and time in Council Chambers, with the following members present: Council President Jack O’Brien, Vice President Amy Popkin, and Council Members Ben Bell, Larry Browne, Jennifer Jarret, Dennis Livrone, Connor O’Hanlon, and Elizabeth Wyckoff. Also present were Mayor Noni West, Junior Council Member Elisa Kremser, Borough Solicitor Andrew Griffin, Borough Engineer Jim Dougherty, Central Bucks Regional Police Department Police Chief Karl Knott, Borough Manager John Davis, Assistant Manager/Finance Director Caroline Brinker, Planning and Zoning Director Karyn Hyland, Water Operations Director Jeremy Matozzo, and Parks and Recreation Director Caitlin Hernandez. Councilperson Robert Kinney was absent. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS 1. Mayor West presented a Plaque to Ian Baldock for his dedicated service to the Borough as a Parking Enforcement Officer from 2000 to March 31, 2025. 2. Mayor West read and presented a Proclamation Recognizing April 22, 2025 as Earth Day to Environmental Advisory Council members Grant Alger and Dan Ford. There will be an Earth Day Celebration held on April 26, from 10 am to 1 pm at Broad Commons Park. 3. Mayor West read and presented a Proclamation Recognizing May as National Bicycle Month to Councilperson Wyckoff and six other members of the Bicycle Advisory Committee. 4. Mayor West read and presented a Proclamation Recognizing May as Mental Health Month to Councilperson O’Hanlon. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. O’Brien called for a motion to approve the March 17, 2025 Council Meeting Minutes (Browne-Livrone). Mr. Livrone commented that under the Water Utility Report, the first line of paragraph three needs to have the word “item” added so that it reads, “...to report on one item that...” With no further comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called. All were in favor and the minutes were unanimously approved. MAYOR’S REPORT Mayor West reminded everyone that the Bookfest is May 2 to May 4, and on May 3, it’s being held in Broad Commons Park between 10 and 4. They Mayor then stated that on March 20, there was a fire at the Doylestown Historical Society. She said they’re assessing everything and will ultimately need our help and support. 200 PUBLIC SAFETY - Mr. Browne 1. Authorization to Advertise Ordinance (1) Creating a Handicap Parking Space at 76 South Hamilton Street and (2) Codifying Signals at Certain Intersections. Mr. Browne said that the Public Safety Committee, at their April meeting, considered a request from the residents of 76 South Hamilton Street for a public, on-street handicap parking space along their property frontage. 76 South Hamilton Street has no off-street parking. Mr. Browne said the Committee recommends creation of the space. Mr. Browne said that the draft ordinance provided in Council’s packet creates the requested parking space at 76 South Hamilton Street and in addition, amends the Borough Code to codify the traffic signals at the following intersections as an unrelated matter of administrative “clean up”: North Main Street with Veterans Lane, North Broad Street with Doyle Street, North Broad Street with Veterans Lane, North Broad Street and Atkinson Drive, North Broad Street and Sandy Ridge Drive, North Broad Street and Route 611 Northbound, and North Broad Street and Route 611 Southbound. A motion was made to advertise the ordinance creating a handicap parking space at 76 South Hamilton Street and codifying the traffic signals indicated. (Browne-Wyckoff) With no comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. Mr. Browne reported that with regard to the Emergency Preparedness Seminars, the last one was very successful with 70 people attending including a Boy Scout Troop and then the next evening, the Personnel Committee interviewed a great group of people for the new Emergency Preparedness and Communications Board which will be reported on later this evening. He said they are really looking forward to working with the new Board members in the near future. 2. Mr. Browne said the Doylestown Fire Company monthly report was provided in Council’s packet and is available to the public by following the packet link noted on this meeting’s Agenda. He commented that one of the life members of the fire company, Brett Morris, recently received a commendation from Warrington Township for a life-saving action he made earlier this year. PUBLIC WORKS AND ADMINISTRATION - Mr. Kinney 1. In Mr. Kinney’s absence, Mr. Browne reported that the Committee did not meet and there was no report. The Public Works Monthly Reports were provided in Council’s packet and are available to the public by following the packet link noted on this meeting’s Agenda. COMMUNITY AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS - Mr. Bell 1. Youth Leadership Recognition Program. Mr. Bell said that the Committee reviewed the nominations for the 2025 Doylestown Borough Youth Recognition Program at its April meeting and after discussion, is recommending that the recognition be awarded to Elisa Kremser. He said if approved by Council, the award will be presented at the May Council Meeting. Following the 201 recommendation of the Committee, a motion was made that the recognition be awarded to Ms. Kremser. (Bell-Browne) With no comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. 2. Consideration of Resolution No. 2025-7, Linden and Doyle Elementary Resolution. Mr. Bell said that the Committee is recommending that Council adopt this resolution which urges Central Bucks School District to keep Linden and Doyle Elementary Schools open at their current location. He commented that the School Board and the Superintendent did announce that the elementary schools project was going to be put on hold. Mr. Bell said that while this is good as it gives more time for residents to formulate their opinions and engage with the board, it is also just a pause, so the goal of this resolution is to reinforce Council’s commitment to keeping our local schools open and affirms our ongoing support for their continued operation. Following recommendation of the Committee, a motion was made to adopt Resolution No. 2025-7. (Bell-Popkin) With no comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. 3. Mr. Bell said this Agenda item is not actionable by Council, but it’s very exciting and represents a lot of work that Staff has done. He turned the item, MapMe Preview, over to Ms. Hernandez, who gave a video presentation of the very versatile map app which provides detailed information on our businesses, parking in town, events, and so forth. ZONING AND PLANNING - Ms. Jarret 1. Consideration of Ordinance No. 2025-2 Eliminating On-Street Valet Parking Zones and Licensing. Ms. Jarret said that the three valet zones, located along State Street, were designated in 2016 and a corresponding licensing requirement for valet operators was established. Ms. Jarret said that use of these loading areas for valet stands has been found to interfere with use of the areas for loading and unloading. Ms. Jarret said this ordinance eliminates the designated on-street valet stand zones and related licensing. As a result, valet service operations would only be permitted to and from private property and only if certain conditions are met. Following recommendation of the Committee, a motion was made to adopt Ordinance No. 2025-2. (Jarret-Popkin) With no comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. 2. Land Development Waiver - Central Bucks High School West. Ms. Jarret turned this item over to Ms. Hyland, who reported that this application proposes two building additions to the building. She said one is along the McFarland Lane frontage and the other is within an existing courtyard. Ms. Hyland said the plan was reviewed by the Planning Commission, the Shade Tree Commission, the Zoning and Planning Committee, and various professionals, and provided in Council’s packet is a memo summarizing an approval recommendation. Ms. Jarrett read the memo and said that the Planning Commission and the Zoning and Planning Committee recommend 202 approval of the application with the enumerated conditions. (Jarret-Popkin) With no comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called. All were in favor and the motion was unanimously approved. 3. Authorization to Advertise Ordinance Vacating MacFarlane Lane. Ms. Jarret said that along with its recent CB West building addition proposal, the School District petitioned the Borough to vacate MacFarlane Lane. She said if passed, the area within the street would revert to the underlying property owners, the Central Bucks School District and Doylestown Borough, and would be protected by a utility and driveway easement. This street has been maintained by the school district so the vacation would memorialize the operations that have already been in place for several decades. Following the recommendation of the Committee, a motion was made to authorize the advertisement of the ordinance. (Jarret-Wyckoff) With no comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. 4. At 7:30, an Executive Session was called. Mr. Griffin said the first item being discussed is legal strategy related to zoning litigation in the Court of Common Pleas pertaining to 24 North Main Street and the other item is legal strategy with regard to the Solicitor participating in hearings before the Zoning Hearing Board. Council returned at 8:01 p.m. 5. Zoning Hearing Board Report. Ms. Jarret asked Ms. Hyland for the report. Ms. Hyland reported that the Zoning Hearing Board met on April 17, 2025, in Borough Hall, 10 Doyle Street, Doylestown, PA 18901, to hear the following applications: 39 East Ashland Street, by PB Collective, LLC, was continued and will be on May Zoning Hearing Board Agenda, and 154 West Oakland Avenue, by Darin Wassmann, who requests variances to permit less than the required side yard setback for the existing pool house and less than the required rear yard setback for the existing swimming pool. Ms. Hyland said that the 154 West Oakland variances were granted by the Zoning Hearing Board and deferred to the Solicitor regarding 39 East Ashland Street. Mr. Griffin said that while they met, they discussed making a motion to send the Solicitor to participate in the Zoning Hearing Board application of 39 East Ashland Street to the extent deemed necessary by the Zoning and Planning Committee at its next meeting. A motion was made for the Borough Solicitor to participate as indicated. (O’Brien-Livrone) With no comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. 6. Historic & Architectural Review Board (HARB) Recommendations. Ms. Jarret stated that at its monthly meeting, the Historical and Architectural Review Board reviewed the following applications and recommended that a Certificate of Appropriateness be approved as presented for the following Sign Application: 22 North Main Street, Miles City W.D., LLC, applicant; and, Continued Building Application: 65 Hillside Avenue, for an addition; and Building Applications: 74 East State Street, renovation, accepted as presented and submitted with the following clarifications: Duration molding and trim to be use, the new HRC-Casement windows will feature 203 a horizontal mullion grid panel overlay that will be replicated, the skirt of the 2nd-floor bay has cedar siding to match the existing siding, copper or zinc above bays and roof of porch, and improvements shall be in accordance with plan amendments on Sheet 07, 210 West Court Street, solar panels, accepted as presented with the amendment that the conduits be painted the same color as the side from which they will be descending, and, 68 South Clinton Street, windows. Ms. Jarret said that the Zoning and Planning Committee recommends that Council approve the foregoing applications as recommended by HARB. A motion was so made (Jarret- Browne). With no comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called. All were in favor and the motion was unanimously approved. 7. Code Enforcement Monthly Activity Report and 8. Building Inspection Monthly Report. Ms. Jarrett stated that these reports were provided in Council’s packet and they are available to the public by following the packet link noted on this meeting’s Agenda. ENVIRONMENT AND RECREATION - Ms. Wyckoff: No meeting and no report. WATER UTILITY - Mr. Livrone Mr. Livrone recognized and thanked Mr. Matozzo for being present at this meeting to answer any water questions that came up. He said the Committee did not meet in April. Mr. Livrone reminded everyone we still have the mandatory conservation restrictions in place and Mr. Matozzo had no new information to add regarding that situation. FINANCE/PENSION - Ms. Popkin 1. Consideration of Resolution No. 2025-6, Allowing for the Reimbursement of PFAS Water Treatment Project Expenditures from the Pennvest Guaranteed Revenue Note. Ms. Popkin said once adopted, this resolution will allow for current and near-future expenditures to be reimbursed once the Note has settled. She said this would include any expenditure within 60 days prior to adoption of this Resolution, including engineering and planning costs Following the recommendation of the Committee, a motion was made to adopt Resolution No. 2025-6. (Popkin-Livrone) With no comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called. All were in favor and the minutes were unanimously approved. 2. Authorization to Advertise Ordinance Increasing the Indebtedness of the Borough of Doylestown. Ms. Popkin said that the referenced ordinance increases the indebtedness of the Borough of Doylestown for the purpose of financing a portion of the PFAS Water Treatment Project through approved funding by the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) in the amount of $1,043,503. She said the debt shall be incurred as nonelectoral debt and shall be evidenced by one guaranteed revenue note, in fully registered form, bearing interest at a rate of 1.743% during the interest-only period and the first five years of principal amortization, and 2.179% for the remainder of the 240-month term. Following the recommendation of the Committee, a motion was made to authorize the advertisement of the ordinance. (Popkin-Jarret) 204  Mr. Bell questioned if this indebtedness would be the non-forgiven portion of the overall project cost. Mr. Davis said that was correct. Mr. Bell said there’s a point where we jump 50 basis points after the interest only period in the first five years. He asked how long that is total. Ms. Brinker said the total loan is 20 years and it’s after the first five, so it’s 15. With no further comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called. All were in favor and the minutes were unanimously approved. 3. Finance Report. Ms. Popkin deferred to Ms. Brinker for this report, who said that Council was provided with a copy of the Finance Report showing payable and payroll. Ms. Brinker the total for all funds was $1,291,637.16. A motion was made to approve the report (Popkin- Jarret). With no comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. PERSONNEL - Mr. O’Brien 1. Appointments to Volunteer Boards and Authorization to Draft and Advertise Ordinance Increasing the Number of the Emergency Preparedness and Communications Board Members. Mr. O’Brien said that on March 25, 2025, the Personnel Committee met to interview nine candidates to fill positions on the newly created Emergency Preparedness and Communications Board (Board) and three candidates to fill various student board member and Junior Councilperson positions. Mr. O’Brien said that Borough Ordinance No. 2025-1 creating the Board indicates there are to be five members, each member to serve for a term of three years, and the initial members’ terms are to be staggered in such a manner so that at least one member’s term expires annually. Of the candidates interviewed, the Committee is recommending the following appointments: EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND COMMUNICATIONS BOARD NAME TERM Beth Lander 1 Year (04/2025-12/2025) James Babinetz 2 Years (04/2025-12/2026) Amy Kremser 3 Years (04/2025-12/2027) Philip Masters 3 Years (04/2025-12/2027) Joshua Brown 3 years (04/2025-12/2027) STUDENT MEMBERS NAME VOLUNTEER BOARD Abigail O’Mara Human Relations Commission (05/2025-04/2026) James Shandlay Fanny Chapman Pool Board (Reappointment, 05/2025-04/2026) Thomas O’Reilly Junior Councilperson (09/2025-05/2026) In addition to the above appointments, the Personnel Committee is also recommending that Council authorize the drafting and advertising of an ordinance increasing the number of the Board from five (5) members to seven (7) members. 205  Following the recommendations of the Committee, a motion was made to make the aforementioned appointments and to authorize the drafting and advertising of an ordinance increasing the Board from five (5) to seven (7) members. (O’Brien-Browne) Mr. Browne commented that they had a really great group of applicants to choose from and he’s really excited about where the Board’s going to go from here. Mr. O’Brien concurred. Mr. Bell said that if Council approves the expansion of the Board, then that creates two vacancies. He asked if those vacancies will be filled in the usual manner with advertising and so forth. Mr. O’Brien said based on the interviews they did, there were two additional individuals identified, and they could be re-interviewed if necessary, but that was the impetus behind why we are looking to expand the number of members. He said there were extremely qualified candidates and the Committee had a hard time choosing just five. Mr. Davis commented that at this point, there is no intent to conduct more interviews. He said that once the ordinance is advertised, there will be a Committee recommendation to Council to appoint the two people the Committee didn’t have room for this time. Mr. Davis was not sure if their terms had yet been determined, but Council will have the opportunity to vote on that recommendation. Ms. Jarret commented that when Mr. Browne and Fire Marshal Scott Fleischer started the Preparedness Seminars, only a handful of people came to the first couple of sessions. She said that as Mr. Browne mentioned earlier, the last session had 70 people. Ms. Jarret said we had a group of really extraordinary individuals to interview for the Board being created. She said there’s been interest from the public library on hosting similar events like what Messrs. Browne and Fleischer put together. Ms. Jarret said we’re really fortunate as a community to have had them put their efforts into this and she thanked them. Mr. Davis indicated there will be two motions on this, with the first being to make the appointments recommended by the Personnel Committee, and the second being to authorize the drafting and advertising of an ordinance increasing the Board from five (5) to seven (7) members. On the first motion to make the appointments, Mr. O’Brien motioned and it was seconded by Mr. Browne. With no further comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called. All were in favor and the minutes were unanimously approved. A second motion was then made to authorize the drafting and advertising of an ordinance increasing the Board from five (5) to seven (7) members. (O’Brien-Browne) With no further comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called. All were in favor and the minutes were unanimously approved. PROFESSIONALS’ REPORTS Engineer’s Report - Mr. Dougherty: No report. Solicitor's Report - Mr. Griffin: No report. 206  Central Bucks Regional Police Department (CBRPD) Activities Report. Chief Knott said he had no report. The Police Activity Report for March 2025 indicated that were 972 incidents in the Borough and year-to-date, the Department had spent $1,354,609.54 and were at 17.90% of their yearly budget. PRESIDENT’S REPORT: None. OLD BUSINESS: None. NEW BUSINESS 1. Consideration of Resolution No. 2025-8, Authorizing PA Small Water and Sewer Program Grant Application - 2025 Water Main Replacement Project. Mr. Davis said they apologize for not having run this through the Water Utility Committee this month, but the deadline caught them off guard and they obviously want to submit this. He said doing so requires Council to pass this resolution. Mr. Davis said this application is to the PA Small Water and Sewer Program which we participated in before and the recommendation is for a specific water main replacement on North Main Street between Doyle and Spruce at a cost of $218,127.00, with a fifteen percent (15%) match which the Borough would be obligated for should this be successful. Motion to adopt Resolution No. 2025-8. (Livrone-O’Hanlon) With no further comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called. All were in favor and the minutes were unanimously approved. OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT: None. EXECUTIVE SESSION: None. ADJOURNMENT At 8:22 p.m., Mr. O’Brien motioned to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Browne. The vote was called and the motion passed unanimously. Respectfully submitted, John H. Davis Borough Manager :sa 207