Borough Council

May 19, 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, Robert Kinney, 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, Water Operations Director Jeremy Matozzo, and Parks and Recreation Director Caitlin Hernandez. Assistant Manager/Finance Director Caroline Brinker was absent due to her attendance at the Fanny Chapman Board of Managers Meeting, and Planning and Zoning Director Karyn Hyland was also absent. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS 1. Councilpersons Jarret, Wyckoff, and Popkin joined Mayor West on the floor to present a Certificate of Appreciation to Elisa Kremser for serving as Junior Councilperson from September 2024 through this evening. Mayor West said that Ms. Kremser was leaving because it’s the end of her term and also because she is going to the U.S. Air Force Academy. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. O’Brien called for a motion to approve the April 21, 2025 Council Meeting Minutes (Browne-Popkin). A vote was called and the minutes were unanimously approved. MAYOR’S REPORT Mayor West remarked that the Memorial Day Parade is next Monday. In addition, the Mayor asked that if people haven’t voted by mail-in ballot, to please remember to vote tomorrow. PUBLIC SAFETY - Mr. Browne 1. Consideration of Ordinance 2025-3, (1) Creating a Handicap Parking Space at 76 South Hamilton Street and (2) Codifying Traffic Signals at Certain Intersections. Mr. Browne stated that this ordinance creates a handicap space at 76 South Hamilton Street and also 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. Mr. Browne said that Council authorized the advertisement of this ordinance at their meeting on April 21, 2025, and the ordinance has since been properly advertised. 208  Following the recommendation of the Public Safety Committee, a motion was made to adopt Ordinance No. 2025-3. (Browne-Kinney) With no comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called, and the motion passed unanimously. 2. Authorization to Draft and Advertise Ordinance Creating a Restricted Parking Zone on East Ashland Street Near Our Lady of Mount Carmel School. Mr. Browne said that in response to concerns regarding school bus access to Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, the Central Bucks Regional Police Department (CBRPD) conducted a traffic and parking study of East Ashland Street near the school. As a result, CBRPD is recommending the creation of an approximately 200 foot restricted parking zone opposite the school as depicted on the attached photos. No parking, stopping, or standing would be permitted in the area between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Mr. Browne said that the Public Safety Committee met on May 7, 2025 to consider an ordinance creating the zone. As a result, the Committee is recommending the drafting and advertisement of an ordinance creating the restricted parking zone recommended by CBRPD. Following the Committee’s recommendation, a motion was so made. (Browne-Popkin) Mr. Davis noted that all of the affected residents on that portion of Ashland Street were invited to the meeting to give them the opportunity to raise any concerns. He said none of them attended the meeting and none contacted him by email, so this seems to be something the residents can support. With no further comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called, and the motion passed unanimously. 3. 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. Additionally, Mr. Browne reported that the new Emergency Preparedness and Communications Board will meet for the first time next month and he will report on that at Council’s June meeting. PUBLIC WORKS AND ADMINISTRATION - Mr. Kinney 1. 2025 Milling Contract. Mr. Kinney said that A. Giuliani & Co. Inc., the milling contractor, is a COSTARS bidder so no bid award is necessary. He said the total amount of the contract is $49,620.54 Motion to approve the milling contract with A. Giuliani & Co. Inc. (Kinney- Browne) With no comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called, and the motion passed unanimously. 2. 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. 209 COMMUNITY AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS - Mr. Bell Mr. Bell reported that the Committee did not meet this month. He announced that the second Pride Festival kicks off June 1st with a flag raising at 5 p.m. at the old courthouse lawn and the Borough also raises the Pride flag at Broad Commons on the same day. Youth Leadership Recognition Program. Mr. Bell said it is a great privilege to be able to present this award to Junior Councilperson Elisa Kremser. He said that Ms. Kremser has been an incredible part of the Doylestown community volunteering for Kin, playing varsity sports, and being a participant in Model UN and Model Congress at CB West, and now heading off to the US Air Force Academy. He said it makes us all very proud to be able to present the award to her. ZONING AND PLANNING - Ms. Jarret 1. Historic & Architectural Review Board (HARB) Recommendations. Ms. Jarret reported that at its regular monthly meeting, the Borough of Doylestown Historical & Architectural Review Board (HARB) reviewed the following applications and recommended that a Certificate of Appropriateness be approved as presented for the following: Sign Applications: there were none; Building Applications: 32 Union Street, demolition and new construction - accepted as resubmitted with the following changes: select a different garage door that is not stamped but composite or wood, the metal roof will be midnight green, pine, any bronze shade, or copper, an 8-10” water table will be added around the building, and the street door will be solid with no windows; 97 Cottage Street, siding - accepted as presented and submitted with the following clarifications: the replacement siding will be Hardie Board in smooth texture in the color Khaki brown, it will be 8¼” product width, the shutters will be repainted black, and the existing gutters will remain; and, 130 East Oakland Avenue, windows - accepted as submitted and presented. 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. The motion was unanimously approved. 2. Code Enforcement Monthly Activity Report and 3. 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 Ms. Wyckoff stated she had no report, but reminded everyone that the Pedal-Palooza event was rescheduled to June 3 from 5 to 7 pm at Broad Commons Park. WATER UTILITY - Mr. Livrone Mr. Livrone stated that the Committee did meet where they received the monthly operations report from Waters Operations Director Jeremy Matozzo and things looked good. As an update to let everyone know things are moving along, he said associated grant applications 210 were submitted for both the North Main Street water main replacement and the Spruce Street tank rehab project. He said they also discussed the water drought situation and decided to leave the restrictions as mandatory because Bucks County is still considered as abnormally dry. FINANCE/PENSION - Ms. Popkin Ms. Popkin reported that the Committee did not meet. 1. Consideration of Ordinance 2025-4 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 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. Ms. Popkin said that the authorization to advertise this ordinance was approved at the April 21, 2025 meeting of Borough Council. She said the Finance and Pension Committee did not meet in May, however it is recommended that Council adopt Ordinance #2025-4. Following the recommendation, a motion was made to adopt Ordinance No. 2025-4. (Popkin-Livrone) With no comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called, and the motion passed unanimously. 2. Finance Report. Ms. Popkin stated that a copy of the Finance Report showing payable and payroll had been provided in Council’s packet. She said that the total for all funds was $967,423.78. A motion was made to approve the report (Popkin-Kinney). With no comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called, and the motion passed unanimously. PERSONNEL - Mr. O’Brien 1. Authorization to Advertise Board Vacancy. Mr. O’Brien said that Environmental Advisory Council member Patrick DeBiasse, whose term was to expire December 31, 2027, has resigned. He said that this resignation creates a vacancy which needs to be filled. Motion to advertise the vacancy (O’Brien-Bell). With no comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called, and the motion was unanimously approved. 2. Consideration of Ordinance No. 2025-3 Increasing the Number of the Emergency Preparedness and Communications Board Members. Mr. O’Brien stated that Ordinance No. 2025-3 increases the size of the Emergency Preparedness and Communications Board from five (5) to seven (7) members. Council authorized the drafting and advertisement of this ordinance at their April 21, 2025 meeting and the ordinance has since been properly advertised. Motion to adopt Ordinance No. 2025-3 (O’Brien-Browne). With no comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called, and the motion was unanimously approved. 211  3. Appointment of Two Members to the Emergency Preparedness and Communications Board Members. Mr. O’Brien said that on March 25, 2025, the Personnel Committee met to interview candidates to fill five positions on the newly created Emergency Preparedness and Communications Board (Board). He said that at the conclusion of those interviews and upon discussion, the Personnel Committee recommended to Council to draft and advertise an ordinance increasing the size of the Board from five (5) members to seven (7) members. The ordinance was prepared and properly advertised, and adopted this evening. Mr. O’Brien said that the Personnel Committee is recommending the following appointments to these two new Board positions: NAME TERM Pamela LaLande 1 Year (04/2025-12/2025) Mary Ford 2 Years (04/2025-12/2026) Motion to adopt Ordinance No. 2025-3 (O’Brien-Browne). With no comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called, and the motion was unanimously approved. PROFESSIONALS’ REPORTS Engineer’s Report - Mr. Dougherty: No report. Solicitor's Report - Mr. Griffin: No report. Central Bucks Regional Police Department (CBRPD) Activities Report. Chief Knott said he had no report. The Police Activity Report for April 2025 indicated that were 1044 incidents in the Borough and year-to-date, the Department had spent $1,920,543.36 and were at 25.38% of their yearly budget. PRESIDENT’S REPORT Mr. O’Brien had no report, but he did commend Ms. Kremser for serving as Junior Councilperson and her efforts in the community. He congratulated her and wished her the best of luck. OLD BUSINESS Mr. Browne said that in addition to the Memorial Day Parade this coming Monday, the 32nd Doylestown 5K is being held Saturday morning. He said that volunteers are needed to help out. Mr. Browne also noted that the hanging flowers went up this past month, which as usual perked up the entire town. He thanked the Public Works Department, all the volunteers, and Discover Doylestown. NEW BUSINESS Mr. Livrone gave an update from The Dart System’s quarterly meeting this month. He said that things are looking good and they’re working on expanding the program into Warminster. Mr. Livrone said there were two inquiries about possibly adding at a stop in Maplewood and/or possibly Old Orchard. Lastly, he said the committee felt we should do more promotion on the 212 Shared Ride Program which is where residents can call Dart and schedule a pickup at their home anywhere within the Dart system. OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT: None. EXECUTIVE SESSION: None. ADJOURNMENT At 7:25 pm, Mr. O’Brien called for a motion to adjourn. (Browne-Jarret) The vote was called and the motion passed unanimously. Respectfully submitted, John H. Davis Borough Manager :sa 213