Borough Council

June 16, 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 Larry Browne, Jennifer Jarret, Dennis Livrone, Connor O’Hanlon, and Elizabeth Wyckoff. Also present were Borough Solicitor Andrew Griffin, Borough Engineer Jim Dougherty, Central Bucks Regional Police Department Chief Karl Knott, Borough Manager John Davis, Assistant Manager/Finance Director Caroline Brinker, and Planning and Zoning Director Karyn Hyland. Mayor Noni West and Councilpersons Ben Bell and Robert Kinney were absent. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS: None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. O’Brien called for a motion to approve the May 19, 2025 Council Meeting Minutes (Browne-Jarret). A vote was called and the minutes were unanimously approved. MAYOR’S REPORT: None. PUBLIC SAFETY - Mr. Browne 1. Consideration of Ordinance 2025-6 Creating a Restricted Parking Zone on East Ashland Street Near Our Lady of Mount Carmel School. Mr. Browne stated that this ordinance creates a restricted parking zone on East Ashland Street near Our Lady of Mount Carmel School between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, as recommended by the Central Bucks Regional Police Department. Mr. Browne said that Council authorized the advertisement of this ordinance at their meeting on May 19, 2025, and the ordinance has since been properly advertised. Following the recommendation of the Public Safety Committee, a motion was made to adopt Ordinance No. 2025-6. (Browne-Popkin) With no comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called, and the motion passed unanimously. 2. 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. PUBLIC WORKS AND ADMINISTRATION - Mr. Kinney In Mr. Kinney’s absence, Mr. O’Brien reported that the Committee did not meet this month. He said that 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. 214 COMMUNITY AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS - Mr. Bell Resolution No. 2025-9 - SEPTA Funding. In Mr. Bell’s absence, Ms. Wyckoff stated that this resolution urges the Commonwealth to establish permanent, dedicated, sustainable funding to SEPTA sufficient to provide safe, frequent, and reliable service to its network. She said that SEPTA is projecting a $213 Million budget deficit in the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025 and as a consequence, proposing a 45% service reduction and 21% rate hike. Ms. Wyckoff said that with state budget discussions underway, the Community and Governmental Affairs Committee discussed the importance of public transportation to the Borough and the potential devastating consequences of the service cuts and rate hikes. Following the recommendation of the Committee, a motion was made to adopt Resolution No. 2025-9. (Wyckoff-Livrone) With no comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called, and the motion passed unanimously. ZONING AND PLANNING - Ms. Jarret 1. Special Hearing for the Petition to Vacate a Portion of MacFarlane Lane; Consideration of Ordinance 2025-7 Vacating a Portion of MacFarlane Lane. Ms. Jarret said this petition and draft ordinance vacates MacFarlane Lane. She said that along with its recent CB West building addition proposal, the school district petitioned the Borough to vacate MacFarlane Lane. Ms. Jarret said that the Borough Code requires that a hearing be held to consider the petition prior to adopting the ordinance, and the hearing will be conducted by the Borough Solicitor. She said that pending the outcome of the hearing, Council may then adopt Ordinance 2025-7 by motion. Ms. Jarret turned the meeting over to Mr. Griffin. Andrew Griffin, on behalf of Solicitor Bucky Closser from Curtin & Heefner, stated that as indicated, pursuant to the Borough Code, a formal hearing on Central Bucks School District’s (CBSD) Petition to Vacate a Portion of MacFarlane Lane is required. He said this will facilitate two building additions on the property. Mr. Griffin noted that the only abutting properties to McFarland Lane are three parcels, two of which are owned by the CBSD, either by itself or as successor or an interest to the Doylestown Borough School District Authority. He said the other parcel is owned by the Borough itself. Mr Griffin said that after the hearing is conducted and the record is closed, Borough Council may either deny the petition by motion, or vacate the portion of MacFarlane Lane identified in the plans and legal description prepared by Carroll Engineering dated January 24, 2025, last revised April 29. For purposes of the hearing, Mr. Griffin marked as Borough Exhibit B1 a public notice of this hearing, Exhibit B2 an affidavit of publication evidencing that the public notice was advertised in the Intelligencer on May 13 and May 20, 2025, Exhibit B3 a copy of an email from his office providing a copy of the public notice to the attorney for the applicant CBSD, as well as Borough Staff, Exhibit B4 a Certification of Posting for both the ordinance and the petition dated May 9, 2025, Exhibit B5 the actual Petition to Vacate which has a legal 215 description and plans affixed to it, as well as a copy of the proposed ordinance - those attachments are marked A through C. Mr. Griffin then noted for the record that the petition provides that CBSD release Doylestown Borough from any and all damages related to the vacation and that’s a provision that’s contemplated by the Borough Code. He said it also reserves the right of the Borough to regulate and enforce traffic and motor vehicle movement on the vacated portion of MacFarlane Lane. Mr. Griffin noted that as part of the land development waiver approval for this project which was previously before Borough Council on April 21, 2025. He said CBSD is also providing the Borough with an access and utility easement for a portion of the road. Mr. Griffin began the Special Hearing by having the CBSD representative who was in the audience come forward. Mr. Griffin asked if the representative had any further information to be added to the foregoing narrative or any other information he would like to provide to Borough Council. The CBSD representative responded that he did not. Mr. Griffin called for any questions or comments from the members of Borough Council and then asked the same of the audience. There were none. Mr. Griffin closed the record and said that if Council was so inclined, it could grant the Petition to Vacate by motion to enact the ordinance entitled “An Ordinance Pursuant to Section 1731(a)(2) of the Pennsylvania Borough Code Vacating a Potion of MacFarlane Lane”. The regular monthly meeting of Borough Council continued by Ms. Jarret making a motion to adopt Ordinance No. 2025-7, seconded by Ms. Popkin. Hearing no comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called, and the motion passed unanimously. A CBSD representative thanked the Borough. He said he thought it was a good project moving forward and he really appreciated the Borough’s cooperation as they get through this. 2. Application for Minor Subdivision Approval, 275/279 North Main Street. Ms. Jarret said that 263 N. Main Street, LLC, owner of the property, proposes a lot line change between the two parcels. She said each contains a single-family semi-detached dwelling unit and an irregularly-shaped back yard. The proposed lot line change will move the shared property line to better align with the party-wall and enable a future addition to the building at 275 North Main Street. Ms. Jarret said that the application was reviewed by the Zoning and Planning Committee on June 9, 2025, and the Committee recommended approval with the conditions that the applicant resolve all outstanding issues in the Borough’s Engineer and Water Engineers’ review letters to the satisfaction of Staff, and that the project comply with all applicable regulations including local, state, and federal. Ms. Jarret said that and, in consideration, the Committee recommends the following waivers be granted: 1) §22-503.1, to maintain the existing 31.3-foot cartway when a 36-foot minimum cartway is required, 2) §22-607, to allow the use of iron pins within the right-of-way, 3) §22-610, to defer any required stormwater management until such time that a building permit application is submitted, 4) §22-805.1.A(1), to allow a plan scale of 1 inch 216 = 10 feet, 5) §22-805.1.A(6), to allow a plan sheet size of 24 inches x 36 inches, and 6) §805.C(2), to not provide existing features within 400 feet of the land to be subdivided. Following the Committee recommendation, a motion was made to grant approval. (Jarret-Browne) With no comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called, and the motion passed unanimously. 3. Zoning Hearing Board Report. Ms. Jarret reported that the Zoning Hearing Board will hold a Public Meeting on June 19, 2025, to hear a variance request for 172 East Oakland Avenue request to permit more than the permitted floor area ratio. She said that the applicants propose to finish attic space to be used as a personal office. 4. 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: 30 East State Street, railing; 39 East Ashland Street, addition, renovation, and reconstruction. Ms. Jarret said that the HARB recommended that the application for a Certificate of Appropriateness be accepted as resubmitted with the following changes: the front door color will be iron ore, the cupola will be removed from the plans, the wall on the southwest elevation will be stepped back approximately 8”, the dormer location will be adjusted to accommodate the step back, and alter the windows on the southwest elevation from 18” to 2 ½’ in an Oscar Martin style; 80 West State Street, windows. The HARB recommended that the application for a Certificate of Appropriateness be accepted as resubmitted with the understanding that the windows might be Anderson, due to the availability of materials. 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- Popkin). With no comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called, and the motion passed unanimously. 5. Code Enforcement Monthly Activity Report and 6. 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 1. Naming of Burpee Park Basketball Court. Ms. Wyckoff reported that at their June meetings, the Park and Recreation Board and Council’s Environment and Recreation Committee heard a proposal to upgrade the basketball court at Burpee Park through private donations. The plan calls for new surfacing, backboards, rims, and nets. Among the donors are the Doylestown Athletic Association (DAA) and Borough residents Jim Plummer and Curt Goldman. The new court would be name “Van Hoof Court” honoring the life of Coach Jason Van Hoof and designated as such with a Borough plaque. 217  Following the recommendation of the Park and Recreation Board and the Environment and Recreation Committee , a motion was made to approve the proposed upgrade and the naming of “Van Hoof Court”. (Wyckoff-Jarret) With no comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called. The motion was unanimously approved. WATER UTILITY - Mr. Livrone Mr. Livrone stated that the Committee did meet. He said he reviewed the monthly operations report from Waters Operations Director Jeremy Matozzo and everything looked to be in order. He said the good news is that we are out of the drought designation and the restrictions on water usage have been lifted. Lastly, Mr. Livrone said the Water Committee will meet on July 8, where our Water Engineer will report on the upcoming PFAS treatment project FINANCE/PENSION - Ms. Popkin Ms. Popkin reported that the Committee did not meet and then asked Ms. Brinker for the monthly Finance Report. Ms. Brinker said that a copy of the report and payables had been provided in Council’s packet. She said that the total for all funds was $947,112.42. A motion was made to approve the report (Popkin-O’Hanlon). 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 Park and Recreation Board member Matt Reece, whose term was to expire December 31, 2026, has resigned. He said that this resignation creates a vacancy which needs to be filled. Motion to advertise the vacancy (O’Brien-Livrone). 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 May 2025 indicated that were 912 incidents in the Borough and year-to-date, the Department had spent $2,530,084.59 and were at 33.43% of their yearly budget. PRESIDENT’S REPORT: None. OLD BUSINESS 1. Mercer Museum Elevator Contract. Mr. Davis reported that in 2023, Council passed Resolution #2023-9 authorizing the submission of a Statewide Local Share Assessment Grant application on behalf of the Bucks County Historical Society (BCHS) for the modernization of the Mercer Museum’s elevator at a maximum cost of $409,026. He said this is a program for non- 218 governmental organizations, but it requires a municipality to submit the application on the applicant’s behalf. Mr. Davis said that the grant was awarded to the BCHS, and they have moved forward with the elevator project and have received the attached Proposal from Kencor, LLC in the amount of $371,000 plus freight. Kencor, LLC is a CoStars vendor, so the public bidding requirements are not needed for this project. Mr. Davis said that the Borough Solicitor reviewed the proposal, the bid, and the contract and is fine with it. He said a motion is needed to accept the proposal on behalf of the Historical Society in the amount of $371,000 plus freight, so that BCHS may move forward with the project. Motion to accept the proposal (O’Brien-Browne). Cory Amsler from BCHS said it’s been an interesting process so far from an administrative standpoint. He thanked Council for partnering with them on this project. With no further comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called. The motion was unanimously approved. NEW BUSINESS 1. Doylestown Arts Festival Request for Alcoholic Beverages. Mr. Davis said that the Doylestown Arts Festival is requesting Borough Council’s authorization to sell alcoholic beverages at the 2025 festival in the Pine Street parking lot on September 6 and 7, 2025. Borough Ordinance No. 1979-7 permits the consumption of alcoholic beverages on public property when specifically authorized by Borough Council. He said that the Arts Festival will assume responsibility for coordinating with the alcohol vendor, Neshaminy Creek Brewing Co., ensuring that they secure the necessary permissions from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. Mr. Davis said that the vendor will also be responsible for managing the identification process. Signage and fencing will be installed to keep alcoholic beverages within the boundaries of the event. Mr. Davis said that the Central Bucks Regional Police and Borough Staff have reviewed the request and are recommending approval. Following the recommendation, a motion was so made (O’Brien-O’Hanlon). It was noted that Kris Boger from Discover Doylestown was in the audience. Hearing no comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called. The motion was unanimously approved. OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT Jeff McGreary, Steeplechase Drive in Doylestown Hunt development, Doylestown Township, commented about loud vehicles and noise coming from the parking lot of the Wawa on South Main Street and asked for increased police patrols through the area. He also commented about the lack of parking and overflow parking on Steeplechase from Heritage Point Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, 400 South Main. 219  Chief Knott stated that patrols are already at the Wawa quite frequently, but he would direct there be even more to provide a little more visibility. Ms. Hyland indicated she would investigate the parking situation at Heritage Point. EXECUTIVE SESSION: None. ADJOURNMENT At 7:35 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 220