Borough Council

August 18, 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, Robert Kinney, Jennifer Jarret, Dennis Livrone, Connor O’Hanlon, and Elizabeth Wyckoff. Also present were Mayor Noni West, 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, and Planning and Zoning Director Karyn Hyland. Councilperson Ben Bell was absent. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS: None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. O’Brien called for a motion to approve the July 21, 2025 Council Meeting Minutes (Kinney-Browne). A vote was called and the minutes were unanimously approved. Mr. O’Brien then called for a motion to approve the July 25, 2025 Council Special Meeting Minutes (Browne-Popkin). A vote was called and the minutes were unanimously approved. MAYOR’S REPORT The Doylestown Fred Astaire Studio celebrated their 10th anniversary on Saturday, August 9, with a two-hour performance of dances performed by clients and their teachers, and it was very impressive. I presented a Certificate of Appreciation from the Mayor and Borough, thanking them for 10 years of offering a welcoming space for dancers of all ages and abilities. Doylestown Clean Up Day is Saturday, August 24, 9 to 11 a.m. The Doylestown Masonic Lodge is celebrating their 175th on August 27 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. and Council Members are welcome. If you want to go, just let me know. Last Friday, the DART committee held its quarterly meeting. Ridership increased around 12% year-to-date not including Courthouse ridership. Lou White shared with us that ridership for the full year of 2019 was 27,700; this year’s year-to-date ridership is 33,200. Data demonstrates the growing importance of DART to our communities. Vince Foster shared with us that funding could be in jeopardy. The majority of DART funding comes from SEPTA. With their budget shortfall and the General Assembly not approving an increased budget, DART funding is in limbo if not at risk. Also, because the Pennsylvania 2025-2026 budget has not been passed, the state has not been sending monthly payments. With funding payment delays coupled 229  with the unknown future of SEPTA funding, the best estimate is the DART can continue through December of this year. We are all looking forward to Discover Doylestown’s signature Arts Festival and the Bucks County Classic Bike Race on the weekend of September 6 and 7. And that, Mr. President, is the end of my report. PUBLIC SAFETY - Mr. Browne 1. Authorization to Advertise Ordinance Prohibiting Left Turns to and from Central Bucks West, West Court Street Parking Lot. Mr. Browne said that this ordinance was requested by the Central Bucks School District as it is necessary in order for them to implement their Council approved transportation plan for Central Bucks West. The ordinance prohibits left turns into and from the Central Bucks West High School parking lot located at 375 West Court Street, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. Following the recommendation of the Central Bucks Regional Police Department, Borough Staff, and Public Safety Committee. a motion was made to advertise the ordinance (Browne-O’Hanlon). With no questions or 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. Mr. Browne reported that the Emergency Preparedness and Communications Board will be meeting on Monday to work on their first event which is tentatively scheduled for October 30. PUBLIC WORKS AND ADMINISTRATION - Mr. Kinney 1. 2025-2026 Fuel Bid. Mr. Kinney said that bids were publicly opened and read on June 13, 2025 by the Bucks County Consortium for the purchase of fuel for the August 1, 2025 to July 31, 2026 season. He said that the low bidder for approximately 26,000 gallons of delivered unleaded regular gasoline at a floating price as of the delivery date based on the OPIS Philadelphia Mean price, $2.069 as of June 13, 2025, plus a modifier of $0.130 per gallon, and for approximately 8,000 gallons of delivered ultra-low sulfur diesel at a floating price as of the delivery date based on the OPIS Philadelphia Mean price, $2.123 as of June 13, 2025, plus a modifier of $.233 per gallon, was Pilot Thomas Logistics. Following the recommendation of the Public Works Committee, a motion was made to award to Pilot Thomas Logistics, conditioned upon receipt of a properly executed performance bond and compliance with bid specifications (Browne-Popkin). With no comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called. All were in favor 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. 230 COMMUNITY AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS - Mr. Bell In Mr. Bell’s absence, Mr. Browne stated that the Committee did not meet and there was no report. ZONING AND PLANNING - Ms. Jarret 1. Zoning Hearing Board. Ms. Jarret asked Ms. Hyland for anything she wanted to report. Ms. Hyland stated that Zoning Hearing Board will meet on August 21, 2025, to hear an application for 348 East Court Street, requesting the necessary dimensional variances to replace an existing garage, add onto her one-half of a twin home, and build a carport to replace the displaced garage being demolishing. 2. 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 Application: 78 South Main Street, recommended with the “Sign 1 Option” on the second floor, side of the projecting gable, in line with windows; Building Applications: 277 Paine Street, an addition, recommended with the conditions that: the original three window profile on the second floor above the porch will remain the same, the hipped roof on either side of the porch will switch to follow the end of the roof above on the second floor, creating a mono-pitch roof, shutters will be added to windows on both sides of the front door, there will be no side lights on the front door, the center vertical window muntins on the sunroom addition will align with the primary window muntins, and the applicant will use a smooth Hardy Plank, 166 West Oakland Avenue, an addition, recommended with the condition that the applicant use “charcoal gray” for the metal roof, and 40 Garden Alley, for new construction, as 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- Livrone). With no comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called, and the motion passed unanimously. 3. Code Enforcement Monthly Activity Report and 4. Building Inspection Monthly Report. Ms. Jarret 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. Authorization to Advertise Bids - Fanny Chapman Pool, Main Pool Bottom Concrete Repair. Ms. Wyckoff said that the project is estimated to cost $180,000 for the Base Bid, shallow end portion, and an additional $110,000 for the Alternate Bid, additional area in deep end. She said that the Fanny Chapman Pool Board and the Environment & Recreation Committee reviewed the documents. 231  Following the recommendation of the Fanny Chapman Pool Board and the Environment and Recreation Committee, a motion was made to authorize the advertisement of the Bid (Wyckoff-O’Hanlon). With no questions or comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called. The motion was unanimously approved. WATER UTILITY - Mr. Livrone 1. PFAS Water Treatment Project Legal Services Agreement. Mr. Livrone stated that this agreement is required by PENNVEST and it provides for a not-to-exceed figure of $5,000 in legal services in connection with the PFAS water treatment project. A motion was made to approve the agreement. (Livrone-Kinney). With no questions or comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called. The motion was unanimously approved. FINANCE/PENSION - Ms. Popkin Ms. Popkin stated that the Committee did not meet and then called upon Ms. Brinker for the monthly Finance Report. Ms. Brinker said that a copy of the report showing payable and payroll had been provided in Council’s packet. She said that the total for all funds was $1,330,879.87. 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: No report. PROFESSIONALS’ REPORTS Engineer’s Report - Mr. Dougherty: No report. Solicitor's Report - Mr. Closser: No report. Central Bucks Regional Police Department (CBRPD) Activities Report. Chief Knott said he had no report. The Police Activity Report for July 2025 indicated that were 937 incidents in the Borough and year-to-date, the Department had spent $3,674,847.37 and were at 48.56% of their yearly budget. PRESIDENT’S REPORT: None. OLD BUSINESS: None. NEW BUSINESS: None. OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT: None. EXECUTIVE SESSION At 7:14 p.m., Mr. Griffin announced there would be a short Executive Session relating to litigation dating back to 2017 with Crown Castle regarding telecommunication facilities. He said there would be a vote after the session. At 7:24 p.m, Council returned from Executive Session and Mr. O’Brien said they discussed an Amended Settlement Agreement with Crown Castle. Mr. Griffin said that if Council was inclined, 232 a motion could be made to adopt and execute by Mr. Davis the Mutual Release and Settlement Agreement with Crown Castle. Motion was made by Mr. Livrone, seconded by Mr. Kinney. With no comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called, and the motion passed unanimously. ADJOURNMENT At 7:27 p.m., Mr. O’Brien called for a motion to adjourn (Livrone-O’Hanlon). The vote was called and the motion passed unanimously. Respectfully submitted, John H. Davis Borough Manager :sa 233