Borough Council Meeting

July 17, 2023 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 Wendy Margolis, and Council Members Larry Browne, Curtis Cowgill, Joe Frederick, Dennis Livrone, and Amy Popkin. Also present were Borough Solicitor Ernest Closser, Borough Engineer Jim Dougherty, Central Bucks Regional Police Department Police Chief Karl Knott, Borough Manager John Davis, Building and Zoning Karyn Hyland, Finance Director Caroline Brinker, and Planning/Public Works Director/Deputy Borough Manager Phil Ehlinger. Council Members Ben Bell and Jennifer Jarret, and Mayor Noni West were absent. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS: None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. O’Brien called for a motion to approve the June 26, 2023 Council Meeting Minutes. (Browne-Margolis) The vote was called and the minutes were unanimously approved. MAYOR’S REPORT Although Mayor West was not present, she had asked Mr. O’Brien to mention that the Borough had a another successful car show this past Saturday and the Thursday evening concerts in our new park have begun. PUBLIC SAFETY - Mr. Frederick 1. Letter of Intent: Doylestown Fire Company Department Analysis. Mr. Frederick said that Doylestown Fire Company No. 1 is requesting that Council approve the Letter of Intent, which will provide for a cost free study of their operations by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. Motion to approve the letter (Frederick-Browne). Doylestown Fire Company (DFC) President Paul Kreuter said DFC had discussions with the four municipalities that they cover to have an outside party perform a study looking at the Fire Company’s operations to ensure the best service to the community. Doylestown Borough is taking the lead this evening. Mr. Davis said this is on Doylestown Township’s agenda for tomorrow evening. DFC also talked to New Britain Borough and Buckingham Township, both of which intend to endorse the Letter of Intent. Mr. Kreuter said DFC is looking for the municipalities’ support and cooperation. With no further comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. 71  2. Mr. Frederick said the Doylestown Fire Company monthly report provided in Council’s packet was available to the public by following the packet link noted on this meeting’s Agenda. PUBLIC WORKS AND ADMINISTRATION - Mr. Browne Mr. Browne reported that the Committee did not meet. The monthly reports provided in Council’s packet are available to the public by following the link noted on this meeting’s Agenda. Mr. Ehlinger reported the Department completed their first round of paving, which is done in-house, consisting of West Oakland, Franklin, a section of West Street, and Hohlbain’s Alley, and they finished two days early. Mr. Browne commented that the Department also did some work for the Pride Block Party, in spite of the fact that it had to be rescheduled. COMMUNITY AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS - Mr. Bell Mr. Bell was not present; the Committee did not meet and there was no report. ZONING AND PLANNING - Ms. Jarret In Ms. Jarret’s absence, Ms. Popkin gave the following report: 1. Authorization to Advertise Ordinance Adding Lighting Regulations to the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance. Ms. Popkin said this ordinance controls light pollution, including glare, light trespass, and skyglow. The Zoning & Planning Committee did not have a quorum present at its July meeting, but the attending members recommended authorizing advertisement of the ordinance. Motion to advertise the ordinance (Popkin-Margolis) Mr. O’Brien asked if this is a new requirement or an update of existing requirements. Ms. Hyland said this is more of an update - it’s more thorough and technical than our current requirements. With no further comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. 2. Zoning Hearing Board Report. Ms. Popkin asked Ms. Hyland for this report. Ms. Hyland said that the Zoning Hearing Board will hold a public meeting on July 19, 2023, at 7 p.m., to hear the following application: 201-205 Doyle Street, requesting a variance allowing them to turn one of the commercial units into an apartment. It was noted this originally came in with multiple apartments and Council authorized the Solicitor to attend the hearing. The applicant downsized the application, Borough Council withdrew the authorization for the Solicitor, and this is now a minor change to one of the entranceways. There was no recommendation from the HARB members to send the Solicitor to this. 3. Historic & Architectural Review Board (HARB) Recommendations. Ms. Popkin that at its regular monthly meeting, the HARB recommended the following for approval as submitted: there were no sign applications; Building Applications: 189 South Main Street, exterior building renovations and pergola - approved as submitted on the condition that the picnic pavilion be gray 72 and not white as well as the trash receptacle bin and the fence will be black anodized aluminum, 163 East Ashland Street, two-car garage, and 80 North Hamilton Street - approved on the condition that the homeowner agrees to install 6” half round gutters in white with roof shanks, 4” wide white downspouts, remove the diverter, and the existing shingle roof to be replaced/repaired as needed. Ms. Popkin that the HARB recommended that Council approve the applications in accordance with HARB’s recommendations, and if Council wished to follow the Committee’s recommendation, it could do so by motion. (Popkin-Margolis) With no comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. 4. Code Enforcement Monthly Activity Report and 5. 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. Margolis: No meeting; no report. WATER UTILITY - Mr. Livrone Mr. Livrone said the Committee did not meet and he had no report. He did thank Staff for another fabulous job done in producing the Annual Water Quality Report. FINANCE/PENSION - Ms. Popkin Ms. Popkin noted that the Committee did meet, but there was no report. She called upon Ms. Brinker for the Finance Report. Ms. Brinker reported that Council was provided with a list of prepaid bills and a list of bills to be paid this evening. She said the total of all funds expended was $911,655.98. A motion was made to approve the report (Popkin-Frederick). 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: No meeting; 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 the report was provided. The monthly activity report showed there were 1041 incidents in the Borough in June 2023, and year-to-date, the Department spent $2,893,601.72, and were at 42.37% of their yearly budget. PRESIDENT’S REPORT Mr. O’Brien said that as mentioned earlier, the car show this past weekend appeared to be a huge success, with what seemed to be more people attending this year than the past few years, and the Thursday evening concert was well-attended even though it was hot that evening. 73 OLD BUSINESS: None. NEW BUSINESS: None. OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT: None. EXECUTIVE SESSION: None. ADJOURNMENT At 7:15 p.m., President O’Brien motioned to adjourn the meeting in memory of the lives lost and those injured this past weekend in Upper Makefield Township, seconded by Mr. Browne. The vote was called and the motion passed unanimously. Respectfully submitted, John H. Davis Borough Manager :sa 74