Borough Council - Rescheduled From 2/16/26

February 23, 2026 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, Robert Kinney, Dennis Livrone, Connor O’Hanlon, and Elizabeth Wyckoff. Also present were Junior Councilperson Thomas O’Reilly, Mayor Noni West, Borough Solicitor Andrew Griffin, Borough Engineer Jim Dougherty, Central Bucks Regional Police Department Police Chief Karl Knott, Borough Manager John Davis, and Planning and Zoning Director Karyn Hyland. Council Member Ben Bell was absent and Assistant Manager/Finance Director Caroline Brinker was attending a Fanny Chapman Pool Board meeting. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE PUBLIC HEARING Intermunicipal Transfer of Liquor License No. 29-39, MAG Foods, Inc., Bristol Township to the property at 50 North Main Street, Doylestown Borough President O’Brien turned the meeting over to the Borough Solicitor. Solicitor Griffin introduced himself, as did Edward McHugh, Esquire, attorney for MAG Enterprises and the applicants Michael and Julie Grafenstein, who were present. The Grafenstein’s son, Michael, was also in attendance. Mr. Griffin commented that at 5:30 p.m. this evening, they found out that there was an issue with the court reporter. He noted, however, that the meeting was being electronically recorded and if it became necessary to reduce that recording to a transcript, they would do so. Mr. Griffin introduced exhibits to which Mr. McHugh had no objections. No one from the public asked to speak on the application. The applicants were sworn in. Mr. McHugh presented the application by way of attorney presentation and Mr. Grafenstein then answered questions posed by Council Members. Mr. Griffin then said that if Council was so inclined, they could make a motion to approve Resolution No. 2026-4 for the Intermunicipal Liquor License Transfer Application of MAG Foods Incorporate to permit the transfer of Pennsylvania Liquor License No. R2939 from Bristol Township to 50 North Main, Doylestown Borough. Motion to approve and adopt Resolution No. 2026-4 (O’Brien-Popkin). Hearing no comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. The Public Hearing concluded. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS: None. 273 APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. O’Brien called for a motion to approve the January 26, 2026 Council Meeting Minutes (Kinney-Browne). Hearing no comments from Council, Staff, or the public, a vote was called, and the minutes were unanimously approved. MAYOR’S REPORT Tonight, I want to extend sincere thanks to our Public Works Team. They worked through last night to clear our streets during this snowstorm and spent weeks clearing and hauling snow from the previous storm. This has been an unusually harsh winter. Public Works Director Dave Burger ensured we had enough salt to keep our roads safe by arranging a special mission for his team to secure additional supplies when shipments could not travel up the Delaware River because it was frozen. While this winter has been rougher than usual, last year brought record-breaking temperatures. Through the summer heat, our Public Works team repaired streets, maintained parks, and kept our Borough running. They do demanding work with professionalism and teamwork. We are grateful for their dedication. This evening, I also want to thank our Council’s Public Safety Committee, our Solicitor Andrew Griffin, and John Davis and Karyn Hyland for their thoughtful work on tonight’s consideration of an ordinance restricting the sale of Kratom and Hemp- derived cannabinoid products. These products present real risks of dependence and addiction, particularly among our youth. Thank you for your diligence, your careful review, and for listening to the voices of our residents as you address this important public health issue. On behalf of the Borough, I thank you all for your service and commitment to keeping our community safe. Noni West, Mayor PUBLIC SAFETY - Mr. Browne 1. Amendment to Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement Establishing the Central Bucks Regional Police Department. Mr. Browne stated that Chalfont and New Britain Boroughs have already approved this amendment which makes only minor changes to the current agreement including voting procedures, remote meeting participation, acquisition of real estate, and the budget calendar, along with correcting some section numbering errors. He said the Borough Solicitor reviewed the amendment and has no concerns. Following the recommendation of the Committee, a motion was made to adopt the Amendment to Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement Establishing the Central Bucks Regional Police Department (Browne-Kinney). Hearing no comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. 2. Authorization to Advertise Ordinance Raising the Fifteen (15)-Minute Limit Parking Fine. Mr. Browne stated this ordinance raises the fine for exceeding the fifteen-minute parking 274 space limit from $10 to $50. He said the increase is necessary to provide a legitimate deterrent and to align the fine with other similar parking fines. Following the recommendation of the Committee, a motion was made to advertise the ordinance (Browne-Popkin). Mr. Kinney asked how long the current fine has been in place. Mr. Davis said he believed it to be the original fine set in the nineteen-nineties. He said these spots were created later and it had own section so that when the process occurred to increase fines over the last 25 years, this has kind of been orphaned. Mr. Davis said that the parking staff informed us that there are some folks who are keenly aware that the fine is a bit of a get out of jail free card – those folks are not currently deterred, but now would be. Mr. O’Brien commented that this also brings it in line for the metered parking spaces. Mr. Livrone asked if this is a frequently violated situation. Mr. Davis replied that it was less than 40 times last year. Hearing no further comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. 3. Authorization to Advertise Ordinance Restricting the Sale of Kratom and Delta-8 THC. Mr. Browne stated that this ordinance restricts the sale of Kratom and Delta-8 THC to persons under twenty-one years of age and prohibits sales within one thousand feet of schools and playgrounds. Following the recommendation of the Committee, a motion was made to advertise the ordinance (Browne-O’Hanlon). Mr. Kinney echoed the Mayor’s earlier words for the commendable work that Staff and our Solicitor did in putting this ordinance together. Ms. Jarret said we are really grateful that a member of the public who was in recovery came to a Zoning and Hearing Committee meeting and brought to our attention how dangerous and unregulated this substance is. A member of the public asked if this was only regarding Delta-8. Solicitor Griffin replied that there are other extracts and stimulants listed, so it is expanded beyond Delta-8. Hearing no further comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. 4. Doylestown Fire Company Report. Mr. Browne noted the company had 30 responses in January including their extended standby from the last storm and they are currently wrapping up from their standby for this storm. The report was provided in Council’s packet and is available to the public by following the packet link noted on this meeting’s Agenda. 275 PUBLIC WORKS AND ADMINISTRATION - Mr. Kinney Mr. Kinney reported that the Committee did not meet this month and 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. COMMUNITY AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS - Mr. Bell In Mr. Bell’s absence, Mr. O’Brien stated that the Committee did not meet. 2026 Farmers’ Market License Agreement. Mr. Browne stated that this agreement provides for the Saturday morning Farmers’ Market on Hamilton Street by the Bucks County Foodshed Alliance. All provisions of the agreement are unchanged from previous years. Following the recommendation of the Committee, a motion was made to approve the 2026 Farmers’ Market License Agreement (Browne-Popkin). Ms. Popkin commented that she was happy the market is staying where it is. Mr. O’Brien said he thought a lot of people would join her in that. Hearing no further comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. Mr. Davis remarked that opening day for the market is April 18. ZONING AND PLANNING - Ms. Jarret 1. Zoning Hearing Board Report. Ms. Jarret asked Ms. Hyland for this report. Ms. Hyland stated that the Zoning Hearing Board met on February 10, 2026 and heard four applications: 315 North Street, the American Legion Post #210, requesting zoning relief to allow an internally illuminated monument sign within residential district; 198 Shewell Avenue, proposal for a second- floor addition that would also act as a covered porch area; 679 North Chubb Drive, proposal of a second-floor addition on top of the existing garage and a new two-story addition to the side of the garage; 23 Easthill Drive, for zoning relief to extend a previously granted variance for a home addition. Ms. Hyland stated that all four applications were approved. 2. Historic & Architectural Review Board Recommendations. Ms. Jarret reported that at its 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: Sign Applications: 95 North Broad Street, accepted as submitted subject to the condition that the applicant add vegetation around the signposts; and, Building Applications: 20-22 East Oakland Avenue, windows; 112 Mary Street, new contraction, accepted as submitted or, if the applicant wishes, that the rear addition roof be changed to match the roof in of the front of the home; and, 150 East State Street, siding, accepted as submitted, with the repair of the third-floor cedar and the addition of a drip-capped water table board at the top of the second floor, and the Hardie siding should be smooth with the same reveal as the existing cedar. 276  Ms. Jarret said that the Zoning & Planning Committee reviewed the applications and recommends that Council approve the foregoing applications as recommended by the HARB. A motion was so made (Jarret-Popkin). Hearing no comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called. The motion passed unanimously. 3. and 4. Code Enforcement Monthly Activity Report and 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. Proposal for Additional Concerts at Broad Commons Park. Ms. Wyckoff said this is for an expansion of the popular concerts at Broad Commons for May 2026. Following the recommendation of the Committee, a motion was made to expand the concert plan for May 2026 (Wyckoff-O’Hanlon). Hearing no comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. 2. DAA and Central Bucks Softball Lease Agreements. Ms. Wyckoff said one agreement is for use of Veterans Memorial, Burpee, and William E. News Parks for Doylestown Athletic Association, and the other is for Plumstead Softball Association d/b/a Central Bucks Softball Association. Following the recommendation of the Committee, a motion was made to approve the agreements (Wyckoff- O’Hanlon). Mr. Kinney asked if there were any changes in pricing or anything from prior years. Mr. Davis indicated that the previous agreement dated back to the 1970s and it bore no resemblance as to how the Borough interacts with the leagues in terms of repair costs, maintenance, and such, so a thorough review was undertaken. He also noted that softball was taken over by a new entity which is an arrangement between the old DAA softball and Plumstead Softball which is called Central Bucks Softball Association at Neis and Burpee; DAA now runs out of Maplewood Park. Mr. Davis said the fields remain free of charge to youth organizations, with the Borough providing maintenance and field preparation. The organizations do the final preparation consisting of lining the fields and things of that nature. Mr. Davis said improving the bases, capital costs to improve the fields, whether its sheds, dugouts, or new fencing, and things of that nature are responsibility of the leagues themselves with approval by the Borough. Hearing no further comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. Mr. Kinney about a resolution on another matter to which Mr. Davis stated the resolution was being tabled until March. WATER UTILITY - Mr. Livrone Mr. Livrone reported that the Committee did meet, but there were no actionable items. He commented that they had an extended discussion regarding the recent water main breaks and he 277 asked the Water Operations Director Matozzo how much time they’ve been spending on repairing those. He said Mr. Matozzo promptly responded that from January 13 through February 10, not including himself, the four-main crew assigned to each repair logged 60 hours, which is 240 total man hours. Those hours were in addition to the ongoing snow removal operations. Mr. Matozzo’s response also stated that if any recognition of Staff was being done, he highlighted Amy Kramer for proactively identifying vacant properties experiencing burst pipes, “her diligence enabled us to promptly notify property owners and significantly reduce potential property damage; ... her efforts also underscore the value of the metering upgrades implemented over the past few years.” Mr. Livrone recognized all efforts of the Water Department and included recognition of the Public Works Department for their efforts as well. FINANCE/PENSION - Ms. Popkin Ms. Popkin stated that the Finance Committee did meet this month and the only item she had was the Finance Report. She reported that the report showing payable and payroll had been provided in Council’s packet. Ms. Popkin said that the total for all funds was $974,075.08. A motion was made to approve the report (Popkin-Jarret). With no comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called, and the motion passed unanimously. PERSONNEL COMMITTEE - Mr. O’Brien 1. Appointments to Various Volunteer Boards. Mr. O’Brien said that on January 9 and February 3, 2026, the Personnel Committee met to interview candidates to fill vacancies on various Borough Boards. At the conclusion of those interviews and upon discussion, the Personnel Committee is recommending the following appointments: Board/Commission Applicant Term Environmental Advisory Board John Thomas Partial Term, 02/2026-12/31/2027 Environmental Advisory Board Emma Jenkins-Long Full 3-Year Term, 02/2026-12/31/2028 Fanny Chapman Pool Board Alan Braverman Full 3-Year Term, 02/2026-12/31/2028 Fanny Chapman Pool Board Sarah Yakubic Full 3-Year Term, 02/2026-12/31/2028 Historical & Architectural Review Board Seth Weiner Full 4-Year Term, 02/2026-12/31/2029 Planning Commission Charles Corey Full 4-Year Term, 02/2026-12/31/2029 Student Board Members Fanny Chapman Pool Board Aubrey Dwulet-Brady May 2026-April 2027 Historical & Architectural Review Board Jack Moore May 2026-April 2027 Junior Councilperson Madeleine Moore September 2026-May 2027 Following the recommendation of the Committee, a motion was made to make the foregoing appointments (O’Brien-Browne). Hearing no comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. 278 PROFESSIONALS’ REPORTS Engineer’s Report - Mr. Dougherty: No report. Solicitor's Report - Mr. Griffin: No report. Central Bucks Regional Police Department (CBRPD) Activities Report. The Police Activity Report provided in Council’s packet for January 2026 indicated that were 832 incidents in the Borough and year-to-date, the Department had spent $445,484.33 and were at 5.48% of their yearly budget. PRESIDENT’S REPORT Mr. O’Brien had no report, but to add to the comments previously made, said that while the work was being done on those water main breaks, the guys were fed by Doylestown Hospital, whom he thanked. He said even though the hospital is not in the Borough, they are close by and we do rely them. OLD BUSINESS: None. NEW BUSINESS 1. Consideration of Resolution No. 2026-3 Authorizing Real Estate Tax Collector to Appoint a Deputy Real Estate Tax Collector. Mr. Davis said that this resolution authorizes Michelle Crunkleton, the Borough’s Real Estate Tax Collector, to appoint Nicole Percetti as Deputy Real Estate Tax Collector. He noted that Ms. Percetti was appointed as the Deputy Tax Collector the last time we did this and she acts only if the Ms. Crunkleton becomes incapacitated. Mr. Davis commented that Ms. Crunkleton was present at the meeting. Following the recommendation of the Committee, a motion was made authorizing the appointment of Nicole Percetti as Deputy Real Estate Tax Collector (Jarret-Wyckoff). Mr. Livrone asked if this was something new as he didn’t recall it. Mr. Davis it was done in 2022. Ms. Crunkleton commented that this is actually required by tax collection law and she felt it was a good practice to have someone stand in if necessary. Ms. Popkin asked how the deputy is paid. Mr. Davis stated the amount paid to the tax collector is set by Council. Ms. Crunkleton agreed and said she would pay the deputy from that amount, pro rated on what had to be done and how long – it would be a transfer of funds from her to Ms. Percetti. Hearing no further comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. 2. Mr. O’Hanlon commented on events that happened in Quakertown on February 20, to stay in solidarity with the students who were arrested while exercising their First Amendment Rights. He said as of tonight, those students were still in custody and his hope is that justice would be served and the rights of the students protected. Mr. O’Hanlon thought an investigation by the DA was underway. 279  3. Mr. Livrone reported on the February 20, 2026 Dart meeting. He said they meet quarterly and he and Mayor West attend. He noted one thing new this year is that Chair Lou White and Jim Raymond, CEO of Bucks County Transport that runs the Dart, prepared a one-page “highlights” page for 2025. He said he would forward that to all Council so they can get a better feel for all the great stuff Dart does, along with the ridership chart that Dart prepares. Mr. Livorne said they also discussed each municipality following up with legislators regarding funding because funding comes from the state, county, and the municipality. He thought BCT would be preparing the letter. Mr. Livrone said the next meeting is May 15 here at Borough Hall. He said he and Ms. West will be following up with Tim Brennan about the appropriations moving forward because he thought June is the time. OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT: None. EXECUTIVE SESSION: None. ADJOURNMENT At 8:00 p.m., Mr. O’Brien called for a motion to adjourn the meeting (Browne-Kinney). Mr. O’Brien called the vote and the motion passed unanimously. Respectfully submitted, John H. Davis Borough Manager :sa 280