11/19/12 Perkasie Council Meeting

Council President Matt Aigeldinger reports for closed pre-meeting, claims it is just a planning meeting but will not allow resident in to public building to view meeting of public officials.  Also present at this particular pre-meeting were Mayor Hollenbach and VP Jim Purcell, and Borough manager Olpere.  If there is nothing to hide then why not invite public to witness?  It's not illegal without a quorum just not 100% transparency as we have been promised from Mr Aigeldinger.

Part 1 of Meeting- council is approached about creating a quality of life task force to help curb youth drug use in town.  Mayor Hollenbach reports on Chief Gura's report in regards to the Marino Shooting and says it is being reviewed and then will be presented to Borough Council and hopefully made public.

Part 2 of Meeting - recall bid for borough trash bags, vote on new power purchases, vote on businesses being allowed to connect to public electric for lighting events,   new appointment to Parks & Recreation board, resignation of Amanda Brooks, authorize solicitor to file action against Borough tenant for breach of lease, Pennridge FISH

Part 3 of Meeting - council addresses leaf collection concerns, resident questions connection between Perkasie Pride and Perkasie Regional Authority.  Executive session was held after the meeting.

Link to Philly Burbs story on the meeting

11/12/12 Community Outreach Meeting

This meeting was attended by Steve Pizzolo, Jim Ryder, and Justin Stottlar from council.  They mayor was there and also assistant manager Andrea Coaxum.

Here is a news article about the meeting.  Hope more residents show up at the next one, it is a great opportunity for dialogue!

By Thomas Celona
tcelona@montgomerynews.com 

Like it has been for months, the police shooting of a Quakertown man was a main topic of discussion at Perkasie Borough Council’s special constituent outreach meeting Tuesday, Nov. 13, with the mayor indicating an outside review is nearly complete.

Michael Marino Jr., 26, was shot and killed by a Perkasie police officer in Sellersville in July during a struggle in which the officers were attempting to restrain Marino. The shooting death of an unarmed man has sparked controversy in the community, with many questioning the justification for the use of deadly force.

Following the shooting, the Bucks County district attorney conducted an investigation, determining the shooting to be justifiable homicide, eliminating the possibility of criminal charges. The DA, however, did question some of the actions of the officers on scene.

The officers involved received counseling, including one who received counseling from the state police, and the officer who fired the shot underwent several psychological evaluations before returning to active duty, Mayor John Hollenbach said at the Nov. 13 meeting.

The next step in the investigation is for police Chief Joseph Gura to review the department’s policies, procedures and training in light of the July incident. News of that investigation has also sparked controversy among residents, with some questioning Gura’s ability to be impartial.
“That review is completed, but we are getting an outside source to review our policies, procedures and training,” Hollenbach said.

The outside review is being conducted by another police chief, but Hollenbach declined to identify who.

“It’s a very established chief,” borough council member James Ryder said, noting the chief is not connected with the borough or its insurance company.

That outside report is not yet complete but will hopefully be finished later this week, according to Hollenbach.

“His goal is to make our policies, procedures and training better,” Ryder said.
“I already know they’re looking at certain training opportunities,” Hollenbach said, but he declined to specify what type of training.

Ryder said the Marino family has given notification of intent to file a civil suit against the borough, but nothing has actually been filed to date.

Hollenbach’s report — which he said he was “sticking his neck out a bit” to do — came after both residents and council members complained about the lack of communication regarding the investigation.

Resident Andrew Rumbold said the point of council’s special constituent outreach meetings, which were also held July 10 and Sept. 11, was to create dialogue and allow council members to provide follow-up information to residents. While there had been dialogue, he said there had been no follow-up, as concerns about the shooting investigation were brought up at the prior two meetings.

“We haven’t heard any report on this police shooting. Nothing,” he said.

Ryder agreed with Rumbold, saying he had drafted a letter to both the mayor and police chief asking for the topic to be addressed at council’s Nov. 19 meeting.

“We have been waiting long enough,” he said. “Something needs to be done. We need a timetable of some type.”

After hearing Hollenbach’s report, however, Ryder said the mayor had addressed his questions.

Rumbold still criticized the lack of communication about the investigation.
“It’s not sticking your neck out; it’s communication,” he said. “That’s the way it’s supposed to be. ... I think the communication could have been a lot better.”

“It could have been done quicker, I’d agree with that,” Hollenbach said.

http://www.montgomerynews.com/articles/2012/11/15/perkasie_news_herald/news/doc50a45534691a8534746981.txt

11/4/12 Perkasie Council Committee Meeting

Unfortunately no video from the meeting is available.  The agenda is available here.

Few notes:
High praise was given to our public works and electric company from the public and the borough for their response during the recent storm.  Most residents only had a power outage of about 12 hours.

Perkasie Regional Authority (PRA) is attempting to use Council to force people into connecting to their water supply by claiming traces of TCE gas present a danger to 165 Perkasie residents who still have their own private wells. The EPA study that was done in 2005 is summarized here.  If it is such a problem- has the EPA been notified by the PRA?  Or does PRA simply want more customers to pay for the new $4 million facility they are building on Ridge Rd?  The one that will leave Pennridge FISH homeless.

Council is considering a request from Perkasie businesses to connect to the electric on the lampposts for special events. As long as it does not exceed the rated amperage they seem to be ok with this.

A youth delegate was appointed to the Parks & Recreation board.

Council held an executive session for a personnel matter and did not return after that.


A Public Utility meeting will be held Monday November 12th at 6pm at Boro Hall to discuss wholesale electric purchases.

The next Constituent Outreach Meeting will be held Tuesday November 13th at 7pm at Boro Hall. This is an opportunity to have an informal discussion between 3 members of Council and residents. 

Next Council meeting is Monday, November 19th 2012 at 7pm at Boro Hall

Article in Daily Intelligencer here.

Article in Perkasie News Herald here.  Note on this story: the Borough does not utilize ReadyNotifyPA, no alerts have been sent from the Boro through this system.  A resident brought this up during public forum.

Past and future meeting agendas and also meeting minutes are available on the Borough website here.

10/15/12 Council Meeting Video

Part 1

Part 2

Afterparty- locked doors

Article in Phillyburbs.com

10/1/12 Perkasie Committee Meeting

Jim Purcell arrives early for closed "pre-meeting"

Council President Matt Aigeldinger arrives for closed "pre-meeting"

Solicitor Nate Fox arrives for closed "pre-meeting", objects to being filmed in a public place claiming 2 party consent is required.

Public Meeting Part 1 of 4

Public Meeting Part 2 of 4

Public Meeting Part 3 of 4

Public Meeting Part 4 of 4

Camera battery dies at the end sorry!

Sept 17 2012 Council Meeting

There has been talk of secret meetings before each regular Council meeting by certain members of council along with manager Dan Olpere and solicitor Nate Fox.  Confirmed in the following video clips.  Wonder what is discussed in these secret meetings?

Regular Meeting Part 1:

Meeting Part 2:

Meeting Part 3:

9/11/12 Perkasie Constituent Outreach Meeting

Discussion centered on the police shooting of Michael Marino and the electric company

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Sept 4 2012 Borough Committee Meeting

Part1: Resident Susan Green speaks out against spending money to hire a Main St Manager.  Discussion on Walnut St bridge replacement in 2014 and closures to bike trail.  Applicant asks for preliminary approval for 3 store strip mall and Dunkin Donuts at Blooming Glen Rd & 5th Street.

Part 2: Continuation of Dunkin Donuts, Final approval for subdivision on Ridge Rd, Request to apply for grant for truck scales for police dept, consider the CDBG contract for 2012 and application for 2013 CDBG,

Part 3:   Councilperson Krantz tries to take Councilperson Stottlar to task for an alleged violation of Sunshine law, discussion on bringing DARE program back to local schools, discussion with youths about skate park in 2nd public forum.

Sept 4 Council Meeting!

Minutes below, hope to see you there!

Agenda for Council Committee Meetings of  September 4, 2012

1.      Meeting Convenes at 7:00 Council Meeting Room

2.      Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance-Matt Aigeldinger

3.      Attendance

4.      Public Forum

5.      Report from Perkasie Planning Commission

6.      Police Report

7.      Public Works Committee Meeting, Councilors: Jim Purcell, (Chair), Steve Algeo, Barbara Krantz, Suzanne Kravitz

A.     Superintendent's Report

B.     Bike Trail Walnut Street Bridge

C.     Consider 2013 Road Plan

D.     Trash Bag Bid Award

E.      Plumstead Township Request for Fire Police Personnel

F.      Other Business

8.      Public Utility Committee Meeting, Councilors: Jim Purcell, (Chair), Steve Algeo, Florence Frei, Matt Aigeldinger, Jim Ryder

A.     Superintendent's Report

B.     Other Business

9.      Planning and Zoning Committee Meeting, Councilors: Steve Algeo, (Chair), Steve Pizzollo, Florence Frei, Suzanne Kravitz, Jim Ryder

A.     Code Enforcement Officers Report

B.     Discuss Zoning Amendment Request – 5^th and Blooming Glen Road (Kratz Properties)

C.     Consider Revised and Updated Zoning Ordinance

D.     Green Ridge Estates-Final Subdivision Plan

E.      Other Business   

10.  Park and Recreation Committee Meeting, Councilors: Florence Frei, (Chair), Justin Stottlar, Matt Aigeldinger, Suzanne Kravitz

A.     Last Chance Dog Walk in Lenape Park

B.     Other Business

11.  Personnel and Policy Committee Meeting, Councilors: Barbara Krantz, (Chair), Jim Purcell, Steve Pizzollo, Florence Frei

A.     Reappointment of Youth Borough Councilor

B.     Announce Vacancy for Youth Park and Recreation Board Member

C.     E-Newsletter

D.     Other Business

12.  Finance Committee Meeting, Councilors: Steve Algeo, (Chair), Florence Frei, Barbara Krantz, Matt Aigeldinger, Steve Pizzollo

A.     Consider Grant for Truck Scales

B.     Other Business

13.  Economic Development Committee Meeting, Councilor: Barbara Krantz, (Chair), Jim Purcell, Matt Aigeldinger, Justin Stottlar

A.     Consider 2012 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Contract

B.     Consider 2013 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Application

C.     Other Business

14.  Other Business

15.  Public Forum    

16.  Press Forum

17.  Executive Session

18.  Adjournment

Next Meeting:     Borough Council, September 17, 2012 -7:00 PM       

Perkasie Borough Council agendas are available via our e-mail in advance of the meetings.  Send any message to: admin@perkasieborough.org.  The agendas are also available on our website at www.perkasieborough.org.

August 6 2012 Council Meeting

Video below, many residents and interested parties came out to show support for Michael Marino who was killed by a member of the Perkasie police department on June 9th.  More information is available here http://www.phillyburbs.com/my_town/pennridge/still-seeking-answers-in-perkasie/article_14a48b3d-6609-5fa7-8490-e8b73c46fa2f.html

Sorry about the poor audio quality, the acoustics in the boro hall are horrible. Please turn your volume all the way up to hear.

Aug 6 Council Meeting

Agenda is located here  https://docs.google.com/file/d/0By1-cYOid5CxT1h2S2ZLNGszVnc/edit

Hope to see residents there!

Perkasie "Visioning" Session

From the Intelligencer:

Perkasie is holding a special meeting at 7 p.m. Aug. 8 in borough hall, 620 W. Chestnut St., to work on an updated comprehensive plan. It will be a joint meeting of the borough council, planning commission and parks and recreation board.

The Bucks County Planning Commission, which is helping the borough prepare the plan, will discuss how it will use a visioning process to identify community concerns and issues.

Development of the new plan will take about a year and involve monthly meetings.

The second meeting, scheduled for September, will be town hall style and encourage public input.

Perkasie plans to answer the following questions as it revises its comprehensive plan: Where is the borough today? What are the trends for the future? Where does the borough want to be? How do we achieve our goals?

http://www.phillyburbs.com/my_town/pennridge/perkasie-plans-visioning-session/article_860ebb7c-4eab-5cb3-8c1c-115d56a0a752.html

Menlo Pool Petition

If you think that Menlo Pool should extend the summer hours until Labor Day please sign the petition located here

Instead of being open from 11am-8pm for recreational swim, the last week of August the pool is scheduled to be open from 4pm-8pm.  Pennridge does not begin school until after Labor Day which is Monday Sept 3.

Call Parks & Rec manager Josh at 215-257-5065

Should Council check up on Menlo Pool?

In light of recent events at the pool including midnight drinking parties, a near-drowing incident, and criticism from some residents about how the pool is being run; do you think our council should take more of an interest in this centerpiece of our town?  Or should they just put blind trust in a management that has shown some serious lapses in judgment?

At least one councilperson thinks that council should have no business at the pool other than recreation and criticized 2 others via email for taking an interest in the pool, accusing them of "covert action" and "spying on employees".  What do residents think?

I

Summer Concert Series

The Summer Concert Series is every Wednesday from 7-9pm in Menlo Park. Bring you lawnchairs and coolers and enjoy some music!  From the boro website regarding tonights performer:


A new addition to our summer concert series is an award-winning performer and the #1 Elvis impersonator in Pennsylvania, "Elvis" Brad Crum!  Come and hear the soul and sound of a legend!

7/16/12 Council Meeting

The meeting agenda can be found here . Council voted to deny changing N. 8th Street at Callowhill into a 1-way street after speaking with several neighbors and discussion at the past few meetings.

Council also voted to approve a paving project worth $212,000 to pave Third St from Market to Callowhill and Chestnut St from 5th to 7th.    

There was discussion on the borough's workers compensation dilemma.  They have been dropped by their current insurer because of excess of claims and Finance director Joe Berardi explained that after speaking with the borough's broker as well as another broker that the options are limited because of their claims experience.   Manager Dan Olpere said that the best option would be to go with DVIT who also writes the liability coverage for the borough and several times mentioned an additional discount of $5,000 that would be gained by having another policy with them.  Not once did anyone mention the cost.  Well according to an article published the next day in the Intelligencer found here  we will be paying an additional $20,000 next year for a total of $153,000.  The residents are adults and should be told the whole picture not simply have sunshine attempted to be blown into our bottoms.  Another indication of the failure of leadership that Perkasie Borough continues to have. 

July 2 2012 Council Meeting

Council under direction of President Aigeldinger held a 2nd public discussion on the proposed zoning ordinance to comply with County demands and the motion passed 7-2.  UN Agenda 21 foisted on our community for the sake of a few dollars. This is the same motion that failed 6-3 at the last meeting and the County sent a letter which did not clearly indicate how Perkasie's zoning ordinance on minimum size requirements for garden apartments constituted discrimination but council was bullied into a majority which approved it.  In fact if you read the words of the Assistant General Counsel for HUD in 1995 he clearly states there are in fact minimum size requirements for dwellings that fall under HUD guidelines.  So here we have a bureaucracy that on one hand says there must be a minimum size for dwellings but then attempts to force communities to do away with them using the carrot of grant dollars.  Only Councilpersons Stottlar and Ryder did their research and understood that this was not a good move for Perkasie.

Part 1 of 3

Part 2 of 3 - Discussion on putting security cameras at Menlo Pool.  Do you want cameras at your pool?  Or do you want better management?  Also discussion on making part of N 8th Street a one-way.  Several residents address council concerning drug crime in town and the Chief Gura responds.   Will council show leadership and direct the police to initiate another Town Watch program among residents?  Councilwoman Frei was a big part of this program back in the day and we are waiting for her to step up and show some leadership.

Part 3 of 3

June 18 2012 Council Meeting

Council met last night in the wake of the police shooting and the near-drowning incident at Menlo Aquatics center.  They wisely decided not to comment or discuss the shooting until all the facts were in and the Bucks County DA issued a report.  The incident at the Aquatics center received a little attention with council members agreeing to visit the pool on a future date to review procedures especially the lazy river which is where the incident took place.

You can watch video of the meeting below in 2 parts, sorry for the sound quality the accoustics and PA system at borough hall leave a lot to be desired.  What do you expect for $4.3 Million renovation?

Part 2 has an interesting comment from Councilperson Steve Pizzollo at the 20:13 mark.  A resident had spoken up in public comment at the beginning of the meeting about an email sent by another resident concerning the near-drowning incident at the pool and serious concerns about the safety plan and employees of the pool- that other resident was unable to make the meeting.  Pizzollo commented that if there were a problem at the pool that the room would have been packed and said "this one individual complaint isn't even worthwhile paying attention to"

In other business there was a tabling of the public hearing on the proposed zoning ordinance amendment related to the Federal Fair Housing act because a letter from the Bucks Co planning commission had only been received a few hours before the meeting.  The county had previously stated that Perkasie needed to change its definition of "family" and also remove the minimum size requirements for garden and conversion apartments to comply with the Fair Housing Act and be eligible to continue to receive grant money.

Also the borough Master electric plan presented in May was approved.  This sets a timeframe for advance purchases of power in blocks to help diversify the purchasing and hopefully help level prices in the future.

Council voted to spend $600 on upgrades to the bike path crossing at Callowhill Street. Even though it is state law that drivers have to yield to pedestrians in any crosswalk there was comment made that bikers often ride right across.

Next council meeting is Monday July 2.  Please remember to sign up for our email group to have the agenda forwarded the Friday before the meeting, just enter your email in the box on the top right of the blog.

Proposed Master Electric Plan

Borough council is considering a new master electric plan which aims to diversify purchases on a timeline to avoid drastic rate fluctuations like the 68% increase in 2008.  Here is an article from the Intelligencer.

While on the surface it sounds like a good idea, the notion that the borough would continue to purchase power through AMP Ohio seems like a bad idea since this is the middleman company that we signed onto the bad deal in 2008 with.

Here is a letter to the editor from resident questioning the wisdom of the Borough in this plan - Denied Free Market Choices 

Here is video of the Utility meeting on May 14

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Councilmember Kravitz Uncensored!

Councilwoman Suzanne Kravitz approached residents after the April 16 meeting and admonished them for exercising their 1st amendment rights because of the content of their signs.  Is this how we expect our councilmembers to behave?

Perkasie Councilmember Krantz Walk of Shame

Video outside Boro Hall before the April 16 meeting of Council.  A few residents are peacefully assembled outside with signs voicing their displeasure at the Sunshine Law violations that occurred.  Councilwoman Barbara Krantz misuses police resources for her own little dog and pony show.

Perkasie violates PA Sunshine Act

"Perkasie Council committed a “double violation” of the state’s open meeting law for gathering behind closed doors to discuss the possibility of selling a borough building and giving a company a break on electric rates, according to a Bucks County grand jury investigation released Thursday."

  Read the rest of the story here including a copy of the grand jury report 

Here is the edited video of the 30 minute press conference with Special Guest appearance by Perkasie solicitor Nate Fox from Begley Carlin Mandio law firm.

















Here is the full unedited version