1
00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:44,549
[laughter]

2
00:00:44,559 --> 00:00:47,200
Good afternoon everybody.

3
00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:49,039
I would like to call the committee of

4
00:00:49,039 --> 00:00:52,640
the whole council meeting September 9th,

5
00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:57,110
2026.

6
00:00:57,120 --> 00:01:01,359
Before we stand, earlier today,

7
00:01:01,359 --> 00:01:05,360
our burl said goodbye to Charlie Dickson

8
00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:09,360
who was a fixture in our community and a

9
00:01:09,360 --> 00:01:12,880
proud supporter of Pottstown.

10
00:01:12,880 --> 00:01:15,680
on behalf of Burough Council and Madame

11
00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:18,880
Mayor, our thoughts

12
00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:22,960
are with his family and all of us

13
00:01:22,960 --> 00:01:27,439
knew and and all of us that knew him.

14
00:01:27,439 --> 00:01:30,960
Please join me in a moment of silence

15
00:01:30,960 --> 00:01:53,990
followed by the pledge.

16
00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:56,079
Thank you.

17
00:01:56,079 --> 00:01:59,119
I pledge algiance to the flag of the

18
00:01:59,119 --> 00:02:01,840
United States of America and to the

19
00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:04,960
republic for which it stands, one nation

20
00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:08,160
under God, indivisible, with liberty and

21
00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:10,160
justice for all.

22
00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:22,949
>> Thank you.

23
00:02:22,959 --> 00:02:25,920
Okay, I got infrastructure and

24
00:02:25,920 --> 00:02:28,720
transportation while I have you council.

25
00:02:28,720 --> 00:02:30,560
>> Yeah. Um, so there are no meetings for

26
00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:32,239
either one, but I did want to point out

27
00:02:32,239 --> 00:02:34,480
that part has been sharing some of their

28
00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:36,640
data on social media on Facebook from

29
00:02:36,640 --> 00:02:38,560
their community surveys and there's some

30
00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:39,760
really interesting information there

31
00:02:39,760 --> 00:02:43,040
that we as a as a body should begin

32
00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:45,519
considering. Um, but more more

33
00:02:45,519 --> 00:02:47,040
information forthcoming.

34
00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:49,920
>> Okay. Thank you. Um, ordinance review

35
00:02:49,920 --> 00:02:51,760
committee.

36
00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:54,876
Okay.

37
00:02:54,886 --> 00:02:55,120
» [snorts]

38
00:02:55,120 --> 00:02:57,360
>> economic development and business

39
00:02:57,360 --> 00:03:01,040
liaison paid executive director Peggy

40
00:03:01,040 --> 00:03:03,360
Lee Clark. And while you up there, do

41
00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:05,519
you mind doing land bank report, please?

42
00:03:05,519 --> 00:03:08,879
Not at all. Thank you. Thank you.

43
00:03:08,879 --> 00:03:10,800
Good evening, council president,

44
00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:14,080
counselors, madame mayor. I'd like to

45
00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:16,000
take a moment to thank Burough Council

46
00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:18,239
for its continued support of economic

47
00:03:18,239 --> 00:03:21,200
development in Pottstown over the years.

48
00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:23,440
One example has been council's support

49
00:03:23,440 --> 00:03:26,000
for the IPIC Pottstown banners, which

50
00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:28,000
have helped the business community

51
00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:30,799
present a unified and positive message

52
00:03:30,799 --> 00:03:33,040
about our burrow.

53
00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:35,599
The Pottstown Area Economic Development

54
00:03:35,599 --> 00:03:37,760
Board is aware of recent public

55
00:03:37,760 --> 00:03:40,080
discussion about alternative uses for

56
00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:42,080
the banner space.

57
00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:45,200
We understand burrow council retains

58
00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:47,840
responsibility for determining how the

59
00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:49,840
public space can best serve the

60
00:03:49,840 --> 00:03:51,440
community.

61
00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:54,080
The paid board therefore voted

62
00:03:54,080 --> 00:03:57,599
unanimously to authorize me to publicly

63
00:03:57,599 --> 00:04:00,799
communicate that while we sincerely

64
00:04:00,799 --> 00:04:03,360
appreciate council support, we would

65
00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:05,920
fully support repurposing the space

66
00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:07,840
should council determine that another

67
00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:10,159
use would be better meet Pottstown's

68
00:04:10,159 --> 00:04:12,159
current needs.

69
00:04:12,159 --> 00:04:14,799
There is no doubt that a strong common

70
00:04:14,799 --> 00:04:17,040
desire exists among residents,

71
00:04:17,040 --> 00:04:19,919
businesses, community organizations, and

72
00:04:19,919 --> 00:04:22,160
elected officials to continue to

73
00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:24,320
strengthen this town to reach its full

74
00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:26,720
potential.

75
00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:29,199
Paid is a committed community partner

76
00:04:29,199 --> 00:04:31,360
prepared to explore new and creative

77
00:04:31,360 --> 00:04:33,440
ways to promote Pottstown and its

78
00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:35,280
business community as part of that

79
00:04:35,280 --> 00:04:39,120
effort. Again, we thank Burl Council for

80
00:04:39,120 --> 00:04:41,199
its continued support and hope this

81
00:04:41,199 --> 00:04:43,759
position provides greater flexibility as

82
00:04:43,759 --> 00:04:46,639
council considers future possibilities

83
00:04:46,639 --> 00:04:52,070
for those polls.

84
00:04:52,080 --> 00:04:55,600
So, I just have two other things. Um, 30

85
00:04:55,600 --> 00:04:59,120
North Hover has had its permits issued

86
00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:03,120
and it is getting ready to frame. So

87
00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:05,280
they will be moving on with that

88
00:05:05,280 --> 00:05:07,440
residential project.

89
00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:12,400
Um Fedlancc is this Friday. 28% of those

90
00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:14,320
attendees are new attendees. They've

91
00:05:14,320 --> 00:05:18,479
never been before, which is great. 77%

92
00:05:18,479 --> 00:05:20,880
of people attending are from outside of

93
00:05:20,880 --> 00:05:23,600
the burrow. Of that 77%,

94
00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:27,039
13% are 1946.

95
00:05:27,039 --> 00:05:28,960
Why do we care about these numbers? We

96
00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:31,919
care about these numbers because they

97
00:05:31,919 --> 00:05:34,800
support the business community and they

98
00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:38,000
are here to enjoy Pottstown in a

99
00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:41,440
positive light. So it is great way to

100
00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:43,919
market Pottstown and understand what we

101
00:05:43,919 --> 00:05:47,600
all know about how great this town is.

102
00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:49,600
And we had such an event this past

103
00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:51,520
weekend.

104
00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:54,560
So, uh, not only did downtown do very

105
00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:57,600
well, Sly Fox, record numbers, talked to

106
00:05:57,600 --> 00:05:59,280
the businesses when I was here on

107
00:05:59,280 --> 00:06:02,080
Saturday, there were record numbers of

108
00:06:02,080 --> 00:06:05,680
sales by our business community. And so,

109
00:06:05,680 --> 00:06:08,240
without further ado, I'd like to give

110
00:06:08,240 --> 00:06:13,999
Jamie or the mic.

111
00:06:14,009 --> 00:06:18,469
[applause]

112
00:06:18,479 --> 00:06:20,319
Thank you for that. And thank you to the

113
00:06:20,319 --> 00:06:22,400
town, the every department in the

114
00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:25,039
burough, public works, the Boy Scouts,

115
00:06:25,039 --> 00:06:28,479
every single person in town. Um, we knew

116
00:06:28,479 --> 00:06:29,680
it was going to be bigger. We knew it

117
00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:31,199
was going to be more popular. Pottstown

118
00:06:31,199 --> 00:06:34,000
is a name known now throughout the car

119
00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:36,160
community. And I brought the magazine

120
00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:37,759
that is on sale currently in

121
00:06:37,759 --> 00:06:39,759
supermarkets across Europe where you

122
00:06:39,759 --> 00:06:41,520
fold the front page out and it has a map

123
00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:44,319
of Pottstown in it as the trifold. So if

124
00:06:44,319 --> 00:06:45,840
anyone would like a copy, I'm

125
00:06:45,840 --> 00:06:51,510
>> That's nice. Yes, absolutely. [applause]

126
00:06:51,520 --> 00:06:54,240
I'm overwhelmed. Thank you. [laughter]

127
00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:56,960
Um, yeah, Friday was exceptional. We for

128
00:06:56,960 --> 00:06:59,440
the businesses our we worked with Bid

129
00:06:59,440 --> 00:07:01,520
and we really implemented a new traffic

130
00:07:01,520 --> 00:07:03,199
strategy to try and make it safer for

131
00:07:03,199 --> 00:07:04,720
there and easier to hang out with the

132
00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:09,440
businesses and it was unbelievable. Um,

133
00:07:09,440 --> 00:07:11,440
it did lead on to Saturday night where

134
00:07:11,440 --> 00:07:12,960
for about 2 hours there was a lot of

135
00:07:12,960 --> 00:07:15,919
noise after 10 p.m. Um, we are angry.

136
00:07:15,919 --> 00:07:18,160
Um, I denounce it. We have gone on

137
00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:19,680
social media. We have asked for people

138
00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:21,919
to report them. I have walked into

139
00:07:21,919 --> 00:07:23,759
police station myself and reported one

140
00:07:23,759 --> 00:07:27,680
car um who was not the type of car that

141
00:07:27,680 --> 00:07:30,400
is able to register, but we have their

142
00:07:30,400 --> 00:07:32,560
name. We have the evidence for them and

143
00:07:32,560 --> 00:07:34,639
we've submitted a report for that. So,

144
00:07:34,639 --> 00:07:36,639
we are

145
00:07:36,639 --> 00:07:38,319
I not to bring up something negative.

146
00:07:38,319 --> 00:07:39,840
This is something I really believe in.

147
00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:42,720
Um and so it's not acceptable. We don't

148
00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:44,240
want it. We haven't really had it before

149
00:07:44,240 --> 00:07:45,680
and we don't want to have it again and

150
00:07:45,680 --> 00:07:48,560
we know it's part and parcel. And not to

151
00:07:48,560 --> 00:07:51,440
make excuses, but if there's 20 people

152
00:07:51,440 --> 00:07:54,000
out of 20,000, whatever the number ends

153
00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:56,080
up being as a estimate, um it's still

154
00:07:56,080 --> 00:07:58,879
not okay. Um I live on the 800 block. I

155
00:07:58,879 --> 00:08:02,639
asked my neighbors the next morning, did you hear anything? And they said no,

156
00:08:02,639 --> 00:08:04,400
but I know we have residents right here.

157
00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:07,680
So, I am hopefully visibly upset about

158
00:08:07,680 --> 00:08:10,160
that. Um, and we've talked to the police

159
00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:11,840
already and debriefed about next year

160
00:08:11,840 --> 00:08:14,080
what we can do

161
00:08:14,080 --> 00:08:16,319
not only better cuz if you see the

162
00:08:16,319 --> 00:08:18,160
videos, we were out there, you see our

163
00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:20,560
yellow vest, etc. Um, moving on to

164
00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:21,919
Sunday. Oh my gosh, the town looked

165
00:08:21,919 --> 00:08:25,440
amazing. Um, it it was just phenomenal.

166
00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:27,520
Um, I love one quote from a resident,

167
00:08:27,520 --> 00:08:29,840
one of my neighbors. Normally, we we

168
00:08:29,840 --> 00:08:31,360
look down in Pstown when we walk.

169
00:08:31,360 --> 00:08:32,959
Sometimes we look for a crack in the

170
00:08:32,959 --> 00:08:35,599
sidewalk. We look for whatever might be

171
00:08:35,599 --> 00:08:37,919
there. um maybe we don't always make eye

172
00:08:37,919 --> 00:08:40,320
contact in the evening and for low show

173
00:08:40,320 --> 00:08:42,640
everyone looks up they look up proud

174
00:08:42,640 --> 00:08:44,399
they look up to meet people they look up

175
00:08:44,399 --> 00:08:46,480
at the architecture and that one really

176
00:08:46,480 --> 00:08:50,080
hits me so um yeah I heard our genttos

177
00:08:50,080 --> 00:08:51,680
sold out of pizza bases I have to go

178
00:08:51,680 --> 00:08:53,839
over in a moment and uh say thanks to

179
00:08:53,839 --> 00:08:56,000
them um but to everyone just just thank

180
00:08:56,000 --> 00:08:58,320
you to the town I I thank you for

181
00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:00,000
putting out the patience of the traffic

182
00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:01,839
and everything um it's greatly

183
00:09:01,839 --> 00:09:04,880
appreciated and to the library I think

184
00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:07,680
the number has come out with our donor

185
00:09:07,680 --> 00:09:09,920
match to about 13 and a half thousand to

186
00:09:09,920 --> 00:09:16,710
their campaign. Um [applause]

187
00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:19,120
» um they physically ran out of time

188
00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:20,480
because they [laughter] they couldn't

189
00:09:20,480 --> 00:09:22,160
print the license plate fast enough to

190
00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:23,760
get everyone done. So we're already kind

191
00:09:23,760 --> 00:09:25,680
of brainstorming what more can we do for

192
00:09:25,680 --> 00:09:28,399
that. Um North Coventry Fireh Hall with

193
00:09:28,399 --> 00:09:30,640
their fundraiser as well um they were

194
00:09:30,640 --> 00:09:32,240
turning people away. There was so many

195
00:09:32,240 --> 00:09:34,800
people trying to go in and they do it by

196
00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:36,560
selling food. you can buy your hot dogs

197
00:09:36,560 --> 00:09:40,240
kasa etc. Um I'm going to let us get on

198
00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:41,600
because this is a long meeting but

199
00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:43,440
really thank you to every single person

200
00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:45,360
in Pottstown. I think we doubled the

201
00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:47,680
population for the weekend and people

202
00:09:47,680 --> 00:09:49,279
went home around the world and have been

203
00:09:49,279 --> 00:09:51,839
sending such beautiful lovely messages.

204
00:09:51,839 --> 00:09:53,839
Um we have a lot of them saved but I I

205
00:09:53,839 --> 00:09:56,080
won't share them. And this the first

206
00:09:56,080 --> 00:09:58,080
time we've received an email from a

207
00:09:58,080 --> 00:10:00,160
local citizen other than saying thanks

208
00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:02,080
about the noise. And so to that one

209
00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:03,680
person, I genuinely thank them for

210
00:10:03,680 --> 00:10:08,880
taking the time to email. Um, and I I'm single out the one out of the

211
00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:11,200
thousand positive, but it's so important

212
00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:16,000
to us. Um, so yeah, we look forward to working with everyone again next year

213
00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:17,600
and and to every department. I can't

214
00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:19,440
list you all, but thank you.

215
00:10:19,440 --> 00:10:19,839
>> So,

216
00:10:19,839 --> 00:10:22,320
>> hey Jamie. [applause]

217
00:10:22,320 --> 00:10:25,680
Hey Jamie. Jamie. Jamie.

218
00:10:25,680 --> 00:10:27,519
>> Jamie. Sorry.

219
00:10:27,519 --> 00:10:30,160
>> Tremendous job. Question for you. What

220
00:10:30,160 --> 00:10:32,560
came up to me is is that would it be

221
00:10:32,560 --> 00:10:34,720
possible? You said you had a lot of

222
00:10:34,720 --> 00:10:36,160
registrants that you couldn't put in

223
00:10:36,160 --> 00:10:39,440
there because you had not enough space.

224
00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:41,440
Is there a possibility that we could

225
00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:43,680
possibly make this the world's largest,

226
00:10:43,680 --> 00:10:47,279
longest car show? Do we have the do we

227
00:10:47,279 --> 00:10:49,200
have the I know we have the space on

228
00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:51,279
High Street because they were at my

229
00:10:51,279 --> 00:10:52,800
house.

230
00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:53,200
>> Okay.

231
00:10:53,200 --> 00:10:55,279
>> So to to that we have not increased

232
00:10:55,279 --> 00:10:57,600
registration. Um it sells out very

233
00:10:57,600 --> 00:11:00,160
quickly. people know when it goes live.

234
00:11:00,160 --> 00:11:02,160
We have reached our limit of how many

235
00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:04,959
cars we can park in a few hours. And

236
00:11:04,959 --> 00:11:06,640
then all the infrastructure, if people

237
00:11:06,640 --> 00:11:08,000
don't know, that's why we implemented

238
00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:10,800
the one-way system because last year we

239
00:11:10,800 --> 00:11:12,959
set up magically overnight. People go to

240
00:11:12,959 --> 00:11:15,600
sleep at 8 or 10 p.m. 11:00 p.m. on

241
00:11:15,600 --> 00:11:18,640
Saturday and then we start setting up

242
00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:20,399
and it just wasn't safe. We had our

243
00:11:20,399 --> 00:11:22,880
first small minor accident with a

244
00:11:22,880 --> 00:11:24,880
forklift last year and we said, "Nope,

245
00:11:24,880 --> 00:11:26,880
daylight hours only. this isn't

246
00:11:26,880 --> 00:11:27,920
feasible.

247
00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:30,399
>> And so we submitted the plan and I I

248
00:11:30,399 --> 00:11:32,480
truly thank everyone. I think it worked

249
00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:34,000
really well.

250
00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:37,920
>> Um but we just don't have enough time to

251
00:11:37,920 --> 00:11:41,120
we're parking 8.3 cars per minute once

252
00:11:41,120 --> 00:11:42,880
the show opens in the morning and it's

253
00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:44,640
spread across seven blocks or so, but

254
00:11:44,640 --> 00:11:46,959
it's still it's a mammoth undertaking.

255
00:11:46,959 --> 00:11:48,560
So when we look to try and expand to

256
00:11:48,560 --> 00:11:50,880
allow more people to register and the

257
00:11:50,880 --> 00:11:53,760
registrations they sign a release an

258
00:11:53,760 --> 00:11:56,240
agreement with their we check their ID

259
00:11:56,240 --> 00:11:57,680
when they collect a registration we have

260
00:11:57,680 --> 00:11:58,959
their number plate we have their phone

261
00:11:58,959 --> 00:12:01,200
number their address and we say we will

262
00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:03,120
release it to the police so f or anyone

263
00:12:03,120 --> 00:12:07,279
we see fit except for commercial game um

264
00:12:07,279 --> 00:12:09,600
and not one of those people we've ever

265
00:12:09,600 --> 00:12:11,600
really caught acting up they might park

266
00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:12,959
in the wrong place we give them a phone

267
00:12:12,959 --> 00:12:15,519
call they come running but to that we

268
00:12:15,519 --> 00:12:18,880
would love do our our next issue is

269
00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:21,200
going to be how do we fund this many

270
00:12:21,200 --> 00:12:23,600
portaotties for 3 days. [laughter]

271
00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:27,680
Our portaotties were we went 50% higher

272
00:12:27,680 --> 00:12:29,920
but we didn't expect Friday night and so

273
00:12:29,920 --> 00:12:32,720
by Sunday we were cleaning we were doing

274
00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:35,279
the trash as fast as we possibly could

275
00:12:35,279 --> 00:12:36,880
and it's a wonderful problem. The

276
00:12:36,880 --> 00:12:38,800
businesses are selling takeouts. They're

277
00:12:38,800 --> 00:12:42,160
having a great time but so to that I

278
00:12:42,160 --> 00:12:44,240
like the registrations. It means they're

279
00:12:44,240 --> 00:12:46,399
registered with us. We keep track of

280
00:12:46,399 --> 00:12:48,639
them. They put in money. Otherwise, when

281
00:12:48,639 --> 00:12:50,560
you park outside, which we saw down to

282
00:12:50,560 --> 00:12:54,480
the 900 block this year on Sunday. Um,

283
00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:56,720
they don't put a penny in unless they

284
00:12:56,720 --> 00:12:58,959
put money into the businesses or buy a

285
00:12:58,959 --> 00:13:01,920
sticker or something, a t-shirt from us.

286
00:13:01,920 --> 00:13:04,560
Um, I also I would I don't want to take

287
00:13:04,560 --> 00:13:06,160
up too much time. I'm sorry. I would

288
00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:08,079
love to include the 400 blog.

289
00:13:08,079 --> 00:13:10,000
>> I really there's businesses there.

290
00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:12,079
There's a great Chinese. He saw a bump

291
00:13:12,079 --> 00:13:14,800
in business. I would love to to bring

292
00:13:14,800 --> 00:13:16,560
that block in and then we get into the

293
00:13:16,560 --> 00:13:18,399
library block and then we're into the

294
00:13:18,399 --> 00:13:20,639
beautiful 600 700 block which are some

295
00:13:20,639 --> 00:13:22,880
of the most pretty in town. It's it's

296
00:13:22,880 --> 00:13:25,279
just logistics. I don't know a way to

297
00:13:25,279 --> 00:13:26,959
increase. But if I can include more of

298
00:13:26,959 --> 00:13:28,800
the businesses and then that gives our

299
00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:31,360
attendees more opportunities to buy

300
00:13:31,360 --> 00:13:33,839
reasonably priced meals and sodas so

301
00:13:33,839 --> 00:13:36,880
they have a great time. Wonderful. I I

302
00:13:36,880 --> 00:13:38,320
just haven't

303
00:13:38,320 --> 00:13:39,760
>> tracked logistics but thank you for

304
00:13:39,760 --> 00:13:40,079
asking.

305
00:13:40,079 --> 00:13:42,034
>> Yeah. Well, I'll help if you want.

306
00:13:42,034 --> 00:13:44,000
[laughter] Okay,

307
00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:46,480
>> that's it. I think I think that's it for

308
00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:48,959
the questions for up here, I believe.

309
00:13:48,959 --> 00:13:50,079
Okay.

310
00:13:50,079 --> 00:13:51,680
>> Okay. Thank you all. So, thank you,

311
00:13:51,680 --> 00:13:58,230
Paul. Really? [applause]

312
00:13:58,240 --> 00:13:59,760
» I will leave those there. I'm being told

313
00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:00,800
to go back to work.

314
00:14:00,800 --> 00:14:04,959
>> No, I said go back to bed. [laughter]

315
00:14:04,959 --> 00:14:08,880
>> You haven't slept in days.

316
00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:10,959
>> Okay. Uh, economic development. That's

317
00:14:10,959 --> 00:14:11,839
the report.

318
00:14:11,839 --> 00:14:13,279
>> Okay. [laughter]

319
00:14:13,279 --> 00:14:14,720
>> Can we go on to land bank?

320
00:14:14,720 --> 00:14:15,199
>> Yes.

321
00:14:15,199 --> 00:14:18,880
>> Okay. Thank you. Uh so I wanted to give

322
00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:22,160
an example of um because again sometimes

323
00:14:22,160 --> 00:14:24,720
I slip and I go onto social media and I

324
00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:27,040
see the comments and then I feel like I

325
00:14:27,040 --> 00:14:29,360
have to re-educate people. Right?

326
00:14:29,360 --> 00:14:32,240
>> So land bank the two ways that land bank

327
00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:35,519
can get properties are donations

328
00:14:35,519 --> 00:14:38,560
or through buying a tax sale. And

329
00:14:38,560 --> 00:14:40,959
generally they are not purchased at the

330
00:14:40,959 --> 00:14:42,959
sheriff's sale. They are purchased at

331
00:14:42,959 --> 00:14:46,880
the judicial sale. By law, land banks

332
00:14:46,880 --> 00:14:50,000
have the ability to have a priority bid,

333
00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:53,199
which means all that requires is

334
00:14:53,199 --> 00:14:55,839
contacting the county and saying the

335
00:14:55,839 --> 00:14:58,399
land bank would like to exercise its

336
00:14:58,399 --> 00:15:01,440
priority bid and purchase

337
00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:03,440
X property.

338
00:15:03,440 --> 00:15:07,120
if those get pulled because those taxes

339
00:15:07,120 --> 00:15:10,560
get paid or they don't the county

340
00:15:10,560 --> 00:15:12,480
doesn't feel like they've served the

341
00:15:12,480 --> 00:15:14,240
individuals whether that be an

342
00:15:14,240 --> 00:15:17,360
individual or their heirs it can get

343
00:15:17,360 --> 00:15:21,519
pulled as was the case in 76 North Adams

344
00:15:21,519 --> 00:15:26,160
which is now stayed until December.

345
00:15:26,160 --> 00:15:29,839
Then there is the issue of federal

346
00:15:29,839 --> 00:15:32,480
leans. If there are federal leans on the

347
00:15:32,480 --> 00:15:34,639
property, the land bank will not pursue

348
00:15:34,639 --> 00:15:36,880
them because they are more difficult.

349
00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:39,360
So, it's not just about title issues as

350
00:15:39,360 --> 00:15:43,839
was sort of alluded to on social media.

351
00:15:43,839 --> 00:15:45,760
There are things that go into the

352
00:15:45,760 --> 00:15:48,240
decision making of the land bank's

353
00:15:48,240 --> 00:15:50,880
decision to purchase. And just to give

354
00:15:50,880 --> 00:15:55,279
you one final idea of what happens is in

355
00:15:55,279 --> 00:15:57,680
the sheriff's sale when Portnoff sends

356
00:15:57,680 --> 00:16:00,560
things to sheriff's sale, which is the

357
00:16:00,560 --> 00:16:02,480
school district and the burough's

358
00:16:02,480 --> 00:16:06,639
collection agency, when they get sent,

359
00:16:06,639 --> 00:16:09,680
there is no priority bid there, but the

360
00:16:09,680 --> 00:16:12,160
land bank has chosen to sign up for bid

361
00:16:12,160 --> 00:16:14,959
for assets, which allows them to bid

362
00:16:14,959 --> 00:16:18,000
with everybody else. They were prepared

363
00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:21,600
to do that on a property 379 Beach

364
00:16:21,600 --> 00:16:24,880
Street. It got pulled at the last

365
00:16:24,880 --> 00:16:27,040
minute. It may get continued in the

366
00:16:27,040 --> 00:16:30,320
future, but this is not unusual. Just to

367
00:16:30,320 --> 00:16:33,279
show you in throughout the county, there

368
00:16:33,279 --> 00:16:35,279
were 44

369
00:16:35,279 --> 00:16:37,360
that were postponed.

370
00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:39,600
Only eight went up for sale throughout

371
00:16:39,600 --> 00:16:42,800
the county. So, so it's not that Land

372
00:16:42,800 --> 00:16:44,959
Bank doesn't want to acquire properties.

373
00:16:44,959 --> 00:16:47,519
they are doing the best they can.

374
00:16:47,519 --> 00:16:50,639
Sometimes also the market is doing very

375
00:16:50,639 --> 00:16:52,880
well. So those properties are being

376
00:16:52,880 --> 00:16:55,759
bought by the private market and that is

377
00:16:55,759 --> 00:16:57,279
my report for land bank.

378
00:16:57,279 --> 00:17:00,000
>> Becky, I have a question. I came across

379
00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:02,240
a situation and I wanted to know if

380
00:17:02,240 --> 00:17:04,240
there was a policy that that the land

381
00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:08,079
bank has. Does the land bank uh exclude

382
00:17:08,079 --> 00:17:10,799
burough counselors or other elected

383
00:17:10,799 --> 00:17:13,439
officials like the school board members

384
00:17:13,439 --> 00:17:16,160
or their spouses from purchasing land

385
00:17:16,160 --> 00:17:19,360
bank houses, okay, at let's say putting

386
00:17:19,360 --> 00:17:22,880
4% down and then getting the rest in a

387
00:17:22,880 --> 00:17:25,039
land bank mortgage and then turning

388
00:17:25,039 --> 00:17:27,600
around and flipping that eight months

389
00:17:27,600 --> 00:17:30,080
later for five times its value. Is there

390
00:17:30,080 --> 00:17:34,000
anything that prevents us from us here

391
00:17:34,000 --> 00:17:37,200
from profiting like that from landbank

392
00:17:37,200 --> 00:17:39,200
properties?

393
00:17:39,200 --> 00:17:41,919
And if there isn't, should there be one?

394
00:17:41,919 --> 00:17:46,160
>> So that that probably is the case um for

395
00:17:46,160 --> 00:17:50,559
in the policy. I don't know.

396
00:17:50,559 --> 00:17:53,557
Yeah,

397
00:17:53,557 --> 00:17:54,880
[clears throat]

398
00:17:54,880 --> 00:17:58,310
>> I [laughter]

399
00:17:58,320 --> 00:18:00,960
honestly cannot

400
00:18:00,960 --> 00:18:02,000
policy.

401
00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:03,840
>> Excuse me. Could you wait until the

402
00:18:03,840 --> 00:18:05,200
microphone works?

403
00:18:05,200 --> 00:18:21,990
Excellent.

404
00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:24,400
» The bet.

405
00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:26,307
>> Thank you. Sorry to make you wait.

406
00:18:26,307 --> 00:18:31,830
[clears throat]

407
00:18:31,840 --> 00:18:34,559
Thank you. Okay.

408
00:18:34,559 --> 00:18:35,120
Good.

409
00:18:35,120 --> 00:18:35,440
>> Okay.

410
00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:36,000
>> Thank you.

411
00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:38,640
>> So, I do not know where the policies and

412
00:18:38,640 --> 00:18:41,039
procedures that would be stated. It

413
00:18:41,039 --> 00:18:42,799
could be something that was looked into

414
00:18:42,799 --> 00:18:44,559
and I will certainly discuss it with the

415
00:18:44,559 --> 00:18:47,039
land bank and their solicitor. That's my

416
00:18:47,039 --> 00:18:50,240
answer. I don't know. What I do know is

417
00:18:50,240 --> 00:18:53,039
that there is a pre-application and

418
00:18:53,039 --> 00:18:56,640
there is an application that people

419
00:18:56,640 --> 00:19:00,080
identify themselves as who they are,

420
00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:02,640
right? It's not like you can hide behind

421
00:19:02,640 --> 00:19:04,400
an LLC, right?

422
00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:06,640
>> We are familiar with who the individuals

423
00:19:06,640 --> 00:19:07,440
are.

424
00:19:07,440 --> 00:19:08,080
>> Does that make sense?

425
00:19:08,080 --> 00:19:10,320
>> Right. So, but you think that that's a

426
00:19:10,320 --> 00:19:12,240
good practice or a bad practice? Does it

427
00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:14,480
look good for everyone? It doesn't look

428
00:19:14,480 --> 00:19:15,200
good.

429
00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:17,200
>> I would say it does not look good.

430
00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:17,760
>> Okay.

431
00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:20,080
>> I hope I said that in a nice way.

432
00:19:20,080 --> 00:19:23,039
>> Yes. Okay.

433
00:19:23,039 --> 00:19:26,080
Anybody else? Okay. Thank you.

434
00:19:26,080 --> 00:19:28,480
>> Thank you.

435
00:19:28,480 --> 00:19:31,360
>> Okay. Business Improvement District

436
00:19:31,360 --> 00:19:35,120
Council Manra and

437
00:19:35,120 --> 00:19:37,679
>> pass that off to Miss Danielle K.

438
00:19:37,679 --> 00:19:40,160
>> Okay. I was just about to introduce her.

439
00:19:40,160 --> 00:19:44,400
And Danielle Art District presentation.

440
00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:46,880
>> All right.

441
00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:49,600
>> So, a little more fun than uh land bank.

442
00:19:49,600 --> 00:19:51,039
Uh [clears throat] I'm going to give a

443
00:19:51,039 --> 00:19:53,360
quick update on the bid.

444
00:19:53,360 --> 00:19:56,160
>> Uh we're planning Stata Saturday. That's

445
00:19:56,160 --> 00:19:58,160
December 5th. Mark your calendars. It's

446
00:19:58,160 --> 00:19:59,600
going to be really fun. We're going to

447
00:19:59,600 --> 00:20:01,039
go a little bigger this year. We've got

448
00:20:01,039 --> 00:20:02,480
a whole committee that are now working

449
00:20:02,480 --> 00:20:04,320
on uh the events that are going to

450
00:20:04,320 --> 00:20:06,960
happen that day. Uh the Pottstown Film

451
00:20:06,960 --> 00:20:09,600
Festival, the bid is working with to

452
00:20:09,600 --> 00:20:11,679
promote and help get the word out. It is

453
00:20:11,679 --> 00:20:14,400
their fourth year and I just got word

454
00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:17,360
that we are going to have Kate Flanigan

455
00:20:17,360 --> 00:20:19,600
at this event. She's going to be a

456
00:20:19,600 --> 00:20:22,160
speaker and we're working on figuring

457
00:20:22,160 --> 00:20:24,080
out some of the logistics of showing a

458
00:20:24,080 --> 00:20:26,480
film that she's in uh that is releasing

459
00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:29,039
at the end of September.

460
00:20:29,039 --> 00:20:31,280
Uh we held our first small business

461
00:20:31,280 --> 00:20:34,000
workshop uh to help small businesses

462
00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:36,880
learn how to do their jobs better and

463
00:20:36,880 --> 00:20:39,440
the next one is on October 20th. I

464
00:20:39,440 --> 00:20:41,200
highly encourage small businesses to

465
00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:44,320
come and get this information. uh learn

466
00:20:44,320 --> 00:20:46,000
the things you don't know, the things

467
00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:49,039
that you you're not entirely certain

468
00:20:49,039 --> 00:20:51,120
about. Uh and that's what the point of

469
00:20:51,120 --> 00:20:53,120
that is. Wednesday, we just had our

470
00:20:53,120 --> 00:20:55,360
first kickoff for a networking group

471
00:20:55,360 --> 00:20:56,720
where we're bringing all businesses

472
00:20:56,720 --> 00:20:59,039
owner owners together to meet each

473
00:20:59,039 --> 00:21:01,840
other, talk, help support one another.

474
00:21:01,840 --> 00:21:04,400
If you sell insurance and this business

475
00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:06,799
sells coffee, you can work together. You

476
00:21:06,799 --> 00:21:08,880
buy coffee, you buy insurance, we get

477
00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:12,159
together and just talk as businesses. Uh

478
00:21:12,159 --> 00:21:16,000
we're also working on the parking lot at

479
00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:18,080
the clock tower on Charlotte and High

480
00:21:18,080 --> 00:21:20,880
Street with the Rotary to do some new

481
00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:23,200
plants. We're planting perennials. We

482
00:21:23,200 --> 00:21:27,600
did get some donations of bulbs from uh

483
00:21:27,600 --> 00:21:30,559
Colonial Gardens and Lowe's or Home

484
00:21:30,559 --> 00:21:34,720
Depot has committed to giving us some

485
00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:39,520
mulch and some hands to help. So, if you

486
00:21:39,520 --> 00:21:41,200
are interested in putting some bulbs in

487
00:21:41,200 --> 00:21:43,200
the ground, come join us. It'll be a fun

488
00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:48,240
day with Rotary. And that is on October

489
00:21:48,240 --> 00:21:51,280
9th. I didn't put it down on my on my

490
00:21:51,280 --> 00:21:52,880
thing. 9th is [clears throat] going to

491
00:21:52,880 --> 00:21:58,000
be busy. Uh, so arts district. So, one

492
00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:00,640
of the things that I am working on for

493
00:22:00,640 --> 00:22:04,080
Main Street designation is that I have

494
00:22:04,080 --> 00:22:06,080
to come up with three projects that I

495
00:22:06,080 --> 00:22:07,679
want to do over five years. and where

496
00:22:07,679 --> 00:22:11,200
those funds might be allocated.

497
00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:13,120
One of those projects is the arts

498
00:22:13,120 --> 00:22:14,880
district and I really wanted to share it

499
00:22:14,880 --> 00:22:17,200
with you guys so that you get an idea of

500
00:22:17,200 --> 00:22:19,440
the stuff that I the transformation I

501
00:22:19,440 --> 00:22:25,270
want to see in this town. So,

502
00:22:25,280 --> 00:22:28,480
North Charlotte from high to beach right

503
00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:32,240
now is a dead section of our town. There

504
00:22:32,240 --> 00:22:35,679
are 10 empty storefronts that have some

505
00:22:35,679 --> 00:22:40,720
of been empty for 20 or more years.

506
00:22:40,720 --> 00:22:43,679
I want to turn it into this.

507
00:22:43,679 --> 00:22:46,240
I want to see art events. I want to have

508
00:22:46,240 --> 00:22:49,039
the road closed at Charlotte and have

509
00:22:49,039 --> 00:22:51,760
people come to buy art, see art,

510
00:22:51,760 --> 00:22:56,789
interact with art.

511
00:22:56,799 --> 00:22:59,520
But why now? Why is besides the main

512
00:22:59,520 --> 00:23:02,080
street planning and having that be a

513
00:23:02,080 --> 00:23:04,559
part of my plan, there are a lot of

514
00:23:04,559 --> 00:23:06,799
grant funds, a lot of state grant funds

515
00:23:06,799 --> 00:23:10,000
and a lot of other corporate funds to

516
00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:13,200
fund such a district.

517
00:23:13,200 --> 00:23:16,159
Also, our arts community has been

518
00:23:16,159 --> 00:23:18,880
growing by leaps and bounds. In the last

519
00:23:18,880 --> 00:23:21,520
just five years, we're seeing a huge

520
00:23:21,520 --> 00:23:24,789
jump.

521
00:23:24,799 --> 00:23:28,159
So the grants DCDE

522
00:23:28,159 --> 00:23:31,280
on top of designation, they have grants

523
00:23:31,280 --> 00:23:33,520
for arts specifically. They're earmarked

524
00:23:33,520 --> 00:23:37,120
for arts. The PA creative communities

525
00:23:37,120 --> 00:23:39,679
has an arts designation that we could

526
00:23:39,679 --> 00:23:43,280
pick up. There's LSA grants. There's uh

527
00:23:43,280 --> 00:23:45,600
creative and innovation impact grants.

528
00:23:45,600 --> 00:23:47,840
Some of these I could apply for tomorrow

529
00:23:47,840 --> 00:23:49,679
morning because now I've presented it to

530
00:23:49,679 --> 00:23:51,600
you guys.

531
00:23:51,600 --> 00:23:53,520
Then there's private sector grants.

532
00:23:53,520 --> 00:23:57,919
Walmart has a spark local spark local

533
00:23:57,919 --> 00:24:00,880
grant that is for small businesses that

534
00:24:00,880 --> 00:24:03,120
I could tie together and help people get

535
00:24:03,120 --> 00:24:08,080
started. There's a lot of PNC uh I could

536
00:24:08,080 --> 00:24:09,919
keep listing this but and this

537
00:24:09,919 --> 00:24:12,480
presentation would be only those grants.

538
00:24:12,480 --> 00:24:15,039
So there's a lot of opportunity for us

539
00:24:15,039 --> 00:24:18,080
to pour some funds into our arts

540
00:24:18,080 --> 00:24:21,269
community.

541
00:24:21,279 --> 00:24:24,000
Why Charlotte Street? Other than the

542
00:24:24,000 --> 00:24:28,799
fact that there's 10 empty businesses,

543
00:24:28,799 --> 00:24:31,039
there's also existing businesses. If

544
00:24:31,039 --> 00:24:33,039
you're not familiar with Beekeepers,

545
00:24:33,039 --> 00:24:36,400
they do a ton of art events. A ton.

546
00:24:36,400 --> 00:24:38,880
Right next door, you have Art Fusion

547
00:24:38,880 --> 00:24:41,600
that has been doing art stuff for 20

548
00:24:41,600 --> 00:24:44,240
years. Through thick and thin, they've

549
00:24:44,240 --> 00:24:48,000
been sticking it out. On the other end,

550
00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:51,200
we have Danny B. Funky. We really enjoy

551
00:24:51,200 --> 00:24:54,640
Danny B. Funky. We want to support that.

552
00:24:54,640 --> 00:24:57,440
We also have Charlotte Street Coffee,

553
00:24:57,440 --> 00:25:00,080
which is very artsy fartsy. Artists love

554
00:25:00,080 --> 00:25:02,799
to sit and talk over coffee. It is very

555
00:25:02,799 --> 00:25:06,960
poised as it stands today. The YW.CA is

556
00:25:06,960 --> 00:25:09,440
on board for this idea. They love it. It

557
00:25:09,440 --> 00:25:11,360
would be right in the heart of their

558
00:25:11,360 --> 00:25:15,039
home. New businesses. We have a new

559
00:25:15,039 --> 00:25:17,679
gallery coming in in between the record

560
00:25:17,679 --> 00:25:20,000
store and Charlotte Street Coffee that

561
00:25:20,000 --> 00:25:24,960
is Nexus Cafe or Nexus Gallery. And I

562
00:25:24,960 --> 00:25:26,799
I'm excited to see what they're planning

563
00:25:26,799 --> 00:25:30,080
to do. So there's and we also

564
00:25:30,080 --> 00:25:32,080
Mudslingers is putting in a pottery

565
00:25:32,080 --> 00:25:36,400
store in the old Lastic Building.

566
00:25:36,400 --> 00:25:38,400
They are going to be selling pottery.

567
00:25:38,400 --> 00:25:39,840
They're going to be selling pottery

568
00:25:39,840 --> 00:25:42,480
supplies and there are going to have art

569
00:25:42,480 --> 00:25:45,120
studios in the back. All of this was

570
00:25:45,120 --> 00:25:48,320
slated before I even thought of an arts

571
00:25:48,320 --> 00:25:52,070
district.

572
00:25:52,080 --> 00:25:54,799
So, our history, Steel River has been

573
00:25:54,799 --> 00:25:57,200
serving our community since 2008 with

574
00:25:57,200 --> 00:26:00,320
showing us the performing arts. We have

575
00:26:00,320 --> 00:26:01,840
High Street Music, which has been

576
00:26:01,840 --> 00:26:05,120
teaching us how to be musical.

577
00:26:05,120 --> 00:26:07,200
art fusion has been teaching us how to

578
00:26:07,200 --> 00:26:08,880
push our boundaries and try something

579
00:26:08,880 --> 00:26:10,720
that might be a little uncomfortable but

580
00:26:10,720 --> 00:26:12,640
oh so fun.

581
00:26:12,640 --> 00:26:14,320
>> And then we have PAG that has been

582
00:26:14,320 --> 00:26:16,960
around since 1960.

583
00:26:16,960 --> 00:26:20,720
They are an art community.

584
00:26:20,720 --> 00:26:23,279
This is our base. These are the people

585
00:26:23,279 --> 00:26:26,159
that went through the hard parts that

586
00:26:26,159 --> 00:26:28,799
really worked to get us here to define

587
00:26:28,799 --> 00:26:33,200
who we are as an art community.

588
00:26:33,200 --> 00:26:36,080
Today we've expanded without having any

589
00:26:36,080 --> 00:26:38,320
grant funds or allocating or saying yes,

590
00:26:38,320 --> 00:26:40,720
we want to see you here. Yes, we're

591
00:26:40,720 --> 00:26:43,200
inviting you here. All of these people

592
00:26:43,200 --> 00:26:46,080
are putting in the effort to show us

593
00:26:46,080 --> 00:26:51,590
that they're here for art.

594
00:26:51,600 --> 00:26:53,279
So, what's the benefits of an arts

595
00:26:53,279 --> 00:26:55,760
district?

596
00:26:55,760 --> 00:26:58,159
Way more foot traffic, having art

597
00:26:58,159 --> 00:27:00,640
events. People come in, they look at

598
00:27:00,640 --> 00:27:03,600
art, they're gonna want to eat. They're

599
00:27:03,600 --> 00:27:05,600
gonna want to have a drink after they're

600
00:27:05,600 --> 00:27:07,200
done. They're going to go, "Oh, there's

601
00:27:07,200 --> 00:27:08,960
a shoe store right here. I might want to

602
00:27:08,960 --> 00:27:11,039
get shoes." It just puts more bodies

603
00:27:11,039 --> 00:27:14,880
down in our town that need it.

604
00:27:14,880 --> 00:27:16,880
Business visibility. The businesses that

605
00:27:16,880 --> 00:27:19,279
are already there. There's a lot of

606
00:27:19,279 --> 00:27:21,760
Henry's Cafe. How many people outside of

607
00:27:21,760 --> 00:27:23,919
our community know Henry's Cafe even

608
00:27:23,919 --> 00:27:26,480
exists?

609
00:27:26,480 --> 00:27:29,919
But it will give him visibility.

610
00:27:29,919 --> 00:27:32,480
It gives local artists an opportunity to

611
00:27:32,480 --> 00:27:36,400
engage in our economic development.

612
00:27:36,400 --> 00:27:38,799
Youth involvement. Our schools are

613
00:27:38,799 --> 00:27:42,559
incredibly artsy. Pottstown High School.

614
00:27:42,559 --> 00:27:45,520
I Their artists are incredible.

615
00:27:45,520 --> 00:27:49,120
I I got the opportunity to judge the

616
00:27:49,120 --> 00:27:51,760
high school show that was at Montco in

617
00:27:51,760 --> 00:27:55,840
the this spring and oh my god it was way

618
00:27:55,840 --> 00:27:57,279
harder than I thought it was going to

619
00:27:57,279 --> 00:27:58,159
be. [laughter]

620
00:27:58,159 --> 00:28:03,600
Um and I and Hill School and we're just

621
00:28:03,600 --> 00:28:07,360
giving them a place to see that this is

622
00:28:07,360 --> 00:28:11,200
a value in a community.

623
00:28:11,200 --> 00:28:12,880
This is North Charlotte Street as it

624
00:28:12,880 --> 00:28:14,880
stands today and what it could be

625
00:28:14,880 --> 00:28:30,950
tomorrow.

626
00:28:30,960 --> 00:28:32,640
These are the two new businesses that I

627
00:28:32,640 --> 00:28:35,600
referred to

628
00:28:35,600 --> 00:28:38,480
year one. So, this is not a fast thing.

629
00:28:38,480 --> 00:28:40,960
This is a fiveyear plan. And even then,

630
00:28:40,960 --> 00:28:43,039
it's going to have to go beyond that.

631
00:28:43,039 --> 00:28:44,720
We're going to have to love and care for

632
00:28:44,720 --> 00:28:47,120
it. We need to form an advisory

633
00:28:47,120 --> 00:28:51,279
committee under the bid that states how

634
00:28:51,279 --> 00:28:53,200
we go forward with these grants. Which

635
00:28:53,200 --> 00:28:56,000
ones do we go after? Which ones we don't

636
00:28:56,000 --> 00:28:58,399
confirm the district name. It needs a

637
00:28:58,399 --> 00:29:00,480
name. There are cute little towns that

638
00:29:00,480 --> 00:29:02,480
have awesome arts districts and they

639
00:29:02,480 --> 00:29:03,919
have fun names, but what makes it

640
00:29:03,919 --> 00:29:06,399
Pottstown?

641
00:29:06,399 --> 00:29:08,480
We need to work with the property owners

642
00:29:08,480 --> 00:29:11,440
and we need to attract new businesses. I

643
00:29:11,440 --> 00:29:14,240
really want to pull from the areas

644
00:29:14,240 --> 00:29:16,320
around us that are currently getting

645
00:29:16,320 --> 00:29:19,120
priced out or they've done so well in

646
00:29:19,120 --> 00:29:20,480
their other homes that they're looking

647
00:29:20,480 --> 00:29:24,470
to have a second location.

648
00:29:24,480 --> 00:29:26,559
Year two, I want to start seeing artwalk

649
00:29:26,559 --> 00:29:29,760
events. I want to have Charlotte Street

650
00:29:29,760 --> 00:29:31,679
shut down where we go and have art

651
00:29:31,679 --> 00:29:34,720
walks. We bring in vendors, do popups on

652
00:29:34,720 --> 00:29:36,640
inside those shops, very much like the

653
00:29:36,640 --> 00:29:38,880
Low Show does.

654
00:29:38,880 --> 00:29:42,000
I'd like to get signage and facades

655
00:29:42,000 --> 00:29:44,480
grants so that we can have our new

656
00:29:44,480 --> 00:29:48,000
identity on that street and then digital

657
00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:51,440
marketing really pushing it out to

658
00:29:51,440 --> 00:29:55,520
Facebooks, the socials, web page.

659
00:29:55,520 --> 00:29:58,720
Year three to five storefronts start

660
00:29:58,720 --> 00:30:01,520
coming online. We are now doing regional

661
00:30:01,520 --> 00:30:04,320
marketing and we're having public

662
00:30:04,320 --> 00:30:06,559
installations

663
00:30:06,559 --> 00:30:13,190
and a large yearly event.

664
00:30:13,200 --> 00:30:15,840
With that said, I did didn't have a

665
00:30:15,840 --> 00:30:17,440
slide for this, but I wanted to add it

666
00:30:17,440 --> 00:30:19,520
and I think it's important to to talk

667
00:30:19,520 --> 00:30:22,159
about. Lancaster has what's called

668
00:30:22,159 --> 00:30:26,320
Gallery Row and they are one of the

669
00:30:26,320 --> 00:30:29,440
foremost places in this area to go to

670
00:30:29,440 --> 00:30:31,279
buy art.

671
00:30:31,279 --> 00:30:34,320
The artists that we have talked to make

672
00:30:34,320 --> 00:30:37,760
all of their money in a year at those

673
00:30:37,760 --> 00:30:40,159
events that Lancaster holds. It's

674
00:30:40,159 --> 00:30:42,960
prestigious. If you get accepted into

675
00:30:42,960 --> 00:30:44,640
one of these art shows that happen in

676
00:30:44,640 --> 00:30:47,840
Lancaster, it's prestige.

677
00:30:47,840 --> 00:30:50,799
and that I want Pottstown. When you say

678
00:30:50,799 --> 00:30:52,960
you got accepted into a Pottstown art

679
00:30:52,960 --> 00:30:57,990
show, it comes with prestige.

680
00:30:58,000 --> 00:31:00,799
So, how can you help? I need letters of

681
00:31:00,799 --> 00:31:03,600
support. I'm going to be coming maybe to

682
00:31:03,600 --> 00:31:05,760
you personally or I will be coming to

683
00:31:05,760 --> 00:31:08,399
you more publicly like this asking for

684
00:31:08,399 --> 00:31:10,159
support letters so that when I apply for

685
00:31:10,159 --> 00:31:12,960
grants the burrows on my side, the

686
00:31:12,960 --> 00:31:14,960
businesses are on my side, the artists

687
00:31:14,960 --> 00:31:18,640
are on my side and they want this.

688
00:31:18,640 --> 00:31:21,200
So that's how I would love for you guys

689
00:31:21,200 --> 00:31:25,120
to help and thank you so very much. Are

690
00:31:25,120 --> 00:31:28,000
there any questions?

691
00:31:28,000 --> 00:31:29,600
>> Yes.

692
00:31:29,600 --> 00:31:31,520
Is [clears throat] there any thought to

693
00:31:31,520 --> 00:31:34,880
putting steel river which is pretty much

694
00:31:34,880 --> 00:31:39,200
the definition of art other than

695
00:31:39,200 --> 00:31:42,000
>> so I've thought about it I thought about

696
00:31:42,000 --> 00:31:44,480
it a lot and I will tell you why I

697
00:31:44,480 --> 00:31:48,159
landed on where I landed one that

698
00:31:48,159 --> 00:31:50,640
section of high street doesn't need help

699
00:31:50,640 --> 00:31:52,559
right now and it does have its own

700
00:31:52,559 --> 00:31:55,120
entertainment identity there's

701
00:31:55,120 --> 00:31:57,840
entertainment spaces right next door to

702
00:31:57,840 --> 00:31:59,200
them.

703
00:31:59,200 --> 00:32:02,080
>> And number two, I want to shut down the

704
00:32:02,080 --> 00:32:04,559
arts district road. I don't want to shut

705
00:32:04,559 --> 00:32:06,480
down High Street.

706
00:32:06,480 --> 00:32:08,720
>> Okay. But you you do know who's the

707
00:32:08,720 --> 00:32:09,760
president of Steel River.

708
00:32:09,760 --> 00:32:11,919
>> I am very familiar. Okay. Yes. Yes.

709
00:32:11,919 --> 00:32:13,279
Okay. I Okay.

710
00:32:13,279 --> 00:32:14,399
>> There a lot of

711
00:32:14,399 --> 00:32:17,200
>> and I have spoken with him and and

712
00:32:17,200 --> 00:32:19,279
unless it's in there,

713
00:32:19,279 --> 00:32:19,919
>> I understand.

714
00:32:19,919 --> 00:32:23,039
>> He's not going to support it. And he

715
00:32:23,039 --> 00:32:24,880
told me that he I could say that. did

716
00:32:24,880 --> 00:32:27,840
talk with Steel River and they are on

717
00:32:27,840 --> 00:32:31,919
board with me. Uh Velva is with me on

718
00:32:31,919 --> 00:32:34,399
the choice of not including them because

719
00:32:34,399 --> 00:32:36,399
she does not want the road shut down.

720
00:32:36,399 --> 00:32:37,600
>> Velva's not going to help you get

721
00:32:37,600 --> 00:32:38,080
grants.

722
00:32:38,080 --> 00:32:39,360
>> I I understand that.

723
00:32:39,360 --> 00:32:40,960
>> Okay. Okay.

724
00:32:40,960 --> 00:32:43,120
>> And Joe, just think about it. And I

725
00:32:43,120 --> 00:32:45,840
invite Joe to give me a call so that we

726
00:32:45,840 --> 00:32:46,880
can talk about it.

727
00:32:46,880 --> 00:32:48,320
>> I will tell him that.

728
00:32:48,320 --> 00:32:49,760
>> Thank you. Okay.

729
00:32:49,760 --> 00:32:53,360
>> I have a state comment. Um,

730
00:32:53,360 --> 00:32:56,000
years ago I went to Lan Lancaster,

731
00:32:56,000 --> 00:32:59,200
however you say it. Um, and I went to an

732
00:32:59,200 --> 00:33:01,120
art event and I'm sure you probably

733
00:33:01,120 --> 00:33:02,640
heard of this before,

734
00:33:02,640 --> 00:33:06,559
>> but um, I thought it was really cool was

735
00:33:06,559 --> 00:33:08,320
the fact that the the businesses

736
00:33:08,320 --> 00:33:10,240
sponsored artist

737
00:33:10,240 --> 00:33:12,080
>> and they had maps.

738
00:33:12,080 --> 00:33:13,760
>> They gave people maps and you would go

739
00:33:13,760 --> 00:33:15,279
from business to business and see the

740
00:33:15,279 --> 00:33:16,080
artist work. Yes.

741
00:33:16,080 --> 00:33:17,519
>> It was really it's really good fun

742
00:33:17,519 --> 00:33:18,000
event.

743
00:33:18,000 --> 00:33:19,840
>> Yes. Um, have you ever done that before

744
00:33:19,840 --> 00:33:21,440
in Pakistan or or have we?

745
00:33:21,440 --> 00:33:22,960
>> Not to that degree.

746
00:33:22,960 --> 00:33:23,679
>> Okay.

747
00:33:23,679 --> 00:33:26,240
>> No, not not nearly as organized as that.

748
00:33:26,240 --> 00:33:28,000
Um, and I would love to start seeing

749
00:33:28,000 --> 00:33:28,320
that.

750
00:33:28,320 --> 00:33:30,159
>> Yeah. Yeah. That that was really fun. I

751
00:33:30,159 --> 00:33:30,799
enjoyed that.

752
00:33:30,799 --> 00:33:33,279
>> I love what Lancaster does. Absolutely.

753
00:33:33,279 --> 00:33:35,120
And it does well for the businesses and

754
00:33:35,120 --> 00:33:37,360
the artists.

755
00:33:37,360 --> 00:33:39,279
>> I love this idea. I think this is a

756
00:33:39,279 --> 00:33:40,640
great idea. I mean, I'm always sort of

757
00:33:40,640 --> 00:33:42,320
thinking about what makes Pottstown

758
00:33:42,320 --> 00:33:44,240
unique, and I think our arts footprint

759
00:33:44,240 --> 00:33:48,320
is what makes us unique, and the idea of shining a light on that is great. I

760
00:33:48,320 --> 00:33:49,600
was just thinking about when you were

761
00:33:49,600 --> 00:33:51,600
talking about the the popups. I mean,

762
00:33:51,600 --> 00:33:55,120
first, I would love to see some of those buildings. I mean, they could be

763
00:33:55,120 --> 00:33:57,279
pop-up shops that could support local

764
00:33:57,279 --> 00:33:59,679
artists or people trying out a business

765
00:33:59,679 --> 00:34:01,120
model or something like that. I love

766
00:34:01,120 --> 00:34:02,799
that idea. Yeah. And I was also thinking

767
00:34:02,799 --> 00:34:04,880
that in the recent streetscapes uh

768
00:34:04,880 --> 00:34:06,320
thing, they talked about using Penn

769
00:34:06,320 --> 00:34:09,119
Street as like um uh shut shutting it

770
00:34:09,119 --> 00:34:10,879
down and using it for like a local

771
00:34:10,879 --> 00:34:12,639
thing. I'm thinking how awesome would

772
00:34:12,639 --> 00:34:14,879
that be to do like an art show right

773
00:34:14,879 --> 00:34:16,240
then and there. I mean, I know it's kind

774
00:34:16,240 --> 00:34:18,079
of a little, you know, small and I think

775
00:34:18,079 --> 00:34:20,560
that's what I know, you know, to your to

776
00:34:20,560 --> 00:34:22,879
your artwork that you showed of of of

777
00:34:22,879 --> 00:34:24,560
Charlotte. I think that would be kind of

778
00:34:24,560 --> 00:34:27,200
a cool space to be able to shut it down

779
00:34:27,200 --> 00:34:29,119
pretty easily in terms of I mean I might

780
00:34:29,119 --> 00:34:30,399
be saying that and it may not actually

781
00:34:30,399 --> 00:34:32,399
be easy in terms of a logistics point of

782
00:34:32,399 --> 00:34:33,919
view but I was just thinking that that

783
00:34:33,919 --> 00:34:36,399
would be an opportunity for us to try to

784
00:34:36,399 --> 00:34:38,079
do some things [music] in the in that

785
00:34:38,079 --> 00:34:40,399
given area and not have to make a big

786
00:34:40,399 --> 00:34:42,879
impact. I mean I think you know when we

787
00:34:42,879 --> 00:34:45,200
do the um the the church walk every good

788
00:34:45,200 --> 00:34:46,960
Friday we're always walking down

789
00:34:46,960 --> 00:34:48,800
Charlotte Street and people are like

790
00:34:48,800 --> 00:34:50,960
this is the part of town that kind of

791
00:34:50,960 --> 00:34:52,960
bums us out. you know, you get on High

792
00:34:52,960 --> 00:34:54,159
Street and things are happening. There's

793
00:34:54,159 --> 00:34:55,760
all kinds of this shop and that shop.

794
00:34:55,760 --> 00:34:59,200
When you're walking down Charlotte, just does not jump out at you

795
00:34:59,200 --> 00:35:00,960
like it should, but there's so much

796
00:35:00,960 --> 00:35:02,400
great architecture and there's so many

797
00:35:02,400 --> 00:35:04,480
great storefronts and to I think to

798
00:35:04,480 --> 00:35:09,280
frame it around that lens is a really cool idea. You know, it's not

799
00:35:09,280 --> 00:35:10,880
that you're not opening it up to other

800
00:35:10,880 --> 00:35:12,720
businesses, but you're just saying like,

801
00:35:12,720 --> 00:35:14,480
look, let's if we can frame this with

802
00:35:14,480 --> 00:35:16,800
the idea of art in mind, then that

803
00:35:16,800 --> 00:35:18,640
allows us sort of hyperfocus on what's

804
00:35:18,640 --> 00:35:21,200
going on there. And then people are

805
00:35:21,200 --> 00:35:22,960
making that walk down Charlotte and

806
00:35:22,960 --> 00:35:24,240
they're going, "Oh, there's this place

807
00:35:24,240 --> 00:35:25,760
and there's a coffee shop down here and

808
00:35:25,760 --> 00:35:26,880
then I want to go check out this place

809
00:35:26,880 --> 00:35:28,560
and I want to go see what our fusions

810
00:35:28,560 --> 00:35:30,000
got going on." And that's that's that's

811
00:35:30,000 --> 00:35:33,200
a very exciting idea.

812
00:35:33,200 --> 00:35:34,240
>> Yeah, I think this is great, too. I

813
00:35:34,240 --> 00:35:35,200
mean, I this is one of the reasons I

814
00:35:35,200 --> 00:35:36,720
came to Potttown 20 years ago because a

815
00:35:36,720 --> 00:35:37,839
friend of mine had art center in

816
00:35:37,839 --> 00:35:38,880
Phoenixville and he wanted to kind of

817
00:35:38,880 --> 00:35:41,200
recreate it which was the former

818
00:35:41,200 --> 00:35:42,480
building. Actually met my wife at the

819
00:35:42,480 --> 00:35:44,240
one in Phoenixville. So, [laughter]

820
00:35:44,240 --> 00:35:46,400
>> you know, the recession threw a little

821
00:35:46,400 --> 00:35:48,240
curveball on it, but now we have hard

822
00:35:48,240 --> 00:35:50,400
fusions. It came to fruition eventually.

823
00:35:50,400 --> 00:35:52,560
So, that's great.

824
00:35:52,560 --> 00:35:56,000
>> I am thrilled about the pottery. Um, my

825
00:35:56,000 --> 00:35:57,520
sister's a professor. She teaches

826
00:35:57,520 --> 00:36:00,000
pottery at a local college uh in

827
00:36:00,000 --> 00:36:00,720
Maryland.

828
00:36:00,720 --> 00:36:01,040
>> Yeah.

829
00:36:01,040 --> 00:36:03,200
>> So, I am thrilled. I'm going to tell her

830
00:36:03,200 --> 00:36:04,079
>> come get a job.

831
00:36:04,079 --> 00:36:04,560
>> Yeah.

832
00:36:04,560 --> 00:36:09,270
>> Leave there. Come [laughter] here.

833
00:36:09,280 --> 00:36:11,119
» Anything else?

834
00:36:11,119 --> 00:36:12,960
>> Thank you so much for your time.

835
00:36:12,960 --> 00:36:25,109
>> Yes. Thank you. [applause]

836
00:36:25,119 --> 00:36:28,160
» Okay. I have library

837
00:36:28,160 --> 00:36:29,920
Joe. I'm gonna try to pronounce it this

838
00:36:29,920 --> 00:36:31,119
time. Boss,

839
00:36:31,119 --> 00:36:32,640
>> you do have a challenge because it is

840
00:36:32,640 --> 00:36:33,920
misspelled on the agenda.

841
00:36:33,920 --> 00:36:36,240
>> Okay. Well, then I'm not spell. Not

842
00:36:36,240 --> 00:36:37,550
[clears throat] the name. You think they

843
00:36:37,550 --> 00:36:39,200
[laughter] got the last noun?

844
00:36:39,200 --> 00:36:41,040
>> No, the last one. I thought I said

845
00:36:41,040 --> 00:36:43,680
that's not how you spell Joe, but okay.

846
00:36:43,680 --> 00:36:45,440
>> My name is Jaspa [laughter] apparently

847
00:36:45,440 --> 00:36:46,880
and I'm here to talk to you about the

848
00:36:46,880 --> 00:36:47,920
library.

849
00:36:47,920 --> 00:36:48,880
>> Yes, absolutely.

850
00:36:48,880 --> 00:36:51,040
>> A few mistakes today. [laughter]

851
00:36:51,040 --> 00:36:52,880
>> It's okay.

852
00:36:52,880 --> 00:36:56,400
So, um, this is not the

853
00:36:56,400 --> 00:36:58,560
format that I generally prefer because

854
00:36:58,560 --> 00:37:00,800
usually I prefer to bring, you know, a

855
00:37:00,800 --> 00:37:02,960
happy librarian to say the fun.

856
00:37:02,960 --> 00:37:04,400
>> Oh, that's why she's not here.

857
00:37:04,400 --> 00:37:08,079
>> And then I say the other part, um,

858
00:37:08,079 --> 00:37:09,359
>> which is, uh, you're not going to have

859
00:37:09,359 --> 00:37:11,280
these fun things because you're not

860
00:37:11,280 --> 00:37:13,280
funding the library. [laughter] Um, but

861
00:37:13,280 --> 00:37:15,280
I don't have a librarian here tonight.

862
00:37:15,280 --> 00:37:17,040
Uh, so I'm gonna say the nice stuff,

863
00:37:17,040 --> 00:37:17,599
>> okay?

864
00:37:17,599 --> 00:37:18,960
>> And the not so nice stuff.

865
00:37:18,960 --> 00:37:21,119
>> Okay. The first thing I need to say is

866
00:37:21,119 --> 00:37:23,760
thank Jamie our and the Low Show.

867
00:37:23,760 --> 00:37:27,119
$13,000 is is deeply impactful. It was a

868
00:37:27,119 --> 00:37:29,440
really positive atmosphere. I I know I

869
00:37:29,440 --> 00:37:32,720
saw you there. I was I was uh sweating

870
00:37:32,720 --> 00:37:34,160
making license plates when you came to

871
00:37:34,160 --> 00:37:35,680
say hi. So, it's it's all kind of a

872
00:37:35,680 --> 00:37:38,079
blur. I'm pretty sure you were you were

873
00:37:38,079 --> 00:37:40,160
working. You was hustling. Yeah. On

874
00:37:40,160 --> 00:37:42,000
Sunday, it was hot, too. It was a good

875
00:37:42,000 --> 00:37:42,160
day.

876
00:37:42,160 --> 00:37:44,079
>> You did a good job. Yeah. Both of you.

877
00:37:44,079 --> 00:37:45,440
>> The hardest job were the people waiting

878
00:37:45,440 --> 00:37:47,200
in line. I at least got to be under the

879
00:37:47,200 --> 00:37:48,079
tent.

880
00:37:48,079 --> 00:37:48,400
>> Yeah. Yeah.

881
00:37:48,400 --> 00:37:50,560
>> Um, so that was that was awesome. Um,

882
00:37:50,560 --> 00:37:52,640
our programming attendance is the

883
00:37:52,640 --> 00:37:55,280
highest it's ever been. Our circulation

884
00:37:55,280 --> 00:37:57,200
is the highest it's ever been.

885
00:37:57,200 --> 00:38:00,320
>> Uh, individual donors in Pottstown,

886
00:38:00,320 --> 00:38:02,400
that's the highest it's ever been. So,

887
00:38:02,400 --> 00:38:05,520
there's every indication is that the

888
00:38:05,520 --> 00:38:08,400
community is using and supports the

889
00:38:08,400 --> 00:38:10,079
library because all those indicators are

890
00:38:10,079 --> 00:38:12,800
the highest they've ever been. We are

891
00:38:12,800 --> 00:38:15,599
not funded in a way that indicates that

892
00:38:15,599 --> 00:38:17,766
we want to have a library. That's

893
00:38:17,766 --> 00:38:19,599
[clears throat] the harsh truth. So

894
00:38:19,599 --> 00:38:21,599
depending on how you measure the

895
00:38:21,599 --> 00:38:24,880
municipal contributions to the library,

896
00:38:24,880 --> 00:38:26,320
there's two ways to measure it.

897
00:38:26,320 --> 00:38:28,400
Depending on how you measure it, we are

898
00:38:28,400 --> 00:38:30,560
either the second worst funded library

899
00:38:30,560 --> 00:38:33,599
in the county or we're the worst funded

900
00:38:33,599 --> 00:38:35,520
library in the county. So if you measure

901
00:38:35,520 --> 00:38:37,200
the generous way, we're only the second

902
00:38:37,200 --> 00:38:41,200
worst. Um we have raised this issue I

903
00:38:41,200 --> 00:38:44,320
think many times. Um, the funding level

904
00:38:44,320 --> 00:38:46,000
has remained at the level that it's at

905
00:38:46,000 --> 00:38:48,079
while expenses go up every year,

906
00:38:48,079 --> 00:38:49,680
year-over-year.

907
00:38:49,680 --> 00:38:51,280
Um,

908
00:38:51,280 --> 00:38:55,839
so I'm not saying I obviously we're going to try and preserve the

909
00:38:55,839 --> 00:38:58,560
library as long as we can. And there are

910
00:38:58,560 --> 00:39:01,040
steps there are things that happen

911
00:39:01,040 --> 00:39:03,200
between where we are right now, we are

912
00:39:03,200 --> 00:39:06,320
here, and not having a library at all,

913
00:39:06,320 --> 00:39:08,079
which is here. There are there are in

914
00:39:08,079 --> 00:39:10,720
between steps. And so I want you guys

915
00:39:10,720 --> 00:39:12,320
because I don't want to hear a year from

916
00:39:12,320 --> 00:39:13,599
now, you didn't tell us this was going

917
00:39:13,599 --> 00:39:15,839
to happen. I'm telling you, I want you

918
00:39:15,839 --> 00:39:18,400
to know what those in between steps are.

919
00:39:18,400 --> 00:39:20,720
So number one, we look at the assets the

920
00:39:20,720 --> 00:39:23,200
library has. We own the building on High

921
00:39:23,200 --> 00:39:25,200
Street. It's a nice piece of real

922
00:39:25,200 --> 00:39:28,480
estate. Um it would go quickly probably

923
00:39:28,480 --> 00:39:30,160
if we wanted to sell it. We couldn't

924
00:39:30,160 --> 00:39:32,320
guarantee what would be there, but we

925
00:39:32,320 --> 00:39:34,560
could sell that, raise maybe a million

926
00:39:34,560 --> 00:39:35,920
dollars that we could put in an

927
00:39:35,920 --> 00:39:38,480
endowment and then secure a cheaper

928
00:39:38,480 --> 00:39:40,880
piece of property outside the burrow

929
00:39:40,880 --> 00:39:43,520
perhaps. So that's that's a step in

930
00:39:43,520 --> 00:39:46,720
between. We are here and we don't have a

931
00:39:46,720 --> 00:39:50,000
library. That's one potential step. Um

932
00:39:50,000 --> 00:39:51,280
there's there's other alternatives. We

933
00:39:51,280 --> 00:39:53,599
could restrict our hours. So maybe the

934
00:39:53,599 --> 00:39:57,200
library is only open three days a week.

935
00:39:57,200 --> 00:39:59,839
that could that could make the money we

936
00:39:59,839 --> 00:40:02,640
have coming in and funding work and you

937
00:40:02,640 --> 00:40:04,960
would still technically have a library.

938
00:40:04,960 --> 00:40:07,359
So that's another potential in between

939
00:40:07,359 --> 00:40:10,880
step between we are here and we don't

940
00:40:10,880 --> 00:40:15,040
have a library. Um there are others but

941
00:40:15,040 --> 00:40:16,800
they're they're probably even worse than

942
00:40:16,800 --> 00:40:19,280
those two. So, I just I I want us to

943
00:40:19,280 --> 00:40:22,160
keep in front of ourselves what the

944
00:40:22,160 --> 00:40:26,320
possibilities are. Um, if there's not an

945
00:40:26,320 --> 00:40:28,960
increase to municipal funding for the

946
00:40:28,960 --> 00:40:31,920
library, that's at least on par with

947
00:40:31,920 --> 00:40:34,320
what every other part of municipal

948
00:40:34,320 --> 00:40:36,160
government has had. Maybe, maybe not

949
00:40:36,160 --> 00:40:38,480
you. I'm just kidding.

950
00:40:38,480 --> 00:40:40,079
But there needs to be something's got to

951
00:40:40,079 --> 00:40:41,599
give or something's going to give in a

952
00:40:41,599 --> 00:40:43,119
different direction is is my

953
00:40:43,119 --> 00:40:45,680
communication to you because right now

954
00:40:45,680 --> 00:40:47,920
we are funding the library in a way that

955
00:40:47,920 --> 00:40:51,760
indicates contrary to all data usage,

956
00:40:51,760 --> 00:40:53,839
circulation, programming, individual

957
00:40:53,839 --> 00:40:56,640
contributions that indicates we do not

958
00:40:56,640 --> 00:40:59,760
want a library. And if we continue to

959
00:40:59,760 --> 00:41:01,920
fund it in that way, you may get

960
00:41:01,920 --> 00:41:05,280
something in between now and that or you

961
00:41:05,280 --> 00:41:07,599
may get that. That is that is the

962
00:41:07,599 --> 00:41:09,760
reality we are facing and that is what I

963
00:41:09,760 --> 00:41:11,680
want you to be aware of. That's not to

964
00:41:11,680 --> 00:41:13,760
say we're not going to keep trying. I

965
00:41:13,760 --> 00:41:15,920
was out there printing license plates.

966
00:41:15,920 --> 00:41:16,960
We're [clears throat] we're out there.

967
00:41:16,960 --> 00:41:19,040
We're asking for money. We're asking the

968
00:41:19,040 --> 00:41:21,200
state for money. We're asking donors for

969
00:41:21,200 --> 00:41:23,520
money. We're never going to stop trying.

970
00:41:23,520 --> 00:41:26,000
But we need to be aware of the potential

971
00:41:26,000 --> 00:41:28,960
reality. That's all. Do you have any

972
00:41:28,960 --> 00:41:32,470
questions?

973
00:41:32,480 --> 00:41:33,760
» No.

974
00:41:33,760 --> 00:41:36,400
>> Thank you.

975
00:41:36,400 --> 00:41:42,630
Yes. Yes. [applause] Thank you.

976
00:41:42,640 --> 00:41:44,640
» Okay.

977
00:41:44,640 --> 00:41:48,319
Potttown School District Council Ro.

978
00:41:48,319 --> 00:41:50,800
>> Yeah. So, I was unable to attend August

979
00:41:50,800 --> 00:41:52,400
20th meeting, but I did watch the

980
00:41:52,400 --> 00:41:54,640
meeting afterwards on YouTube. Uh the

981
00:41:54,640 --> 00:41:56,400
board recognized high school teacher

982
00:41:56,400 --> 00:41:58,560
Mrs. Moore with the superintendent award

983
00:41:58,560 --> 00:42:01,040
for raising over $18,000 for childhood

984
00:42:01,040 --> 00:42:03,680
cancer research through Minithon. mini

985
00:42:03,680 --> 00:42:07,119
thawn. It was also announced that Edward

986
00:42:07,119 --> 00:42:09,599
Elementary's 57year-old air conditioning

987
00:42:09,599 --> 00:42:12,000
chiller had completely failed, requiring

988
00:42:12,000 --> 00:42:15,440
immediate temperature um mitigation and

989
00:42:15,440 --> 00:42:17,920
the upcoming replacement uh is projected

990
00:42:17,920 --> 00:42:21,680
to cost over a million dollars.

991
00:42:21,680 --> 00:42:24,319
>> Okay. Thank you.

992
00:42:24,319 --> 00:42:27,599
Now, I was told that our Madame Mayor is

993
00:42:27,599 --> 00:42:30,079
online. So,

994
00:42:30,079 --> 00:42:32,560
Madame Mayor,

995
00:42:32,560 --> 00:42:34,960
>> yes, I'm here. Hold on one second.

996
00:42:34,960 --> 00:42:35,359
>> Okay,

997
00:42:35,359 --> 00:42:36,720
>> you're here.

998
00:42:36,720 --> 00:42:38,640
>> Good evening, Madame President.

999
00:42:38,640 --> 00:42:40,000
>> Thank you. Good evening.

1000
00:42:40,000 --> 00:42:43,760
>> Good evening, everyone. Uh Joe, I just

1001
00:42:43,760 --> 00:42:45,200
want to say it's really great to see

1002
00:42:45,200 --> 00:42:47,040
you. Welcome back.

1003
00:42:47,040 --> 00:42:50,319
>> Um since last time, uh McGomery County

1004
00:42:50,319 --> 00:42:51,920
Improvement District Authority presented

1005
00:42:51,920 --> 00:42:54,319
a check to Steel River to help with

1006
00:42:54,319 --> 00:42:55,760
building improvements, which was

1007
00:42:55,760 --> 00:42:58,400
fantastic. Um, I had the privilege of

1008
00:42:58,400 --> 00:43:00,640
attending the Bacon Brothers People in

1009
00:43:00,640 --> 00:43:03,599
the World Tour tour at Souljles, which

1010
00:43:03,599 --> 00:43:06,960
was fabulous. Please check Soulj's

1011
00:43:06,960 --> 00:43:10,000
website for um any of their upcoming

1012
00:43:10,000 --> 00:43:12,079
acts.

1013
00:43:12,079 --> 00:43:13,359
They have a lot of great shows coming

1014
00:43:13,359 --> 00:43:16,480
up. Um, I supported Veterans Community

1015
00:43:16,480 --> 00:43:19,359
Day. Spectators Grill, one of the new

1016
00:43:19,359 --> 00:43:22,000
restaurants, hosted our Rotary meeting.

1017
00:43:22,000 --> 00:43:24,160
Um, check out their wings if you haven't

1018
00:43:24,160 --> 00:43:25,839
already been there. Trita, I know you

1019
00:43:25,839 --> 00:43:27,119
will like them. They make them well

1020
00:43:27,119 --> 00:43:30,000
done. [laughter] And uh I want to thank

1021
00:43:30,000 --> 00:43:32,400
Andy and Michael for presenting to the

1022
00:43:32,400 --> 00:43:35,119
Rotary Club about our award-winning

1023
00:43:35,119 --> 00:43:38,480
parks and recreation program.

1024
00:43:38,480 --> 00:43:41,200
And I heard last weekend or this weekend

1025
00:43:41,200 --> 00:43:43,280
was last weekend was fantastic. I want

1026
00:43:43,280 --> 00:43:44,960
to thank Jamie our Red Horse and

1027
00:43:44,960 --> 00:43:47,040
Partners and the Pottstown Police

1028
00:43:47,040 --> 00:43:48,880
Department for a very successful

1029
00:43:48,880 --> 00:43:52,880
weekend. I received an email from um a

1030
00:43:52,880 --> 00:43:55,440
visitor Jennifer Capen um to the police

1031
00:43:55,440 --> 00:43:56,800
department which I would actually like

1032
00:43:56,800 --> 00:43:59,839
to read. Um she says, "I've been to the

1033
00:43:59,839 --> 00:44:02,560
V B VW shows for the last 30 years in

1034
00:44:02,560 --> 00:44:04,319
many towns in Pennsylvania, New Jersey,

1035
00:44:04,319 --> 00:44:06,400
and Maryland, and I have never sent any

1036
00:44:06,400 --> 00:44:08,960
emails to any police departments ever,

1037
00:44:08,960 --> 00:44:11,599
but you deserve a huge thank you. I know

1038
00:44:11,599 --> 00:44:13,359
this car show puts a lot of stress on

1039
00:44:13,359 --> 00:44:16,240
Pottstown. I am so impressed by how the

1040
00:44:16,240 --> 00:44:18,640
police really worked with the show and

1041
00:44:18,640 --> 00:44:21,920
the spectators and not against it. I saw

1042
00:44:21,920 --> 00:44:24,079
the police department solve problems

1043
00:44:24,079 --> 00:44:26,640
with calmness and the police presence

1044
00:44:26,640 --> 00:44:29,920
was there but not overbearing. It was

1045
00:44:29,920 --> 00:44:32,640
truly refreshing and I hope we all

1046
00:44:32,640 --> 00:44:35,599
returned your kindness with kindness.

1047
00:44:35,599 --> 00:44:37,280
So, thank you Jennifer. That was very

1048
00:44:37,280 --> 00:44:39,680
nice of you.

1049
00:44:39,680 --> 00:44:42,400
All right, let's see upcoming events.

1050
00:44:42,400 --> 00:44:45,599
Thursday, September 10th, uh, 6 to10 at

1051
00:44:45,599 --> 00:44:47,599
Rivet is the last big band jazz

1052
00:44:47,599 --> 00:44:49,760
orchestra.

1053
00:44:49,760 --> 00:44:52,640
Um, if you're not going to FET or if you

1054
00:44:52,640 --> 00:44:54,560
want to go to FET and then leave to go

1055
00:44:54,560 --> 00:44:56,560
see the Trojans play their home game at

1056
00:44:56,560 --> 00:44:59,119
Sun um, against Sun Valley, they are

1057
00:44:59,119 --> 00:45:02,079
playing 7:00 p.m. on the 11th.

1058
00:45:02,079 --> 00:45:04,960
Our uh, Pottstown Pet Fair is the 12th

1059
00:45:04,960 --> 00:45:08,720
from 10 to 2. Also on the 12th from

1060
00:45:08,720 --> 00:45:12,640
10:30 to 11:30 is the Da Vinci Science

1061
00:45:12,640 --> 00:45:14,960
Center program that will be held by the

1062
00:45:14,960 --> 00:45:18,240
Children's Discovery Center

1063
00:45:18,240 --> 00:45:22,480
>> at on September 12th at 11:00 a.m. at

1064
00:45:22,480 --> 00:45:26,079
the library. Um there's children's story

1065
00:45:26,079 --> 00:45:27,839
time and crafting with the Daughters of

1066
00:45:27,839 --> 00:45:30,160
the American Revolution.

1067
00:45:30,160 --> 00:45:32,800
The following Sunday the 13th from 10 to

1068
00:45:32,800 --> 00:45:34,880
3, go back to the library and buy some

1069
00:45:34,880 --> 00:45:37,280
used books. Um they're having on their

1070
00:45:37,280 --> 00:45:39,520
uh front porch book sale from 10 to

1071
00:45:39,520 --> 00:45:41,520
three.

1072
00:45:41,520 --> 00:45:43,839
And as you know um one of our residents

1073
00:45:43,839 --> 00:45:45,791
Dan Kyota who is a waiting

1074
00:45:45,791 --> 00:45:46,880
[clears throat] for a double lung

1075
00:45:46,880 --> 00:45:50,160
transplant and uh created the die

1076
00:45:50,160 --> 00:45:54,319
laughing uh nonprofit to support pen

1077
00:45:54,319 --> 00:45:58,000
medicine uh lung transplant lung

1078
00:45:58,000 --> 00:46:02,000
transplant candidates. He is having his

1079
00:46:02,000 --> 00:46:05,200
oneyear on Friday, September 18th, 6:30

1080
00:46:05,200 --> 00:46:08,720
to 11:30 at Rivet. Um his one-year die

1081
00:46:08,720 --> 00:46:10,880
laughing fundraiser. So, please come out

1082
00:46:10,880 --> 00:46:13,599
and support that. The following day,

1083
00:46:13,599 --> 00:46:16,160
September 19th, is Ride for the River.

1084
00:46:16,160 --> 00:46:19,680
Starts at Riverfront Park and they um

1085
00:46:19,680 --> 00:46:21,040
need some volunteers if you're

1086
00:46:21,040 --> 00:46:23,839
interested and riders, of course. I

1087
00:46:23,839 --> 00:46:26,960
think there's a a

1088
00:46:26,960 --> 00:46:28,800
35k

1089
00:46:28,800 --> 00:46:31,760
or 35 mile, a 10 mile, and a four mile,

1090
00:46:31,760 --> 00:46:35,599
I think. Um, and you can do anyone you

1091
00:46:35,599 --> 00:46:40,000
would like. September 19th, 9 to 12 is

1092
00:46:40,000 --> 00:46:41,920
at the zucchini festival and races at

1093
00:46:41,920 --> 00:46:44,960
Pottstown Farm.

1094
00:46:44,960 --> 00:46:47,760
September 26th, 10 to 12, Pottstown

1095
00:46:47,760 --> 00:46:50,720
Community Action is doing a cleanup from

1096
00:46:50,720 --> 00:46:54,000
North Franklin um on North Franklin from

1097
00:46:54,000 --> 00:46:56,720
East to Beach starting at 310 East High

1098
00:46:56,720 --> 00:46:59,040
Street. Um and they will provide all the

1099
00:46:59,040 --> 00:47:05,589
equipment. So just comment support.

1100
00:47:05,599 --> 00:47:08,400
» Sorry, did you have a question?

1101
00:47:08,400 --> 00:47:10,640
>> No, I don't. Go ahead.

1102
00:47:10,640 --> 00:47:13,359
>> I have feedback. Sorry. That's okay. Um

1103
00:47:13,359 --> 00:47:16,319
on the 26th 11 to1 is Veterans Community

1104
00:47:16,319 --> 00:47:19,680
Day and um that will be at Veterans

1105
00:47:19,680 --> 00:47:23,440
Island Memorial Park. Also on the 26th

1106
00:47:23,440 --> 00:47:26,319
at the Rotary Pavilion from 10 to 12 is

1107
00:47:26,319 --> 00:47:29,200
the Veterans Mini Standown where they

1108
00:47:29,200 --> 00:47:31,520
have assistance and outreach to support

1109
00:47:31,520 --> 00:47:34,960
um veterans. That is a monthly standown.

1110
00:47:34,960 --> 00:47:37,599
The next event for that is on October

1111
00:47:37,599 --> 00:47:40,480
24th, same time, 10 to 12 at the Rotary

1112
00:47:40,480 --> 00:47:42,240
Pavilion.

1113
00:47:42,240 --> 00:47:44,560
And September 29th is the ribbon cutting

1114
00:47:44,560 --> 00:47:47,440
for the Skookul River Trail at 100 p.m.

1115
00:47:47,440 --> 00:47:50,640
I have a couple Save the Dates. You guys

1116
00:47:50,640 --> 00:47:54,560
know October's crazy. Um October 3rd, 6

1117
00:47:54,560 --> 00:47:57,920
p.m. Night at the Races at the Carousel.

1118
00:47:57,920 --> 00:47:59,520
Uh supports our local youth and

1119
00:47:59,520 --> 00:48:01,920
education programs for the Foundation

1120
00:48:01,920 --> 00:48:04,640
for Pottstown Education.

1121
00:48:04,640 --> 00:48:08,560
October 3rd, 9:30, 10:30 shotgun start

1122
00:48:08,560 --> 00:48:10,720
is our third annual putt for parks mini

1123
00:48:10,720 --> 00:48:12,720
golf tournament. Need a twosome or a

1124
00:48:12,720 --> 00:48:15,760
foresome, please join. It's so much fun.

1125
00:48:15,760 --> 00:48:18,640
Um, if anyone I think we should get some

1126
00:48:18,640 --> 00:48:21,520
counselors on a team. Um, it's great to

1127
00:48:21,520 --> 00:48:24,640
see everyone out there and uh,

1128
00:48:24,640 --> 00:48:27,578
and I suck at golf, but I still play.

1129
00:48:27,578 --> 00:48:28,960
[laughter]

1130
00:48:28,960 --> 00:48:33,040
Um, the fifth is the 22nd annual Rotary

1131
00:48:33,040 --> 00:48:35,359
Community Endowment Fund Golf Outing,

1132
00:48:35,359 --> 00:48:36,800
which is our biggest fundraiser,

1133
00:48:36,800 --> 00:48:38,880
Brookside Country Club. If you are a

1134
00:48:38,880 --> 00:48:41,920
golfer, please, please, please sign up.

1135
00:48:41,920 --> 00:48:45,359
Um, starts at 9:30. Shotgun is at 11:30.

1136
00:48:45,359 --> 00:48:47,440
There's dinner and awards um, starting

1137
00:48:47,440 --> 00:48:49,200
at 6.

1138
00:48:49,200 --> 00:48:52,559
And October 8th from 5:30 to 8:30 is

1139
00:48:52,559 --> 00:48:55,119
Beacon of Hopes Evening of Impact

1140
00:48:55,119 --> 00:48:59,280
fundraiser at Sunny Brook Ballroom.

1141
00:48:59,280 --> 00:49:01,920
The 9th from 11 to 2, Goodwill Fire

1142
00:49:01,920 --> 00:49:04,160
Company is hosting a free child car seat

1143
00:49:04,160 --> 00:49:07,359
check with certified technicians. Um,

1144
00:49:07,359 --> 00:49:09,520
it's free practical injury prevention

1145
00:49:09,520 --> 00:49:11,200
and it connects families with public

1146
00:49:11,200 --> 00:49:13,599
health and safety professionals

1147
00:49:13,599 --> 00:49:15,599
organized by the Montgomery County

1148
00:49:15,599 --> 00:49:17,920
Health and Human Services Department and

1149
00:49:17,920 --> 00:49:22,319
Safe Kids of Southeastern PA.

1150
00:49:22,319 --> 00:49:26,160
And October 10th, 6 p.m., Tri County

1151
00:49:26,160 --> 00:49:29,040
Active Adult Center turns 50.

1152
00:49:29,040 --> 00:49:32,000
>> Um, so please join them um and celebrate

1153
00:49:32,000 --> 00:49:34,640
at their Groovy Gala fundraiser. It's

1154
00:49:34,640 --> 00:49:37,040
$150.

1155
00:49:37,040 --> 00:49:40,000
It includes dinner, auctions, dancing,

1156
00:49:40,000 --> 00:49:43,040
and fondue and wear 70s Groovy Gala

1157
00:49:43,040 --> 00:49:44,640
gear.

1158
00:49:44,640 --> 00:49:47,119
Um, Evan Hansen is coming up. Dear Evan

1159
00:49:47,119 --> 00:49:49,520
Hans Hansen is coming up at Steel River

1160
00:49:49,520 --> 00:49:52,960
October 9th uh through the 25th.

1161
00:49:52,960 --> 00:49:55,839
We've got Spooky Golf coming up October

1162
00:49:55,839 --> 00:49:57,440
16th

1163
00:49:57,440 --> 00:50:00,480
um 16th through the 18th, 23rd through

1164
00:50:00,480 --> 00:50:05,599
the 25th and then the 30th uh 5:30 to 8.

1165
00:50:05,599 --> 00:50:09,040
Honest October 17th, Edgewood Cemetery

1166
00:50:09,040 --> 00:50:12,240
Cleanup also the 17th.

1167
00:50:12,240 --> 00:50:16,400
And we just I'll stop there then we can

1168
00:50:16,400 --> 00:50:19,119
that's enough. Save the dates. Um and I

1169
00:50:19,119 --> 00:50:21,119
just have uh one announcement to

1170
00:50:21,119 --> 00:50:23,599
everyone who celebrates Russashana. Just

1171
00:50:23,599 --> 00:50:29,190
want to say leash tova tikativu

1172
00:50:29,200 --> 00:50:31,119
which means may you be inscribed and

1173
00:50:31,119 --> 00:50:33,119
sealed for a good year. So happy new

1174
00:50:33,119 --> 00:50:34,960
year everyone.

1175
00:50:34,960 --> 00:50:37,119
>> Thank you. And that concludes my report.

1176
00:50:37,119 --> 00:50:41,510
>> Okay. Thank you, Stephanie.

1177
00:50:41,520 --> 00:50:44,400
Manager's report, Mr. Keller.

1178
00:50:44,400 --> 00:50:46,079
>> All right. Yes. Good evening, everyone.

1179
00:50:46,079 --> 00:50:48,160
So, we've got a few important updates

1180
00:50:48,160 --> 00:50:50,640
for for everyone to tonight. Uh,

1181
00:50:50,640 --> 00:50:52,319
departments are currently working on

1182
00:50:52,319 --> 00:50:56,960
their uh 2027 budget. So, we plan to

1183
00:50:56,960 --> 00:50:59,680
present this uh to council in October

1184
00:50:59,680 --> 00:51:03,440
for initial review uh and discussion. Um

1185
00:51:03,440 --> 00:51:07,680
we started work on that on that back in the summer and we're now finally

1186
00:51:07,680 --> 00:51:09,839
starting to bring that into into landing

1187
00:51:09,839 --> 00:51:12,640
to take a first pass at it. Um if you

1188
00:51:12,640 --> 00:51:14,559
recall back in January the burough

1189
00:51:14,559 --> 00:51:16,720
received 35,000

1190
00:51:16,720 --> 00:51:19,760
LSA grant for facility improvements to

1191
00:51:19,760 --> 00:51:22,240
the Rickett Center. As the next step in

1192
00:51:22,240 --> 00:51:24,160
the process, parks and recreation issued

1193
00:51:24,160 --> 00:51:27,920
an RFP based on EPA guidelines for the

1194
00:51:27,920 --> 00:51:29,760
Rickettts architectural design services

1195
00:51:29,760 --> 00:51:31,520
and posted this to the burough website

1196
00:51:31,520 --> 00:51:34,079
and the newspaper and uh we're very

1197
00:51:34,079 --> 00:51:37,359
happy to report that we received 16 um

1198
00:51:37,359 --> 00:51:39,760
proposals which is very a very

1199
00:51:39,760 --> 00:51:44,800
encouraging response. Um now uh the RFP

1200
00:51:44,800 --> 00:51:47,280
uh the firm selected by the RFP will be

1201
00:51:47,280 --> 00:51:49,520
required to conduct several visioning

1202
00:51:49,520 --> 00:51:51,839
sessions with uh the Rickettts

1203
00:51:51,839 --> 00:51:54,400
leadership committee as well as as um

1204
00:51:54,400 --> 00:51:56,000
some public sessions with the general

1205
00:51:56,000 --> 00:51:58,880
community in general so that um we can

1206
00:51:58,880 --> 00:52:01,280
get everybody's feedback to provide

1207
00:52:01,280 --> 00:52:03,599
ideas that will help shape the final

1208
00:52:03,599 --> 00:52:05,280
scope of work. So, the the final scope

1209
00:52:05,280 --> 00:52:08,559
of work um there's a couple um more um

1210
00:52:08,559 --> 00:52:10,079
basic maintenance things that we know

1211
00:52:10,079 --> 00:52:12,079
we're going to do, but the final uh

1212
00:52:12,079 --> 00:52:14,800
scope of work is is um a little bit

1213
00:52:14,800 --> 00:52:16,480
malleable at this point because we have

1214
00:52:16,480 --> 00:52:19,280
other grants in the works. So now it

1215
00:52:19,280 --> 00:52:21,200
really comes the hard work of evaluating

1216
00:52:21,200 --> 00:52:24,000
this many proposals. And we envision

1217
00:52:24,000 --> 00:52:25,839
this process to consist of the staff

1218
00:52:25,839 --> 00:52:28,319
committee initially to review and rank

1219
00:52:28,319 --> 00:52:31,040
the proposals using objective rubric

1220
00:52:31,040 --> 00:52:32,640
compliant with federal procurement

1221
00:52:32,640 --> 00:52:34,880
standards. And then once the top

1222
00:52:34,880 --> 00:52:36,880
qualifying firms are identified, we

1223
00:52:36,880 --> 00:52:39,200
would plan to utilize the Rickettts

1224
00:52:39,200 --> 00:52:40,559
leadership committee to conduct

1225
00:52:40,559 --> 00:52:43,280
interviews of those shortlisted firms.

1226
00:52:43,280 --> 00:52:46,240
So, uh, I just want to say we're still

1227
00:52:46,240 --> 00:52:49,040
very early in the process. Um, and I

1228
00:52:49,040 --> 00:52:51,520
know that we have, um, Trita and Mike

1229
00:52:51,520 --> 00:52:53,599
Lenhard. Those are the ones that were

1230
00:52:53,599 --> 00:52:55,920
appointed to the Ricketts, uh,

1231
00:52:55,920 --> 00:52:58,400
leadership committee. However, if there

1232
00:52:58,400 --> 00:52:59,839
are any other counselors or members of

1233
00:52:59,839 --> 00:53:02,480
the community that would like to um, be

1234
00:53:02,480 --> 00:53:04,079
involved and and be a part of the

1235
00:53:04,079 --> 00:53:06,559
selection process, please let us know.

1236
00:53:06,559 --> 00:53:09,040
Um our only requirement is is that if

1237
00:53:09,040 --> 00:53:11,359
you would like to participate um those

1238
00:53:11,359 --> 00:53:13,040
interested must be able to attend all

1239
00:53:13,040 --> 00:53:16,559
the interview sessions. Otherwise um

1240
00:53:16,559 --> 00:53:18,880
their vote may not be able to be um

1241
00:53:18,880 --> 00:53:20,720
counted because they're not able to

1242
00:53:20,720 --> 00:53:23,760
compare all proposals um fairly at that

1243
00:53:23,760 --> 00:53:27,599
point. Um the to complete the selection

1244
00:53:27,599 --> 00:53:29,440
process, the Rick Rickettts leadership

1245
00:53:29,440 --> 00:53:30,400
committee would provide its

1246
00:53:30,400 --> 00:53:32,559
recommendation to council for a design

1247
00:53:32,559 --> 00:53:34,640
firm to hire and complete the grant

1248
00:53:34,640 --> 00:53:36,319
funded work and council would have a

1249
00:53:36,319 --> 00:53:39,520
final say regarding who to hire. Um we

1250
00:53:39,520 --> 00:53:41,839
have other submitted grants for the

1251
00:53:41,839 --> 00:53:43,599
Rickett Center center that are still

1252
00:53:43,599 --> 00:53:48,000
pending. one with Montgomery County CDBG

1253
00:53:48,000 --> 00:53:52,000
uh a DCED and GTRP in the amounts of

1254
00:53:52,000 --> 00:53:56,480
200,000 and $250,000 respectively. Um so

1255
00:53:56,480 --> 00:53:58,400
we're again we're still very very early

1256
00:53:58,400 --> 00:54:00,319
on. We haven't heard back from all the

1257
00:54:00,319 --> 00:54:02,960
grants and it's not expected to really

1258
00:54:02,960 --> 00:54:05,520
move forward with any of the engineering

1259
00:54:05,520 --> 00:54:08,480
design work subject to the RFP until we

1260
00:54:08,480 --> 00:54:10,559
get um an idea of all the funding that

1261
00:54:10,559 --> 00:54:12,800
we have in hand so that we can then

1262
00:54:12,800 --> 00:54:15,359
finalize that that that scope of work

1263
00:54:15,359 --> 00:54:17,200
and start to work with the community for

1264
00:54:17,200 --> 00:54:20,240
how we would envision that um to be

1265
00:54:20,240 --> 00:54:22,720
improved in the future. So, um,

1266
00:54:22,720 --> 00:54:24,880
definitely reach out, uh, if you would

1267
00:54:24,880 --> 00:54:27,520
like more information. Um, and I'll be

1268
00:54:27,520 --> 00:54:29,599
sure to keep everybody updated as we as

1269
00:54:29,599 --> 00:54:31,839
we move forward. I'm also happy to

1270
00:54:31,839 --> 00:54:34,559
announce that a $300,000 grant was rec

1271
00:54:34,559 --> 00:54:36,160
recently awarded through the Department

1272
00:54:36,160 --> 00:54:38,880
of Community and Economic Development.

1273
00:54:38,880 --> 00:54:40,880
Um, this was thanks to the advocacy of

1274
00:54:40,880 --> 00:54:43,680
Joe Sesi and this grant will go for

1275
00:54:43,680 --> 00:54:45,520
police equipment, streetscapes and

1276
00:54:45,520 --> 00:54:48,480
signage, and fire facility upgrades.

1277
00:54:48,480 --> 00:54:50,400
Since we originally asked for 2.5

1278
00:54:50,400 --> 00:54:52,240
million, uh we will have to figure out

1279
00:54:52,240 --> 00:54:54,640
how to allocate the reduced amount once

1280
00:54:54,640 --> 00:54:56,559
we get more details on the grant

1281
00:54:56,559 --> 00:54:58,480
agreement and how exactly we can spend

1282
00:54:58,480 --> 00:55:00,400
the money. We do know that it must be

1283
00:55:00,400 --> 00:55:02,960
spent on capital purchases. So, at least

1284
00:55:02,960 --> 00:55:05,119
initially, we're thinking of uh

1285
00:55:05,119 --> 00:55:06,960
allocating the fund funding equally

1286
00:55:06,960 --> 00:55:09,599
among the three main categories. So, um

1287
00:55:09,599 --> 00:55:12,160
in the meantime, please let us know if

1288
00:55:12,160 --> 00:55:14,079
there's any suggestions for priorities

1289
00:55:14,079 --> 00:55:15,839
within those categories and we can plan

1290
00:55:15,839 --> 00:55:17,760
accordingly.

1291
00:55:17,760 --> 00:55:20,319
Um uh we were saddened here at the bird

1292
00:55:20,319 --> 00:55:21,543
to hear the news regarding

1293
00:55:21,543 --> 00:55:22,640
[clears throat] Charlie Dickinson's

1294
00:55:22,640 --> 00:55:26,480
passing and um uh Charlie in addition to

1295
00:55:26,480 --> 00:55:29,680
being a Pottstown fixture and a guy that

1296
00:55:29,680 --> 00:55:31,839
um you know I could always rely on when

1297
00:55:31,839 --> 00:55:33,200
I needed something done to just get it

1298
00:55:33,200 --> 00:55:34,559
done and I wouldn't have to worry about

1299
00:55:34,559 --> 00:55:38,640
it. Um he also owned Part Inc. um which

1300
00:55:38,640 --> 00:55:40,559
the bureau contracts with to provide

1301
00:55:40,559 --> 00:55:42,319
public bus transportation to the

1302
00:55:42,319 --> 00:55:44,480
community through part. So Charlie had

1303
00:55:44,480 --> 00:55:46,160
been dealing with health issues for some

1304
00:55:46,160 --> 00:55:48,799
time and as a result succession planning

1305
00:55:48,799 --> 00:55:50,559
was previously completed with his

1306
00:55:50,559 --> 00:55:53,040
employees to ensure continuity of both

1307
00:55:53,040 --> 00:55:55,280
the operations so that the appropriate

1308
00:55:55,280 --> 00:55:57,520
plans are in place and we do not have to

1309
00:55:57,520 --> 00:55:59,760
anticipate any interruption to the part

1310
00:55:59,760 --> 00:56:02,480
service as a result of his um passing.

1311
00:56:02,480 --> 00:56:06,319
So things will continue to operate as

1312
00:56:06,319 --> 00:56:09,440
normal and on schedule um as they have

1313
00:56:09,440 --> 00:56:11,119
before.

1314
00:56:11,119 --> 00:56:14,240
As an update, um the Pottstown Beacon of

1315
00:56:14,240 --> 00:56:17,520
Hope shelter project, um all burough

1316
00:56:17,520 --> 00:56:20,240
permits have been processed and approved

1317
00:56:20,240 --> 00:56:22,559
and the land development plans have been

1318
00:56:22,559 --> 00:56:24,960
recorded. Licensing and inspections in

1319
00:56:24,960 --> 00:56:26,559
the county conservation district held a

1320
00:56:26,559 --> 00:56:27,760
pre-construction meeting with the

1321
00:56:27,760 --> 00:56:31,040
contractors on September 2nd and we

1322
00:56:31,040 --> 00:56:33,440
would expect them to be in a position to

1323
00:56:33,440 --> 00:56:36,480
break ground shortly. Uh one last update

1324
00:56:36,480 --> 00:56:38,160
regarding the water meter replacement

1325
00:56:38,160 --> 00:56:39,680
program that's going on throughout the

1326
00:56:39,680 --> 00:56:41,520
bureau. The bureau's contractor,

1327
00:56:41,520 --> 00:56:43,440
Lenigan, is working towards contacting

1328
00:56:43,440 --> 00:56:45,280
owners and installing an additional

1329
00:56:45,280 --> 00:56:48,240
1,500 meters. So, um, this is in

1330
00:56:48,240 --> 00:56:50,240
addition to the 1,200 they've already

1331
00:56:50,240 --> 00:56:53,520
installed. Um, under that previous

1332
00:56:53,520 --> 00:56:57,760
round, Lanigan is still working through getting into properties

1333
00:56:57,760 --> 00:56:59,760
to install about 300 meters that were

1334
00:56:59,760 --> 00:57:03,119
not installed in the first round. Um,

1335
00:57:03,119 --> 00:57:06,720
for the 300 left, um, we will soon start

1336
00:57:06,720 --> 00:57:08,400
the process of shutting off water if

1337
00:57:08,400 --> 00:57:10,240
property owners refuse to respond to

1338
00:57:10,240 --> 00:57:12,640
requests to make an appointment. So, if

1339
00:57:12,640 --> 00:57:14,880
you receive a letter from Lenigan, make

1340
00:57:14,880 --> 00:57:18,880
sure that you follow up and and schedule your appointment so you don't

1341
00:57:18,880 --> 00:57:21,200
end up on the water shut off list. Um,

1342
00:57:21,200 --> 00:57:22,960
all this information can also be found

1343
00:57:22,960 --> 00:57:25,680
on the bureau's website. Um, only those

1344
00:57:25,680 --> 00:57:28,720
that are contacted by Lenigan um, need

1345
00:57:28,720 --> 00:57:31,359
to uh, reply at this point. So, if you

1346
00:57:31,359 --> 00:57:32,400
weren't if you didn't get a

1347
00:57:32,400 --> 00:57:34,880
notification, um you're you're you're

1348
00:57:34,880 --> 00:57:37,839
okay for now. And then at some point, uh

1349
00:57:37,839 --> 00:57:39,440
we'll be coming to a neighborhood near

1350
00:57:39,440 --> 00:57:42,240
you to replace meters. And that

1351
00:57:42,240 --> 00:57:43,680
concludes my report.

1352
00:57:43,680 --> 00:57:46,880
>> Okay. Thank you.

1353
00:57:46,880 --> 00:57:49,760
Okay. The schedule amendment, Matt.

1354
00:57:49,760 --> 00:57:52,079
>> Yes. Thank you, Madam President. As

1355
00:57:52,079 --> 00:57:53,440
council [clears throat] will recall, uh,

1356
00:57:53,440 --> 00:57:55,760
several months ago, they adopted an

1357
00:57:55,760 --> 00:57:57,920
ordinance which amended the, uh, rental

1358
00:57:57,920 --> 00:58:00,079
ordinance scheme to include the option

1359
00:58:00,079 --> 00:58:02,880
for landlords to use a qualified

1360
00:58:02,880 --> 00:58:05,839
third-party inspector. Uh, that program

1361
00:58:05,839 --> 00:58:09,119
will go live in October. Uh, as part of

1362
00:58:09,119 --> 00:58:10,559
that, you need to update your fee

1363
00:58:10,559 --> 00:58:12,960
schedule to account for uh, the work

1364
00:58:12,960 --> 00:58:14,720
that has to be done in association with

1365
00:58:14,720 --> 00:58:16,880
that. As we talked about in the past,

1366
00:58:16,880 --> 00:58:18,880
fees have to relate to the amount of

1367
00:58:18,880 --> 00:58:21,599
work that's projected or actually done

1368
00:58:21,599 --> 00:58:24,240
um related to the the service. Your

1369
00:58:24,240 --> 00:58:26,720
current fee schedule uh for related to

1370
00:58:26,720 --> 00:58:28,720
the inspections, there's a $10

1371
00:58:28,720 --> 00:58:31,280
application fee. Uh and then there's a

1372
00:58:31,280 --> 00:58:34,240
per unit inspection fee uh that's graded

1373
00:58:34,240 --> 00:58:35,760
based on the number of units that are in

1374
00:58:35,760 --> 00:58:38,640
the the building. Uh LNI is proposing

1375
00:58:38,640 --> 00:58:41,440
adding to the fee schedule uh a flat fee

1376
00:58:41,440 --> 00:58:43,280
of $65

1377
00:58:43,280 --> 00:58:46,000
uh per uh inspection report and that's

1378
00:58:46,000 --> 00:58:47,680
to cover the time for the processing of

1379
00:58:47,680 --> 00:58:49,760
the application, the review of the the

1380
00:58:49,760 --> 00:58:52,160
report uh and then the response that

1381
00:58:52,160 --> 00:58:55,200
follows. Uh LNI is also proposing uh

1382
00:58:55,200 --> 00:58:58,480
instituting a $15 penalty fee, a late

1383
00:58:58,480 --> 00:59:00,400
fee uh for anyone who doesn't comply

1384
00:59:00,400 --> 00:59:02,799
with the the uh timing requirements in

1385
00:59:02,799 --> 00:59:05,440
the ordinance. Um, I believe the

1386
00:59:05,440 --> 00:59:07,440
ordinance requires 60 days before your

1387
00:59:07,440 --> 00:59:09,839
license is needed or due notifying uh

1388
00:59:09,839 --> 00:59:11,680
and initiating the process for the third

1389
00:59:11,680 --> 00:59:14,319
party inspection fee. Um, unless there's

1390
00:59:14,319 --> 00:59:16,799
any questions or concerns, we list this

1391
00:59:16,799 --> 00:59:18,480
on the consent calendar for Monday

1392
00:59:18,480 --> 00:59:19,200
evening.

1393
00:59:19,200 --> 00:59:21,520
>> Matt, a question. Is there a

1394
00:59:21,520 --> 00:59:23,359
differentiation between a burrow

1395
00:59:23,359 --> 00:59:27,280
inspector and a third party inspector?

1396
00:59:27,280 --> 00:59:30,319
I mean meaning what I mean is is is that

1397
00:59:30,319 --> 00:59:31,760
>> they have an option to either go through

1398
00:59:31,760 --> 00:59:35,119
the burrow or they can get a third party

1399
00:59:35,119 --> 00:59:37,200
inspector. Is the fee the same either

1400
00:59:37,200 --> 00:59:38,079
one?

1401
00:59:38,079 --> 00:59:40,319
>> No. The fee is higher to use the

1402
00:59:40,319 --> 00:59:42,319
burrow's inspector because the inspector

1403
00:59:42,319 --> 00:59:44,079
has to perform the actual task of doing

1404
00:59:44,079 --> 00:59:47,200
the inspection. So while this proposes a

1405
00:59:47,200 --> 00:59:49,200
lower fee for the third party inspector,

1406
00:59:49,200 --> 00:59:50,480
the landlord is still going to have to

1407
00:59:50,480 --> 00:59:52,160
pay for their own inspector. So we

1408
00:59:52,160 --> 00:59:53,920
project that the overall cost is still

1409
00:59:53,920 --> 00:59:55,599
going to be a little bit higher if you

1410
00:59:55,599 --> 00:59:57,920
use a third party inspector. So there's

1411
00:59:57,920 --> 00:59:59,680
incentive to hopefully use the burrows

1412
00:59:59,680 --> 01:00:01,359
inspector, but again landlords will have

1413
01:00:01,359 --> 01:00:01,839
that option.

1414
01:00:01,839 --> 01:00:03,760
>> What would we rather prefer? Would we

1415
01:00:03,760 --> 01:00:06,480
rather them do us or would we rather

1416
01:00:06,480 --> 01:00:09,440
them have a third party? I mean what

1417
01:00:09,440 --> 01:00:13,359
would be better for us

1418
01:00:13,359 --> 01:00:18,480
from a workload thing from a inspection?

1419
01:00:18,480 --> 01:00:19,920
What would be better? What would be

1420
01:00:19,920 --> 01:00:22,960
better for the the developer or the

1421
01:00:22,960 --> 01:00:24,880
owner? What would be better? Do we want

1422
01:00:24,880 --> 01:00:26,640
to push someone? Do we want to

1423
01:00:26,640 --> 01:00:28,880
incentivize someone to go into a third

1424
01:00:28,880 --> 01:00:33,599
party or do we want them to use us

1425
01:00:33,599 --> 01:00:38,069
because you could possibly

1426
01:00:38,079 --> 01:00:40,240
make it so that you get what you want,

1427
01:00:40,240 --> 01:00:44,720
which is maybe less stress on LNI by

1428
01:00:44,720 --> 01:00:48,160
incentiving them to use a third party

1429
01:00:48,160 --> 01:00:51,119
inspector. Is there any benefit to that

1430
01:00:51,119 --> 01:00:52,559
or I don't know. I was just asking this

1431
01:00:52,559 --> 01:00:55,040
question. Do we care? Yeah, I could

1432
01:00:55,040 --> 01:00:56,640
answer from the lawyer's perspective. I

1433
01:00:56,640 --> 01:00:57,839
don't know if Justin has anything from

1434
01:00:57,839 --> 01:01:00,160
the administrative side, but again, you

1435
01:01:00,160 --> 01:01:01,839
know, given the litigation, what we want

1436
01:01:01,839 --> 01:01:04,319
is a fair option that landlords can

1437
01:01:04,319 --> 01:01:07,280
choose either. So, at least in assessing

1438
01:01:07,280 --> 01:01:08,799
this, we're looking at what the cost

1439
01:01:08,799 --> 01:01:10,880
would be again to do the inspection

1440
01:01:10,880 --> 01:01:12,720
versus just process it. Obviously, it's

1441
01:01:12,720 --> 01:01:14,880
more time inensive for the inspector to

1442
01:01:14,880 --> 01:01:17,599
go out and do it. Um, but again, I'm I'm

1443
01:01:17,599 --> 01:01:20,240
most concerned about having fairly that

1444
01:01:20,240 --> 01:01:21,440
option out there. Oh,

1445
01:01:21,440 --> 01:01:22,559
>> okay. Yeah. I just didn't know if we

1446
01:01:22,559 --> 01:01:24,400
wanted one over the other for which

1447
01:01:24,400 --> 01:01:26,720
would be better for us as a burrow as a

1448
01:01:26,720 --> 01:01:28,720
better for L and I. Okay. And I didn't

1449
01:01:28,720 --> 01:01:31,280
know if we wanted to, you know, guide

1450
01:01:31,280 --> 01:01:33,280
people into that,

1451
01:01:33,280 --> 01:01:34,880
>> but no.

1452
01:01:34,880 --> 01:01:36,319
>> Yeah. No, I mean really it's just to

1453
01:01:36,319 --> 01:01:38,559
give people more more more choice and

1454
01:01:38,559 --> 01:01:41,359
try to meet the spirit of um you know,

1455
01:01:41,359 --> 01:01:42,640
some of the litigation that we're trying

1456
01:01:42,640 --> 01:01:44,640
to work through regarding the the rental

1457
01:01:44,640 --> 01:01:45,680
ordinance.

1458
01:01:45,680 --> 01:01:47,359
>> Um and so if people want to use that

1459
01:01:47,359 --> 01:01:49,599
option, they can. Um obviously there's

1460
01:01:49,599 --> 01:01:51,680
pros and cons to it. Yes, we would save

1461
01:01:51,680 --> 01:01:54,160
time if they used the the third party.

1462
01:01:54,160 --> 01:01:58,960
Um we also would lose um revenue uh more

1463
01:01:58,960 --> 01:02:00,960
than likely even though we have an

1464
01:02:00,960 --> 01:02:02,960
application fee. Um we would lose

1465
01:02:02,960 --> 01:02:04,480
revenue for the inspection that we would

1466
01:02:04,480 --> 01:02:06,319
actually do. And then I think that you

1467
01:02:06,319 --> 01:02:07,839
have to look at it from the standpoint

1468
01:02:07,839 --> 01:02:10,480
of the the back and [clears throat]

1469
01:02:10,480 --> 01:02:13,839
forth. Our inspectors know what what

1470
01:02:13,839 --> 01:02:17,280
they're um looking for. the third party

1471
01:02:17,280 --> 01:02:18,640
inspectors should know what they're

1472
01:02:18,640 --> 01:02:20,880
looking for, but if they they don't,

1473
01:02:20,880 --> 01:02:22,559
then that's where our administrative

1474
01:02:22,559 --> 01:02:25,920
review comes in and we say, "Well, you didn't inspect this and you didn't

1475
01:02:25,920 --> 01:02:27,760
expect inspect that." And then it

1476
01:02:27,760 --> 01:02:28,559
becomes a little bit of an

1477
01:02:28,559 --> 01:02:30,559
administrative thing going back and

1478
01:02:30,559 --> 01:02:31,440
forth. So,

1479
01:02:31,440 --> 01:02:32,079
>> okay,

1480
01:02:32,079 --> 01:02:34,079
>> hopefully that helps to answer the

1481
01:02:34,079 --> 01:02:35,200
question.

1482
01:02:35,200 --> 01:02:37,440
>> Um,

1483
01:02:37,440 --> 01:02:40,000
my my question is how did this come up

1484
01:02:40,000 --> 01:02:42,960
come about? Did was there issues with

1485
01:02:42,960 --> 01:02:44,880
scheduling? Was there issues with

1486
01:02:44,880 --> 01:02:46,319
landlords having issues with our

1487
01:02:46,319 --> 01:02:48,000
inspectors? I mean I mean how did this

1488
01:02:48,000 --> 01:02:50,400
third party idea

1489
01:02:50,400 --> 01:02:52,480
come into

1490
01:02:52,480 --> 01:02:54,870
being? [clears throat]

1491
01:02:54,880 --> 01:02:56,720
» This was our effort to sort of problem

1492
01:02:56,720 --> 01:02:59,280
solve the ongoing litigation uh over

1493
01:02:59,280 --> 01:03:00,960
Elani's need to use administrative

1494
01:03:00,960 --> 01:03:03,520
search warrants uh to go into properties

1495
01:03:03,520 --> 01:03:05,119
that are occupied by a tenant who

1496
01:03:05,119 --> 01:03:07,359
refuses an inspection. And the basis of

1497
01:03:07,359 --> 01:03:09,440
that litigation is concerned about you

1498
01:03:09,440 --> 01:03:11,040
know the government going into someone's

1499
01:03:11,040 --> 01:03:13,280
home where they live. So this provides

1500
01:03:13,280 --> 01:03:15,280
them an option where the landlord hires

1501
01:03:15,280 --> 01:03:16,799
someone completely independent of the

1502
01:03:16,799 --> 01:03:19,440
bureau, a non-governmental inspector,

1503
01:03:19,440 --> 01:03:21,359
you know, who can privately go in,

1504
01:03:21,359 --> 01:03:23,440
confirm the health and safety of the

1505
01:03:23,440 --> 01:03:26,160
unit and, you know, issue that to the

1506
01:03:26,160 --> 01:03:27,680
bureau, you know, showing that a

1507
01:03:27,680 --> 01:03:29,280
qualified professional has confirmed

1508
01:03:29,280 --> 01:03:31,680
that the the unit is safe to live in.

1509
01:03:31,680 --> 01:03:37,510
Okay.

1510
01:03:37,520 --> 01:03:38,960
If there's no other questions or

1511
01:03:38,960 --> 01:03:40,559
objections, I will list that Monday

1512
01:03:40,559 --> 01:03:43,920
evening for the consent calendar.

1513
01:03:43,920 --> 01:03:46,960
>> Okay. Thank you, Matt. Um, resolution

1514
01:03:46,960 --> 01:03:50,319
2027, uniform and nonuniform

1515
01:03:50,319 --> 01:03:53,680
pensions plan [clears throat] minimum

1516
01:03:53,680 --> 01:03:56,319
municipal obligation.

1517
01:03:56,319 --> 01:03:58,960
>> Yes.

1518
01:03:58,960 --> 01:04:00,799
>> Thank you, President Lindsay. Um, the

1519
01:04:00,799 --> 01:04:02,720
pension MMO, just as a reminder to

1520
01:04:02,720 --> 01:04:04,720
everyone, is the minimum annual

1521
01:04:04,720 --> 01:04:06,720
contribution the bureau is legally

1522
01:04:06,720 --> 01:04:09,680
required to make to its pension fund to

1523
01:04:09,680 --> 01:04:11,599
keep the plan properly properly funded

1524
01:04:11,599 --> 01:04:14,480
and meet future retirement obligations.

1525
01:04:14,480 --> 01:04:16,640
So, the calculation is based on

1526
01:04:16,640 --> 01:04:18,960
actuarial assumptions, payroll, pension

1527
01:04:18,960 --> 01:04:22,480
costs, and any unfunded liability uh in

1528
01:04:22,480 --> 01:04:26,000
the plan. um state pension aid uh that

1529
01:04:26,000 --> 01:04:28,079
we get from the state may also offset a

1530
01:04:28,079 --> 01:04:30,480
portion of the bureau's um actual cost,

1531
01:04:30,480 --> 01:04:33,920
but we do have to pay this um upfront.

1532
01:04:33,920 --> 01:04:36,000
And I will note that both pension boards

1533
01:04:36,000 --> 01:04:38,720
elected a smoothing method about a year

1534
01:04:38,720 --> 01:04:41,280
or so ago um which helps to present

1535
01:04:41,280 --> 01:04:43,359
which helps to prevent large swings in

1536
01:04:43,359 --> 01:04:46,799
the MMO from year to year. Um so while

1537
01:04:46,799 --> 01:04:49,680
this year um we did see increases, they

1538
01:04:49,680 --> 01:04:52,559
weren't um huge increases. So we're

1539
01:04:52,559 --> 01:04:57,200
looking at for 2027 the MMO will be

1540
01:04:57,200 --> 01:05:01,430
2,171,516

1541
01:05:01,440 --> 01:05:04,160
for the um uniformed or the police

1542
01:05:04,160 --> 01:05:09,190
pension. That's an increase of $110,420.

1543
01:05:09,200 --> 01:05:13,039
for the 2027 non-uniform pension that

1544
01:05:13,039 --> 01:05:17,270
MMO is $1,79,311

1545
01:05:17,280 --> 01:05:21,990
and that's a decrease of $25,51.

1546
01:05:22,000 --> 01:05:26,559
Um so the total net um uh change is an

1547
01:05:26,559 --> 01:05:30,000
increase of $85,269

1548
01:05:30,000 --> 01:05:32,319
uh dollars which that'll have to be

1549
01:05:32,319 --> 01:05:36,400
incorporated into our 2027 um budget

1550
01:05:36,400 --> 01:05:39,520
numbers. So, um, we would ask for

1551
01:05:39,520 --> 01:05:42,319
council's approval on those pension

1552
01:05:42,319 --> 01:05:44,640
contributions and we suggest adding that

1553
01:05:44,640 --> 01:05:46,960
to the consent agenda for Monday night.

1554
01:05:46,960 --> 01:05:48,720
>> Okay. Thank you, Justin. And while I

1555
01:05:48,720 --> 01:05:51,839
have you, um, resolution James Engles

1556
01:05:51,839 --> 01:05:53,039
retirement.

1557
01:05:53,039 --> 01:05:55,119
>> Yes, we have a retire retirement

1558
01:05:55,119 --> 01:05:58,079
resolution for James Engel who served 10

1559
01:05:58,079 --> 01:06:00,480
years in the public works garage. Um,

1560
01:06:00,480 --> 01:06:02,240
and we'll be placing that on Monday

1561
01:06:02,240 --> 01:06:05,200
night's uh, consent agenda for council

1562
01:06:05,200 --> 01:06:07,599
approval. Okay. And while I still have

1563
01:06:07,599 --> 01:06:11,839
you, um, Skoo River Trail directional

1564
01:06:11,839 --> 01:06:12,720
signs.

1565
01:06:12,720 --> 01:06:14,480
>> Yeah. So, exciting times here in

1566
01:06:14,480 --> 01:06:16,480
Pottstown. A lot of, um, great things

1567
01:06:16,480 --> 01:06:19,599
are happening. Uh, we finally now have

1568
01:06:19,599 --> 01:06:22,960
the Skookulo River Trail connected 70

1569
01:06:22,960 --> 01:06:25,920
miles all the way from Pottstown to

1570
01:06:25,920 --> 01:06:29,599
Philadelphia. Um, I think uh Elaine

1571
01:06:29,599 --> 01:06:31,680
Schaefer over at Skooker River Greenway,

1572
01:06:31,680 --> 01:06:35,119
she put put out an awesome article that

1573
01:06:35,119 --> 01:06:36,880
really promoted all the benefits that

1574
01:06:36,880 --> 01:06:39,680
this will bring to town. Um, and so to

1575
01:06:39,680 --> 01:06:42,319
try to um capture some of that a little

1576
01:06:42,319 --> 01:06:44,319
bit better and now that we do have a

1577
01:06:44,319 --> 01:06:48,240
full connection, they are asking for um

1578
01:06:48,240 --> 01:06:51,440
SRT street signs. Um there's an attached

1579
01:06:51,440 --> 01:06:54,000
plan that shows where they would go. Um

1580
01:06:54,000 --> 01:06:55,920
what they are is the vertical

1581
01:06:55,920 --> 01:06:58,480
rectangular signs that you see often see

1582
01:06:58,480 --> 01:07:00,960
in the size of like a state uh state

1583
01:07:00,960 --> 01:07:03,359
route marker sign. And these signs will

1584
01:07:03,359 --> 01:07:05,039
be installed on existing signposts

1585
01:07:05,039 --> 01:07:06,400
within the burrows right away. And

1586
01:07:06,400 --> 01:07:10,319
therefore um we are requesting this for

1587
01:07:10,319 --> 01:07:12,160
uh approval in the consent agenda on

1588
01:07:12,160 --> 01:07:15,119
Monday night as well.

1589
01:07:15,119 --> 01:07:17,039
>> Yeah, I've seen a lot more traffic along

1590
01:07:17,039 --> 01:07:19,440
um Industrial Highway with the the bikes

1591
01:07:19,440 --> 01:07:21,920
going like that. So, it's finally good

1592
01:07:21,920 --> 01:07:23,440
to see people out there and use it.

1593
01:07:23,440 --> 01:07:24,400
Works out well.

1594
01:07:24,400 --> 01:07:27,280
>> Yes. And we do have um a ribbon cutting

1595
01:07:27,280 --> 01:07:29,839
coming up. Does anybody remember the

1596
01:07:29,839 --> 01:07:32,640
date? If not, I'll I'll try to get that.

1597
01:07:32,640 --> 01:07:33,119
>> You don't.

1598
01:07:33,119 --> 01:07:35,680
>> The 29th. Yeah, that sounds right. Yeah.

1599
01:07:35,680 --> 01:07:37,839
So, September 29th, there's going to be

1600
01:07:37,839 --> 01:07:39,599
a ribbon cutting with with the with the

1601
01:07:39,599 --> 01:07:41,839
municipalities and and the county. And

1602
01:07:41,839 --> 01:07:44,160
we'll get more info for council on that.

1603
01:07:44,160 --> 01:07:46,160
And of course, the public is invited to

1604
01:07:46,160 --> 01:07:48,480
attend as well.

1605
01:07:48,480 --> 01:07:50,319
>> Okay. Thank you.

1606
01:07:50,319 --> 01:07:55,119
Um, land development 24 Coolage Street,

1607
01:07:55,119 --> 01:07:57,359
Coolage Commons. Matt.

1608
01:07:57,359 --> 01:07:59,119
>> Yes. Thank you, Madam President. I

1609
01:07:59,119 --> 01:08:01,200
provided a a briefing in advance by

1610
01:08:01,200 --> 01:08:04,000
email. Uh, this is a project uh where

1611
01:08:04,000 --> 01:08:05,760
the planning commission has rem

1612
01:08:05,760 --> 01:08:07,680
recommended a preliminary land

1613
01:08:07,680 --> 01:08:09,920
development approval. Uh, it's for

1614
01:08:09,920 --> 01:08:11,680
property uh that is partially in the

1615
01:08:11,680 --> 01:08:13,440
burrow and primarily in Upper Potts

1616
01:08:13,440 --> 01:08:16,080
Grove. Uh the applicant, the developers

1617
01:08:16,080 --> 01:08:18,000
attorney, Rich Almquist, and his team is

1618
01:08:18,000 --> 01:08:19,520
here with us this evening to give you a

1619
01:08:19,520 --> 01:08:20,960
presentation on it.

1620
01:08:20,960 --> 01:08:26,239
>> Okay. And while I have you Oh, sorry.

1621
01:08:26,239 --> 01:08:28,080
>> No, I'm sorry.

1622
01:08:28,080 --> 01:08:31,679
>> Good evening, uh uh President Lindsay,

1623
01:08:31,679 --> 01:08:37,040
um councilors, uh and Mayor Helnick or

1624
01:08:37,040 --> 01:08:38,640
Henrik,

1625
01:08:38,640 --> 01:08:41,520
apologize for that. Um

1626
01:08:41,520 --> 01:08:43,520
it's been a long time since well several

1627
01:08:43,520 --> 01:08:45,040
months since I've been here to see you

1628
01:08:45,040 --> 01:08:46,480
folks and this time I'm here on a

1629
01:08:46,480 --> 01:08:48,560
different project. I'm here representing

1630
01:08:48,560 --> 01:08:50,560
uh the Koolage Commons project which is

1631
01:08:50,560 --> 01:08:54,159
located uh in the northwestern end of

1632
01:08:54,159 --> 01:08:57,199
the burrow uh along Wilson Street. Uh if

1633
01:08:57,199 --> 01:08:58,560
you're familiar with the intersection of

1634
01:08:58,560 --> 01:09:01,520
Wilson and Farmington um this is the

1635
01:09:01,520 --> 01:09:04,239
stretch of Wilson that is the soapbox

1636
01:09:04,239 --> 01:09:09,120
Derby uh hill. Um most of the property

1637
01:09:09,120 --> 01:09:11,279
uh as was mentioned is located within

1638
01:09:11,279 --> 01:09:13,440
Upper Potts Grove Township and in fact

1639
01:09:13,440 --> 01:09:15,600
that's where the units the town houses

1640
01:09:15,600 --> 01:09:18,239
that are proposed will be located. Uh

1641
01:09:18,239 --> 01:09:20,719
the primary access for the development

1642
01:09:20,719 --> 01:09:24,799
is uh coming off of um uh Wilson Street.

1643
01:09:24,799 --> 01:09:26,880
Uh and as you see the plan there I think

1644
01:09:26,880 --> 01:09:28,560
there's a cursor pointing at it right

1645
01:09:28,560 --> 01:09:30,400
now. That's the main entrance to the

1646
01:09:30,400 --> 01:09:32,799
development. Now some of you may have a

1647
01:09:32,799 --> 01:09:35,120
question. What happens on soapbox derby

1648
01:09:35,120 --> 01:09:38,000
day? Well, that entrance gets closed and

1649
01:09:38,000 --> 01:09:40,239
there is an alternate ingress egress

1650
01:09:40,239 --> 01:09:41,920
that is going to be coming off of the

1651
01:09:41,920 --> 01:09:44,719
north side of the property on uh

1652
01:09:44,719 --> 01:09:47,199
currently a paper street in Upper Pods

1653
01:09:47,199 --> 01:09:50,080
Grove Township known as Koolage Avenue.

1654
01:09:50,080 --> 01:09:52,080
Now, I refer to it as a paper street

1655
01:09:52,080 --> 01:09:53,520
because it's never formally been

1656
01:09:53,520 --> 01:09:56,000
developed or dedicated to Upper Potts

1657
01:09:56,000 --> 01:09:58,800
Grove Township. Uh but it has been paved

1658
01:09:58,800 --> 01:10:01,199
to provide access to some existing

1659
01:10:01,199 --> 01:10:03,280
residences and dwellings that are along

1660
01:10:03,280 --> 01:10:05,760
that stretch of the road. Now, if we

1661
01:10:05,760 --> 01:10:07,760
were to go back 30 or 40 years, the

1662
01:10:07,760 --> 01:10:10,320
question is who actually paved it? Could

1663
01:10:10,320 --> 01:10:13,120
be some partnership arrangement between

1664
01:10:13,120 --> 01:10:15,360
Upper Potsgrove and the residents, but

1665
01:10:15,360 --> 01:10:17,120
overall it's not in the greatest

1666
01:10:17,120 --> 01:10:20,320
condition. So, as you see on this plan,

1667
01:10:20,320 --> 01:10:22,880
uh Upper Pottsgrove has asked us to

1668
01:10:22,880 --> 01:10:27,040
improve that as a alternate egress uh

1669
01:10:27,040 --> 01:10:30,000
for the property. Um it would be

1670
01:10:30,000 --> 01:10:32,400
primarily an alternate egress. the

1671
01:10:32,400 --> 01:10:34,480
principal ingress egress is off of

1672
01:10:34,480 --> 01:10:36,320
Wilson Street and in fact that's most

1673
01:10:36,320 --> 01:10:38,800
likely the way people will enter the

1674
01:10:38,800 --> 01:10:41,760
development. Um occasionally I suspect

1675
01:10:41,760 --> 01:10:43,440
that you would because it would be open

1676
01:10:43,440 --> 01:10:46,159
full-time uh you would have some folks

1677
01:10:46,159 --> 01:10:48,239
who may be heading north on Farmington

1678
01:10:48,239 --> 01:10:50,080
Avenue would choose to leave that

1679
01:10:50,080 --> 01:10:52,719
direction. Uh but primarily the in

1680
01:10:52,719 --> 01:10:54,480
ingress and egress will be from Wilson

1681
01:10:54,480 --> 01:10:57,280
Street. Uh as uh your planning

1682
01:10:57,280 --> 01:10:58,960
commission has worked with us throughout

1683
01:10:58,960 --> 01:11:01,280
the development process here. Uh one of

1684
01:11:01,280 --> 01:11:03,040
the requests was well you know the

1685
01:11:03,040 --> 01:11:04,719
houses are going to be located in Upper

1686
01:11:04,719 --> 01:11:06,880
Pods Grove uh and the entrance is going

1687
01:11:06,880 --> 01:11:09,199
to be within the burrow. Uh the request

1688
01:11:09,199 --> 01:11:11,520
was made and we have agreed to provide

1689
01:11:11,520 --> 01:11:13,760
sidewalk on the north side of Wilson

1690
01:11:13,760 --> 01:11:15,520
Street running from the intersection

1691
01:11:15,520 --> 01:11:18,159
with Farmington Avenue all the way up to

1692
01:11:18,159 --> 01:11:20,800
the intersection with State Street. Uh

1693
01:11:20,800 --> 01:11:22,719
this will provide walkability on the

1694
01:11:22,719 --> 01:11:25,199
north side of Wilson Street. And I'm

1695
01:11:25,199 --> 01:11:26,880
sure would be an added benefit during

1696
01:11:26,880 --> 01:11:28,960
the soapbox derby for people to be able

1697
01:11:28,960 --> 01:11:30,640
to walk up and down that side of the

1698
01:11:30,640 --> 01:11:32,400
street as opposed to right now they just

1699
01:11:32,400 --> 01:11:34,239
can walk on the cemetery side of the

1700
01:11:34,239 --> 01:11:37,440
street. Um [clears throat] the review of

1701
01:11:37,440 --> 01:11:39,600
your professionals has recommended to

1702
01:11:39,600 --> 01:11:42,000
the planning commission to recommend

1703
01:11:42,000 --> 01:11:44,320
approval subject to satisfaction of the

1704
01:11:44,320 --> 01:11:46,239
conditions of their review letter. your

1705
01:11:46,239 --> 01:11:49,440
traffic engineer uh has indicated that

1706
01:11:49,440 --> 01:11:52,080
the ingress uh is is appropriate on

1707
01:11:52,080 --> 01:11:54,400
Wilson Street and won't cause an adverse

1708
01:11:54,400 --> 01:11:56,880
impact to the intersection at uh

1709
01:11:56,880 --> 01:12:01,760
Farmington and Wilson. Um uh and um we

1710
01:12:01,760 --> 01:12:03,199
have worked with the transportation

1711
01:12:03,199 --> 01:12:06,239
department for uh the school district uh

1712
01:12:06,239 --> 01:12:09,199
their preferences to uh provide access

1713
01:12:09,199 --> 01:12:11,679
and the bus stop on the Wilson Street

1714
01:12:11,679 --> 01:12:16,719
entrance. Um the fire chief has uh uh

1715
01:12:16,719 --> 01:12:19,360
recommended the approval because we have

1716
01:12:19,360 --> 01:12:21,040
provided the appropriate widths for

1717
01:12:21,040 --> 01:12:22,480
turning movements for the largest

1718
01:12:22,480 --> 01:12:24,800
apparatus. And while the homes would be

1719
01:12:24,800 --> 01:12:27,440
located in Upper Pods, uh upper Potts

1720
01:12:27,440 --> 01:12:29,440
Grove, uh Pottstown Burough's fire

1721
01:12:29,440 --> 01:12:32,000
department does provide a fair amount of

1722
01:12:32,000 --> 01:12:34,159
assistance to Upper Potts Grove. So

1723
01:12:34,159 --> 01:12:35,760
their largest equipment would be coming

1724
01:12:35,760 --> 01:12:38,320
from Pottstown. We've accommodated that.

1725
01:12:38,320 --> 01:12:40,560
Uh the total number of homes, town

1726
01:12:40,560 --> 01:12:44,719
houses is 64. Uh which is uh quite a bit

1727
01:12:44,719 --> 01:12:46,560
less than the maximum density that would

1728
01:12:46,560 --> 01:12:49,520
be permitted for the development. Um and

1729
01:12:49,520 --> 01:12:51,840
uh we have responded to your engineers

1730
01:12:51,840 --> 01:12:54,000
comments. Uh the most recent review

1731
01:12:54,000 --> 01:12:55,600
letter we indicated the planning

1732
01:12:55,600 --> 01:12:57,760
commission everything is a will comply.

1733
01:12:57,760 --> 01:13:00,000
And so we are asking for you to consider

1734
01:13:00,000 --> 01:13:02,960
at your council meeting uh grant of a

1735
01:13:02,960 --> 01:13:04,880
conditional preliminary approval so that

1736
01:13:04,880 --> 01:13:07,199
we can move on to the next step. submit

1737
01:13:07,199 --> 01:13:09,280
the applications to the conservation

1738
01:13:09,280 --> 01:13:11,920
district for review and approval to D

1739
01:13:11,920 --> 01:13:14,560
for review and approval uh and move it

1740
01:13:14,560 --> 01:13:16,239
to the next phase which would be the

1741
01:13:16,239 --> 01:13:19,360
final plan. Uh it'll be before you again

1742
01:13:19,360 --> 01:13:22,239
whether you want it or not. [laughter]

1743
01:13:22,239 --> 01:13:24,560
I have with me tonight I have our

1744
01:13:24,560 --> 01:13:26,159
engineer if you have any technical

1745
01:13:26,159 --> 01:13:29,199
questions um and also Tom Flatty

1746
01:13:29,199 --> 01:13:31,120
Flattley who is with Koolage Commons

1747
01:13:31,120 --> 01:13:32,880
LLC.

1748
01:13:32,880 --> 01:13:34,239
>> This was brought up in regional planning

1749
01:13:34,239 --> 01:13:36,400
in July if I remember correctly. I

1750
01:13:36,400 --> 01:13:37,120
believe that is correct.

1751
01:13:37,120 --> 01:13:39,120
>> We were discussing and I guess most of

1752
01:13:39,120 --> 01:13:40,400
the comments were just kind of concerned

1753
01:13:40,400 --> 01:13:41,920
about mean there'd be a lot of

1754
01:13:41,920 --> 01:13:44,719
development across the street of 100

1755
01:13:44,719 --> 01:13:45,440
rather.

1756
01:13:45,440 --> 01:13:50,159
>> Yeah. There one of the reasons for us uh looking at the level of improvements

1757
01:13:50,159 --> 01:13:52,239
of Koolage Avenue is because there is

1758
01:13:52,239 --> 01:13:54,800
another apartment development that is

1759
01:13:54,800 --> 01:13:56,560
proposed potentially north of us.

1760
01:13:56,560 --> 01:13:58,719
They're quite a bit behind us in the

1761
01:13:58,719 --> 01:14:00,800
land development process and that

1762
01:14:00,800 --> 01:14:03,760
apartment development uh would be

1763
01:14:03,760 --> 01:14:06,239
located off of commerce. they would need

1764
01:14:06,239 --> 01:14:09,520
an additional ingress egress to a public

1765
01:14:09,520 --> 01:14:12,080
road because commerce is is not it would

1766
01:14:12,080 --> 01:14:13,840
be that would be a oneway in and out

1767
01:14:13,840 --> 01:14:16,320
which is not necessarily suitable for

1768
01:14:16,320 --> 01:14:18,000
that size of a development.

1769
01:14:18,000 --> 01:14:20,880
>> So we have been working with them uh to

1770
01:14:20,880 --> 01:14:23,520
come up with you know a sharing of the

1771
01:14:23,520 --> 01:14:25,840
costs ultimately it would be offered for

1772
01:14:25,840 --> 01:14:29,679
dedication to uh upper pots township. Um

1773
01:14:29,679 --> 01:14:32,080
and uh last evening we did receive

1774
01:14:32,080 --> 01:14:33,840
conditional preliminary plan approval

1775
01:14:33,840 --> 01:14:36,159
from Upper Potts Grove Township and they

1776
01:14:36,159 --> 01:14:38,080
have granted our waivers. Many of the

1777
01:14:38,080 --> 01:14:40,000
waivers are associated with the

1778
01:14:40,000 --> 01:14:43,830
improvements on Kulage.

1779
01:14:43,840 --> 01:14:45,679
» Uh can I ask a couple questions? So you

1780
01:14:45,679 --> 01:14:47,360
you're talking about the sidewalk that

1781
01:14:47,360 --> 01:14:49,600
will be along Wilson. Will there be a

1782
01:14:49,600 --> 01:14:52,719
sidewalk uh that goes up Farmington?

1783
01:14:52,719 --> 01:14:55,520
>> Uh no there will not. In fact uh those

1784
01:14:55,520 --> 01:14:57,280
residences there there are residences.

1785
01:14:57,280 --> 01:14:59,199
>> Oh there's houses there. Okay. Yeah.

1786
01:14:59,199 --> 01:15:00,480
Okay. So, we wouldn't have any

1787
01:15:00,480 --> 01:15:02,560
improvements along Farmington. In fact,

1788
01:15:02,560 --> 01:15:05,520
I I think generally the both

1789
01:15:05,520 --> 01:15:07,440
municipalities

1790
01:15:07,440 --> 01:15:08,640
>> don't believe that that is an

1791
01:15:08,640 --> 01:15:09,920
appropriate walking sign.

1792
01:15:09,920 --> 01:15:10,800
>> Yeah, that's what I was going to say.

1793
01:15:10,800 --> 01:15:11,040
Yeah.

1794
01:15:11,040 --> 01:15:13,440
>> Yeah. Making safe there. Yeah, it's

1795
01:15:13,440 --> 01:15:15,280
there. There is I believe there's

1796
01:15:15,280 --> 01:15:17,280
sidewalk from um I can't remember if

1797
01:15:17,280 --> 01:15:18,080
that's

1798
01:15:18,080 --> 01:15:22,400
>> is that at There's this street here

1799
01:15:22,400 --> 01:15:24,136
>> to Farmington. There is some sidewalk.

1800
01:15:24,136 --> 01:15:24,640
[clears throat]

1801
01:15:24,640 --> 01:15:25,199
>> Okay.

1802
01:15:25,199 --> 01:15:27,360
>> But there's not very much on Farmington.

1803
01:15:27,360 --> 01:15:29,199
And then the sidewalk would go all would

1804
01:15:29,199 --> 01:15:30,480
they go all the way up the state or

1805
01:15:30,480 --> 01:15:32,640
would it go as and then just sort of end

1806
01:15:32,640 --> 01:15:35,120
at that corner or bear around or

1807
01:15:35,120 --> 01:15:37,760
>> at that corner? You have existing ADA

1808
01:15:37,760 --> 01:15:39,360
ramps at that intersection that kind of

1809
01:15:39,360 --> 01:15:39,679
go

1810
01:15:39,679 --> 01:15:40,800
>> I don't know where those ramps

1811
01:15:40,800 --> 01:15:42,960
necessarily go to. I always laugh about

1812
01:15:42,960 --> 01:15:44,880
those because they're they're like there

1813
01:15:44,880 --> 01:15:46,640
and they're overgrown with weeds. But

1814
01:15:46,640 --> 01:15:49,760
like um my my other question was you

1815
01:15:49,760 --> 01:15:51,280
know I don't know it's really a

1816
01:15:51,280 --> 01:15:52,800
question. I'm just thinking about that

1817
01:15:52,800 --> 01:15:55,040
traffic on Wilson. I mean, I I drive

1818
01:15:55,040 --> 01:15:56,800
that every single day, taking my kids to

1819
01:15:56,800 --> 01:15:58,800
the high school, and that can get backed

1820
01:15:58,800 --> 01:16:00,640
up up there. And I'm thinking now people

1821
01:16:00,640 --> 01:16:02,560
are going to be going out of this

1822
01:16:02,560 --> 01:16:05,199
development. That just seems there's it

1823
01:16:05,199 --> 01:16:08,239
we're not I guess there's no there's no

1824
01:16:08,239 --> 01:16:10,000
light, right? We're just talking about

1825
01:16:10,000 --> 01:16:12,080
just a a left and a right that people

1826
01:16:12,080 --> 01:16:13,040
would make out of there.

1827
01:16:13,040 --> 01:16:15,360
>> Correct. There's no signal at the

1828
01:16:15,360 --> 01:16:17,360
entrance to the development. And in

1829
01:16:17,360 --> 01:16:19,040
fact, it wouldn't be appropriate,

1830
01:16:19,040 --> 01:16:20,400
>> right? Because this other side is a

1831
01:16:20,400 --> 01:16:20,880
cemetery,

1832
01:16:20,880 --> 01:16:22,719
>> right? Well, well, no, because there's a

1833
01:16:22,719 --> 01:16:25,040
signalized intersection at Farmington

1834
01:16:25,040 --> 01:16:26,560
and Wilson and then another one at

1835
01:16:26,560 --> 01:16:28,159
State. Okay.

1836
01:16:28,159 --> 01:16:30,480
>> Now, we can talk about the issues at

1837
01:16:30,480 --> 01:16:33,760
State and Route 100, but that is a a

1838
01:16:33,760 --> 01:16:35,679
problem for Pendot to figure out. They

1839
01:16:35,679 --> 01:16:37,600
created that's their own mess.

1840
01:16:37,600 --> 01:16:39,520
>> I I just I guess I'm just thinking that

1841
01:16:39,520 --> 01:16:46,960
like like you pointed out, we're we're getting we're sharing the the the brunt of the traffic, but we're not

1842
01:16:46,960 --> 01:16:49,120
getting any of the benefit from the

1843
01:16:49,120 --> 01:16:51,520
taxes, you know. So, I'm just thinking

1844
01:16:51,520 --> 01:16:53,600
about the traffic that's going to flow

1845
01:16:53,600 --> 01:16:55,199
onto that property and I watch people

1846
01:16:55,199 --> 01:16:57,760
coming people shoot down Wilson like

1847
01:16:57,760 --> 01:17:00,000
they're which is laughable because when

1848
01:17:00,000 --> 01:17:01,440
they get down to Farmington there's that

1849
01:17:01,440 --> 01:17:03,199
little dip that people take out their

1850
01:17:03,199 --> 01:17:05,120
transmissions all the time. So, I I

1851
01:17:05,120 --> 01:17:06,159
always figure those people who are

1852
01:17:06,159 --> 01:17:07,679
shooting down Wilson don't know what the

1853
01:17:07,679 --> 01:17:09,760
heck is at the end, you know? So, right.

1854
01:17:09,760 --> 01:17:11,679
>> Um, but I'm just thinking of the traffic

1855
01:17:11,679 --> 01:17:13,120
that's coming in out of there and that

1856
01:17:13,120 --> 01:17:14,560
that's something that we're going to

1857
01:17:14,560 --> 01:17:16,719
have to deal with, but we don't get a

1858
01:17:16,719 --> 01:17:18,080
lot of benefits off of that. I mean, the

1859
01:17:18,080 --> 01:17:19,840
sidewalk is a great idea. I I do love

1860
01:17:19,840 --> 01:17:21,600
the idea of the sidewalk and I do love

1861
01:17:21,600 --> 01:17:23,199
the idea of that property has been

1862
01:17:23,199 --> 01:17:25,120
sitting there you know for a really long

1863
01:17:25,120 --> 01:17:27,040
time and it's you know it's kind of an

1864
01:17:27,040 --> 01:17:29,280
eyesore and it's cool to see it be used

1865
01:17:29,280 --> 01:17:31,120
in this capacity. I just just trying to

1866
01:17:31,120 --> 01:17:32,800
think of where the benefits are for us.

1867
01:17:32,800 --> 01:17:33,360
>> Yeah,

1868
01:17:33,360 --> 01:17:35,280
>> I did that too. In addition to the

1869
01:17:35,280 --> 01:17:37,440
sidewalk being provided on the north

1870
01:17:37,440 --> 01:17:40,239
side of Wilson Street, uh sewer is being

1871
01:17:40,239 --> 01:17:42,159
provided by Pennsylvania American

1872
01:17:42,159 --> 01:17:44,320
through the conveyance system uh by

1873
01:17:44,320 --> 01:17:46,640
connection on coolage, but that revenue

1874
01:17:46,640 --> 01:17:48,880
is going to be generated by Pottstown

1875
01:17:48,880 --> 01:17:50,159
Burough Authority because they are the

1876
01:17:50,159 --> 01:17:53,280
treatment facility for that sewage. This

1877
01:17:53,280 --> 01:17:56,159
is also within the water uh service area

1878
01:17:56,159 --> 01:17:57,840
for the Pottstown Burough Authority. So

1879
01:17:57,840 --> 01:17:59,120
there will be revenue coming to the

1880
01:17:59,120 --> 01:18:00,880
burrow from the water supply which is

1881
01:18:00,880 --> 01:18:03,280
coming from the burough authority. Um

1882
01:18:03,280 --> 01:18:05,840
the that is all being evaluated. We're

1883
01:18:05,840 --> 01:18:08,159
working with the folks at both uh with

1884
01:18:08,159 --> 01:18:11,520
the engineers for um authority and also

1885
01:18:11,520 --> 01:18:12,960
Pennsylvania American.

1886
01:18:12,960 --> 01:18:13,760
>> That's throughout the

1887
01:18:13,760 --> 01:18:15,199
>> That's exciting to hear. That's awesome.

1888
01:18:15,199 --> 01:18:15,600
Thank you.

1889
01:18:15,600 --> 01:18:20,229
>> Yeah.

1890
01:18:20,239 --> 01:18:22,719
» If there's no other questions, again,

1891
01:18:22,719 --> 01:18:24,880
two final things to say on it. This is a

1892
01:18:24,880 --> 01:18:27,040
little bit different than a typical

1893
01:18:27,040 --> 01:18:29,120
Pottstown project. Um, under the

1894
01:18:29,120 --> 01:18:30,880
municipality's planning code,

1895
01:18:30,880 --> 01:18:32,080
technically a developer needs

1896
01:18:32,080 --> 01:18:34,000
preliminary approval and then final

1897
01:18:34,000 --> 01:18:36,159
approval. And preliminary approval is to

1898
01:18:36,159 --> 01:18:38,560
the the basic concepts and layout of the

1899
01:18:38,560 --> 01:18:40,640
project and then they come back for

1900
01:18:40,640 --> 01:18:42,800
final approval uh for the the fine

1901
01:18:42,800 --> 01:18:46,000
details of the project. Um, most often

1902
01:18:46,000 --> 01:18:47,840
in recent history, developers are asking

1903
01:18:47,840 --> 01:18:49,679
for preliminary final at the same time.

1904
01:18:49,679 --> 01:18:51,360
This particular project, the developer

1905
01:18:51,360 --> 01:18:53,760
is only asking for preliminary. So, as

1906
01:18:53,760 --> 01:18:55,199
Rich said, at some point in the future,

1907
01:18:55,199 --> 01:18:57,280
the final plan will come back to you for

1908
01:18:57,280 --> 01:19:00,880
a second review and approval. Um, if

1909
01:19:00,880 --> 01:19:02,640
there are no other questions, at least

1910
01:19:02,640 --> 01:19:03,920
based on the recommendation of the

1911
01:19:03,920 --> 01:19:05,440
planning commission, I'll prepare a

1912
01:19:05,440 --> 01:19:07,520
resolution for your consideration and

1913
01:19:07,520 --> 01:19:09,600
potential action for Monday night, uh,

1914
01:19:09,600 --> 01:19:11,280
which would approve the project subject

1915
01:19:11,280 --> 01:19:14,480
to certain conditions.

1916
01:19:14,480 --> 01:19:15,120
>> Okay. Thank you.

1917
01:19:15,120 --> 01:19:16,000
>> Thank you for your time.

1918
01:19:16,000 --> 01:19:19,350
>> Thank you.

1919
01:19:19,360 --> 01:19:22,640
» Okay. Land development. This is 79 North

1920
01:19:22,640 --> 01:19:26,080
Handover Street and 148 Chestnut Street.

1921
01:19:26,080 --> 01:19:27,040
Landscape.

1922
01:19:27,040 --> 01:19:29,199
>> Yeah, correct. This is the property uh

1923
01:19:29,199 --> 01:19:31,280
the former site of the raised Invictus

1924
01:19:31,280 --> 01:19:33,520
Church. Uh the planning commission had

1925
01:19:33,520 --> 01:19:35,600
taken action on this land development

1926
01:19:35,600 --> 01:19:38,560
plan and had recommended uh preliminary

1927
01:19:38,560 --> 01:19:40,480
and final approval as well as certain

1928
01:19:40,480 --> 01:19:42,320
waiverss and that's why it was listed on

1929
01:19:42,320 --> 01:19:44,719
this evening's agenda for presentation.

1930
01:19:44,719 --> 01:19:46,560
Uh this afternoon, the developer asked

1931
01:19:46,560 --> 01:19:48,480
if it could please be deferred till

1932
01:19:48,480 --> 01:19:50,560
October. Uh there's some questions were

1933
01:19:50,560 --> 01:19:52,159
raised as far as the the building

1934
01:19:52,159 --> 01:19:56,320
material and the uh the design of the architecture and it's my

1935
01:19:56,320 --> 01:19:58,080
understanding they return they intend to

1936
01:19:58,080 --> 01:20:00,400
return to harb this month uh for further

1937
01:20:00,400 --> 01:20:06,719
presentation and discussion about the facade. Um accordingly you know

1938
01:20:06,719 --> 01:20:08,320
unless there's any objection you know

1939
01:20:08,320 --> 01:20:10,880
we'll we'll table this until next month.

1940
01:20:10,880 --> 01:20:13,360
>> Matt did we if I remember correctly did

1941
01:20:13,360 --> 01:20:15,679
we not authorize a letter of support for

1942
01:20:15,679 --> 01:20:17,040
his design?

1943
01:20:17,040 --> 01:20:19,199
>> Correct. Okay. So, we did an order for

1944
01:20:19,199 --> 01:20:20,960
support and that was based on brick.

1945
01:20:20,960 --> 01:20:21,679
Correct.

1946
01:20:21,679 --> 01:20:23,120
>> Correct.

1947
01:20:23,120 --> 01:20:25,199
>> But then why did he come to the planning

1948
01:20:25,199 --> 01:20:29,920
commissioner or to harb with brick

1949
01:20:29,920 --> 01:20:34,070
veneer?

1950
01:20:34,080 --> 01:20:34,880
» Yeah.

1951
01:20:34,880 --> 01:20:37,360
>> And we do we have the ability to

1952
01:20:37,360 --> 01:20:41,920
withdraw since he did not give what

1953
01:20:41,920 --> 01:20:44,400
we agreed upon. We were all excited

1954
01:20:44,400 --> 01:20:47,040
about it.

1955
01:20:47,040 --> 01:20:49,040
Heck, even I was. I thought it was

1956
01:20:49,040 --> 01:20:50,239
great.

1957
01:20:50,239 --> 01:20:52,000
>> Lisa, what' you think?

1958
01:20:52,000 --> 01:20:53,840
>> Yeah, for somebody that's been accused

1959
01:20:53,840 --> 01:20:56,239
of taking things personal when it comes

1960
01:20:56,239 --> 01:20:59,760
to said developer, um, I voted in favor

1961
01:20:59,760 --> 01:21:02,960
of sending support, and I was very

1962
01:21:02,960 --> 01:21:05,360
clear, as a matter of fact, for the last

1963
01:21:05,360 --> 01:21:06,880
six years

1964
01:21:06,880 --> 01:21:08,880
>> more

1965
01:21:08,880 --> 01:21:12,640
that this developer does not do what he

1966
01:21:12,640 --> 01:21:17,600
says. I hope you see it now. And I I'm

1967
01:21:17,600 --> 01:21:19,440
going to read something at the end, but

1968
01:21:19,440 --> 01:21:22,800
I question and I'd like explanations

1969
01:21:22,800 --> 01:21:25,840
from everybody up here that voted the

1970
01:21:25,840 --> 01:21:30,159
first time to support this project.

1971
01:21:30,159 --> 01:21:32,640
There has been nothing honest about it.

1972
01:21:32,640 --> 01:21:35,360
There's been nothing transparent about

1973
01:21:35,360 --> 01:21:38,400
it. We were told today that it was

1974
01:21:38,400 --> 01:21:41,199
tabled. One of how I found out about

1975
01:21:41,199 --> 01:21:43,760
that before I saw an email was a

1976
01:21:43,760 --> 01:21:45,679
community member.

1977
01:21:45,679 --> 01:21:48,320
That's not transparent to me. I would

1978
01:21:48,320 --> 01:21:51,040
like to know why our burrow manager and

1979
01:21:51,040 --> 01:21:54,960
paid continuously support this developer

1980
01:21:54,960 --> 01:21:59,199
when evidence has shown the opposite.

1981
01:21:59,199 --> 01:22:02,000
He has not done what he said. So I agree

1982
01:22:02,000 --> 01:22:04,480
with Andrew. If there is a way to

1983
01:22:04,480 --> 01:22:06,080
withdraw

1984
01:22:06,080 --> 01:22:08,800
support, that's what should be done. and

1985
01:22:08,800 --> 01:22:10,480
the community should be asking

1986
01:22:10,480 --> 01:22:13,360
questions. And why were we just notified

1987
01:22:13,360 --> 01:22:16,320
today when that decision was made behind

1988
01:22:16,320 --> 01:22:21,030
closed doors?

1989
01:22:21,040 --> 01:22:23,280
Sure. Well, I think the two questions in

1990
01:22:23,280 --> 01:22:24,800
terms of the letter of support that was

1991
01:22:24,800 --> 01:22:26,239
related to the zoning hearing board

1992
01:22:26,239 --> 01:22:28,320
proceedings uh and the variances that

1993
01:22:28,320 --> 01:22:30,320
were requested. So, there's nothing to

1994
01:22:30,320 --> 01:22:32,960
be withdrawn at that point. However,

1995
01:22:32,960 --> 01:22:35,360
that has no bearing on the two issues

1996
01:22:35,360 --> 01:22:36,719
that'll be in front of you will be a

1997
01:22:36,719 --> 01:22:38,320
certificate of appropriateness through

1998
01:22:38,320 --> 01:22:40,719
HARB uh as well as the the land

1999
01:22:40,719 --> 01:22:42,480
development plans for the project. You

2000
01:22:42,480 --> 01:22:44,639
look at those clean and fresh.

2001
01:22:44,639 --> 01:22:47,360
>> So, we'll have like I said, they have

2002
01:22:47,360 --> 01:22:48,560
time to do that because did everybody

2003
01:22:48,560 --> 01:22:51,360
get an email from Mr. Hilton today?

2004
01:22:51,360 --> 01:22:52,880
>> Spoke to him, too.

2005
01:22:52,880 --> 01:22:54,400
>> So, did I

2006
01:22:54,400 --> 01:22:55,120
>> Okay. Yes.

2007
01:22:55,120 --> 01:22:58,639
>> Mr. Hilton basically said he's Mr. Lingo

2008
01:22:58,639 --> 01:22:59,920
has submitted so many elevations

2009
01:22:59,920 --> 01:23:01,760
rendering his plans that it's difficult

2010
01:23:01,760 --> 01:23:04,719
to keep them all straight.

2011
01:23:04,719 --> 01:23:08,480
Come on. I mean

2012
01:23:08,480 --> 01:23:10,400
I I don't care for that kind of

2013
01:23:10,400 --> 01:23:13,280
disrespect of our burrow and I don't

2014
01:23:13,280 --> 01:23:17,280
know why we should accept it. So but

2015
01:23:17,280 --> 01:23:19,360
this is tabled until we'll see what the

2016
01:23:19,360 --> 01:23:22,480
next iteration of

2017
01:23:22,480 --> 01:23:24,880
I'm going to do this but maybe I'll do

2018
01:23:24,880 --> 01:23:28,149
that.

2019
01:23:28,159 --> 01:23:31,440
So what is it just the brick veneer over

2020
01:23:31,440 --> 01:23:34,239
full course veneer brick was the issue

2021
01:23:34,239 --> 01:23:36,400
and also some of the use of the existing

2022
01:23:36,400 --> 01:23:39,280
brick as well. I I don't see it would be

2023
01:23:39,280 --> 01:23:40,960
economically feasible to reuse the

2024
01:23:40,960 --> 01:23:43,760
entire all the brick for the church to I

2025
01:23:43,760 --> 01:23:45,440
think that was supposed to be used for a

2026
01:23:45,440 --> 01:23:49,440
um a memorial correct

2027
01:23:49,440 --> 01:23:51,120
for the reclaiming the brick.

2028
01:23:51,120 --> 01:23:53,360
>> Yeah. Again my I don't want to speak for

2029
01:23:53,360 --> 01:23:55,040
the developer. So, I mean, the developer

2030
01:23:55,040 --> 01:23:56,719
is still working through the final plans

2031
01:23:56,719 --> 01:23:59,199
which will be presented to you next

2032
01:23:59,199 --> 01:24:02,239
month. So, uh those details are

2033
01:24:02,239 --> 01:24:02,719
>> okay

2034
01:24:02,719 --> 01:24:03,840
>> under consideration.

2035
01:24:03,840 --> 01:24:05,199
>> Sure, we'll figure it out.

2036
01:24:05,199 --> 01:24:07,679
>> From what I understood,

2037
01:24:07,679 --> 01:24:09,679
it was supposed to be brick. The

2038
01:24:09,679 --> 01:24:11,679
memorial was something different to

2039
01:24:11,679 --> 01:24:15,199
repurpose the bricks from the church.

2040
01:24:15,199 --> 01:24:18,320
>> We did not agree to brick veneer.

2041
01:24:18,320 --> 01:24:18,639
Correct.

2042
01:24:18,639 --> 01:24:20,320
>> We agreed to brick.

2043
01:24:20,320 --> 01:24:22,880
>> Brick. Correct.

2044
01:24:22,880 --> 01:24:23,840
Mhm.

2045
01:24:23,840 --> 01:24:25,920
>> I kind of agree. I mean, if if if

2046
01:24:25,920 --> 01:24:26,400
>> correct

2047
01:24:26,400 --> 01:24:30,000
>> if we if we approve something

2048
01:24:30,000 --> 01:24:31,440
>> according to what he presented in front

2049
01:24:31,440 --> 01:24:32,159
of us

2050
01:24:32,159 --> 01:24:33,679
>> at the time

2051
01:24:33,679 --> 01:24:39,360
>> and he went before ARB or whatever and and

2052
01:24:39,360 --> 01:24:40,960
put put before them something different

2053
01:24:40,960 --> 01:24:43,679
than we approved.

2054
01:24:43,679 --> 01:24:45,199
>> That recommendation led her to squash.

2055
01:24:45,199 --> 01:24:47,040
For I'm concerned

2056
01:24:47,040 --> 01:24:47,440
is

2057
01:24:47,440 --> 01:24:49,040
>> that's why we advised him to go back to

2058
01:24:49,040 --> 01:24:53,430
hard before coming to council.

2059
01:24:53,440 --> 01:24:55,440
He didn't want to do that. But

2060
01:24:55,440 --> 01:24:57,040
>> when you say go back to Harb, what do

2061
01:24:57,040 --> 01:24:58,320
you what do you mean go back to Harb and

2062
01:24:58,320 --> 01:24:59,600
say I'm going to put the brick back?

2063
01:24:59,600 --> 01:25:01,120
Because that's all he would have to do

2064
01:25:01,120 --> 01:25:03,440
because that's we approved.

2065
01:25:03,440 --> 01:25:05,920
>> Yeah, they need to explain to Harb what

2066
01:25:05,920 --> 01:25:07,679
this change is that he's that he's

2067
01:25:07,679 --> 01:25:10,639
proposing.

2068
01:25:10,639 --> 01:25:12,320
>> Is that how I don't understand? It's

2069
01:25:12,320 --> 01:25:14,299
just like an ongoing thing. Comes to

2070
01:25:14,299 --> 01:25:15,199
[clears throat] council and he says,

2071
01:25:15,199 --> 01:25:17,440
"Hey, I'm going to do this." And then he

2072
01:25:17,440 --> 01:25:19,120
goes in front of the board that he's

2073
01:25:19,120 --> 01:25:20,400
supposed to go for and says, "Oh, no.

2074
01:25:20,400 --> 01:25:21,840
I'm not going to do this. I'm going to

2075
01:25:21,840 --> 01:25:24,639
do that because it's too expensive or I

2076
01:25:24,639 --> 01:25:25,840
don't feel like it or something

2077
01:25:25,840 --> 01:25:28,320
happened.

2078
01:25:28,320 --> 01:25:30,880
Is that how this works?

2079
01:25:30,880 --> 01:25:33,600
Yes. No. Is that I don't get it. Is this

2080
01:25:33,600 --> 01:25:36,159
I I don't understand. I don't understand

2081
01:25:36,159 --> 01:25:39,120
how someone can do that.

2082
01:25:39,120 --> 01:25:40,400
>> I I agree.

2083
01:25:40,400 --> 01:25:40,960
>> Okay.

2084
01:25:40,960 --> 01:25:42,320
>> I mean, those those are questions for

2085
01:25:42,320 --> 01:25:43,840
the developer when he comes next month

2086
01:25:43,840 --> 01:25:45,280
with his team to answer.

2087
01:25:45,280 --> 01:25:48,000
>> I'm sure we'll ask.

2088
01:25:48,000 --> 01:25:48,960
M

2089
01:25:48,960 --> 01:25:50,320
>> we're discussing this because we

2090
01:25:50,320 --> 01:25:52,800
received an email about it, not before

2091
01:25:52,800 --> 01:25:54,000
next month.

2092
01:25:54,000 --> 01:25:56,000
>> Council needs to have these discussions

2093
01:25:56,000 --> 01:25:58,880
and the public deserves to know

2094
01:25:58,880 --> 01:25:59,840
>> what is going on.

2095
01:25:59,840 --> 01:26:00,639
>> I know, but we're talking about

2096
01:26:00,639 --> 01:26:01,760
something that we can talk about in

2097
01:26:01,760 --> 01:26:03,840
October. There's there's no we there's

2098
01:26:03,840 --> 01:26:05,440
nothing we can move on right now. So,

2099
01:26:05,440 --> 01:26:07,679
let's just table this and we're table.

2100
01:26:07,679 --> 01:26:08,880
>> We'll see what he's going to do. But

2101
01:26:08,880 --> 01:26:11,920
again, we have to keep in mind who we're

2102
01:26:11,920 --> 01:26:12,400
dealing with.

2103
01:26:12,400 --> 01:26:13,440
>> Oh, no. No. I get it. I

2104
01:26:13,440 --> 01:26:14,080
>> What type of

2105
01:26:14,080 --> 01:26:16,320
>> I supported I didn't support the first

2106
01:26:16,320 --> 01:26:17,600
one.

2107
01:26:17,600 --> 01:26:19,440
dealing with. I'm with you. I I just

2108
01:26:19,440 --> 01:26:20,800
think that we're

2109
01:26:20,800 --> 01:26:22,480
>> got other stuff to talk about and right

2110
01:26:22,480 --> 01:26:24,239
now this this is being tabled to

2111
01:26:24,239 --> 01:26:26,159
October. So, let's table it to October.

2112
01:26:26,159 --> 01:26:27,520
>> We'll see what happens.

2113
01:26:27,520 --> 01:26:29,840
>> It's called discussing it before we have

2114
01:26:29,840 --> 01:26:33,760
to make a decision. It is important.

2115
01:26:33,760 --> 01:26:35,679
It shouldn't be dismissed as well. It's

2116
01:26:35,679 --> 01:26:37,120
table now, so we'll just talk about it

2117
01:26:37,120 --> 01:26:39,280
next month. No, we start talking about

2118
01:26:39,280 --> 01:26:41,760
it now and we let the public hear what

2119
01:26:41,760 --> 01:26:46,709
we're talking about.

2120
01:26:46,719 --> 01:26:53,669
with that. So,

2121
01:26:53,679 --> 01:26:58,080
okay. I have ZHB application 4 through 6

2122
01:26:58,080 --> 01:27:00,960
West 6 Street.

2123
01:27:00,960 --> 01:27:02,639
>> Yes. This is an application to the

2124
01:27:02,639 --> 01:27:04,400
zoning hearing board. It's my

2125
01:27:04,400 --> 01:27:06,560
understanding that it will be advertised

2126
01:27:06,560 --> 01:27:10,000
for Wednesday, September 23rd at 7 p.m.

2127
01:27:10,000 --> 01:27:12,320
for a hearing. Uh the applicants, the

2128
01:27:12,320 --> 01:27:16,400
owner of 46 West Sixth Street, uh the

2129
01:27:16,400 --> 01:27:18,639
owner of the property uh installed

2130
01:27:18,639 --> 01:27:20,960
fencing on the yard, including the front

2131
01:27:20,960 --> 01:27:22,880
yard. Uh the zoning ordinance only

2132
01:27:22,880 --> 01:27:25,120
permits, uh they did it without a

2133
01:27:25,120 --> 01:27:27,280
permit. Uh the maximum height of the

2134
01:27:27,280 --> 01:27:29,600
fence in a front yard can be 4 feet. Uh

2135
01:27:29,600 --> 01:27:31,600
this fence is 6 feet along the entire

2136
01:27:31,600 --> 01:27:34,960
property. Uh the property owner received

2137
01:27:34,960 --> 01:27:37,520
notice of violation. Uh the application

2138
01:27:37,520 --> 01:27:39,679
to the zoning hearing board only appeals

2139
01:27:39,679 --> 01:27:41,520
the zoning officer's determination.

2140
01:27:41,520 --> 01:27:43,360
They're not requesting a variance, which

2141
01:27:43,360 --> 01:27:44,880
is typical. A variance is where they

2142
01:27:44,880 --> 01:27:46,480
acknowledge that it's not permitted by

2143
01:27:46,480 --> 01:27:48,159
the ordinance and they're going to

2144
01:27:48,159 --> 01:27:50,560
present a hardship as to uh why they

2145
01:27:50,560 --> 01:27:52,239
should per be permitted to operate

2146
01:27:52,239 --> 01:27:54,159
outside of the zoning ordinance. An

2147
01:27:54,159 --> 01:27:55,520
appeal of the zoning officer is

2148
01:27:55,520 --> 01:27:57,120
essentially saying the zoning officer

2149
01:27:57,120 --> 01:28:00,000
got it wrong. Uh I strongly disagree. I

2150
01:28:00,000 --> 01:28:01,520
think the zoning this section of the

2151
01:28:01,520 --> 01:28:02,960
ordinance is quite clear and the zoning

2152
01:28:02,960 --> 01:28:05,360
officer got it correct. Uh we'll list it

2153
01:28:05,360 --> 01:28:07,040
for you for Monday night for discussion

2154
01:28:07,040 --> 01:28:08,560
as far as you you want to take a

2155
01:28:08,560 --> 01:28:10,880
position or not. Um because it is an

2156
01:28:10,880 --> 01:28:12,480
appeal solely of the zoning officer

2157
01:28:12,480 --> 01:28:14,159
determination. I would recommend that

2158
01:28:14,159 --> 01:28:16,719
you authorize my office to appear and

2159
01:28:16,719 --> 01:28:19,440
defend the zoning officer. However, this

2160
01:28:19,440 --> 01:28:21,631
one's rather straightforward. So you

2161
01:28:21,631 --> 01:28:23,120
[clears throat] can discuss that Monday

2162
01:28:23,120 --> 01:28:23,760
evening.

2163
01:28:23,760 --> 01:28:25,040
>> I have a question. Mhm.

2164
01:28:25,040 --> 01:28:28,159
>> Um it's not necessarily related to this

2165
01:28:28,159 --> 01:28:32,080
instance, but we seem to get a lot of

2166
01:28:32,080 --> 01:28:33,520
things that come through where things

2167
01:28:33,520 --> 01:28:36,000
are done without a permit. And maybe

2168
01:28:36,000 --> 01:28:37,520
there's not an answer for this right

2169
01:28:37,520 --> 01:28:42,480
now, but is there a way we can make what

2170
01:28:42,480 --> 01:28:45,440
needs permits more I know it's on the

2171
01:28:45,440 --> 01:28:48,000
website, but more easily accessible, a

2172
01:28:48,000 --> 01:28:50,400
list, something? because I find it hard

2173
01:28:50,400 --> 01:28:53,360
to believe that a lot of these people

2174
01:28:53,360 --> 01:28:56,880
just do it because they want to. I feel

2175
01:28:56,880 --> 01:29:00,000
like at least some do it because they

2176
01:29:00,000 --> 01:29:01,440
don't know they need a permit for

2177
01:29:01,440 --> 01:29:03,679
certain things. So, the question doesn't

2178
01:29:03,679 --> 01:29:08,880
need to be answered right now, but I'll ask it again as a followup. Um, is

2179
01:29:08,880 --> 01:29:12,080
there something we can do to make this

2180
01:29:12,080 --> 01:29:14,400
easier? I mean, I personally wouldn't

2181
01:29:14,400 --> 01:29:16,719
know unless I went to the website what

2182
01:29:16,719 --> 01:29:18,080
needs a permit or not,

2183
01:29:18,080 --> 01:29:19,760
>> right? [clears throat]

2184
01:29:19,760 --> 01:29:21,040
Yeah, that's something that we can

2185
01:29:21,040 --> 01:29:22,800
definitely do. Um, we can put on the

2186
01:29:22,800 --> 01:29:24,159
website. But one of the interesting

2187
01:29:24,159 --> 01:29:26,800
things as we're piloting this um the

2188
01:29:26,800 --> 01:29:29,679
polymorphic automated assistant, uh, it

2189
01:29:29,679 --> 01:29:31,679
will, you can ask it, do I need a permit

2190
01:29:31,679 --> 01:29:34,400
for this? It will review our zoning

2191
01:29:34,400 --> 01:29:35,840
permit application and our building

2192
01:29:35,840 --> 01:29:37,520
permit application and give you a pretty

2193
01:29:37,520 --> 01:29:39,679
good idea that yes, you're building a

2194
01:29:39,679 --> 01:29:41,280
fence, you will likely need a building

2195
01:29:41,280 --> 01:29:44,080
permit or, you know, so or so on and so

2196
01:29:44,080 --> 01:29:47,760
forth. So, um, we have a lot of data

2197
01:29:47,760 --> 01:29:49,760
that we're collecting from that about

2198
01:29:49,760 --> 01:29:51,120
the common questions that people are

2199
01:29:51,120 --> 01:29:52,960
asking that could help build that web

2200
01:29:52,960 --> 01:29:54,159
page as well.

2201
01:29:54,159 --> 01:29:55,440
>> Where is that?

2202
01:29:55,440 --> 01:30:01,120
>> So, that's if you call the um 60 uh 6511

2203
01:30:01,120 --> 01:30:05,040
line, Alexexas line, you can go through

2204
01:30:05,040 --> 01:30:07,440
the automated assistant.

2205
01:30:07,440 --> 01:30:10,159
Do you think there would be anything um

2206
01:30:10,159 --> 01:30:13,440
put on the website as far as AI where

2207
01:30:13,440 --> 01:30:15,360
somebody could type in do I need a

2208
01:30:15,360 --> 01:30:16,480
permit for such and

2209
01:30:16,480 --> 01:30:18,080
>> that is the plan for the next step of

2210
01:30:18,080 --> 01:30:19,520
the roll out. So there's going to be a

2211
01:30:19,520 --> 01:30:21,600
chatbot that's going to be placed on the

2212
01:30:21,600 --> 01:30:24,639
website. Um and we're getting closer to

2213
01:30:24,639 --> 01:30:26,239
that as well. And essentially it'll work

2214
01:30:26,239 --> 01:30:28,239
the same way that it works when people

2215
01:30:28,239 --> 01:30:30,719
call in except it'll be a typed answer.

2216
01:30:30,719 --> 01:30:31,360
>> Thank you.

2217
01:30:31,360 --> 01:30:34,790
>> Yeah.

2218
01:30:34,800 --> 01:30:36,400
» Okay. Thank you. We will list that under

2219
01:30:36,400 --> 01:30:38,719
new business for Monday evening.

2220
01:30:38,719 --> 01:30:42,000
>> Okay. Um, street closure request, Hearts

2221
01:30:42,000 --> 01:30:45,360
of Humanity Harvest Festival, October

2222
01:30:45,360 --> 01:30:48,159
11, 2026.

2223
01:30:48,159 --> 01:30:50,560
>> Uh, yeah. Would you like to say a few

2224
01:30:50,560 --> 01:30:50,800
words?

2225
01:30:50,800 --> 01:30:52,880
>> Oh, there you go. [laughter]

2226
01:30:52,880 --> 01:30:53,679
>> Come on up.

2227
01:30:53,679 --> 01:30:55,840
>> Okay. Yes. Good evening, Madame

2228
01:30:55,840 --> 01:30:59,120
President, esteemed counselors, and uh

2229
01:30:59,120 --> 01:31:02,800
madame mayor. Um I am very excited about

2230
01:31:02,800 --> 01:31:05,360
our third annual harvest festival that

2231
01:31:05,360 --> 01:31:08,159
you are considering for us um in

2232
01:31:08,159 --> 01:31:09,679
October. We're adding [clears throat] to

2233
01:31:09,679 --> 01:31:12,000
the October madness, but it's our third

2234
01:31:12,000 --> 01:31:14,480
year, so I'm hoping that you will

2235
01:31:14,480 --> 01:31:16,000
definitely approve it. Do you have any

2236
01:31:16,000 --> 01:31:17,760
questions about it? We're going to have

2237
01:31:17,760 --> 01:31:21,040
a ball and we want to roll out the red

2238
01:31:21,040 --> 01:31:23,600
carpet for our counselors also, but

2239
01:31:23,600 --> 01:31:26,080
mostly for our youth because we want our

2240
01:31:26,080 --> 01:31:28,719
youth to be engaged, more engaged, more

2241
01:31:28,719 --> 01:31:31,040
knowledgeable, educated about what goes

2242
01:31:31,040 --> 01:31:33,679
on in Pottstown,

2243
01:31:33,679 --> 01:31:36,080
okay? And let them know that they have a

2244
01:31:36,080 --> 01:31:39,440
voice and hear you all and see you all,

2245
01:31:39,440 --> 01:31:40,960
okay? Because we have elections coming

2246
01:31:40,960 --> 01:31:42,719
up and we want them to know how

2247
01:31:42,719 --> 01:31:45,040
important these elections are on a local

2248
01:31:45,040 --> 01:31:46,560
level.

2249
01:31:46,560 --> 01:31:50,080
and and beyond. Okay. So, I just wanted

2250
01:31:50,080 --> 01:31:52,880
to get up here and say, you know, it's

2251
01:31:52,880 --> 01:31:57,679
for our children and it's for our future generations.

2252
01:31:57,679 --> 01:31:59,600
>> So, do you have any questions about our

2253
01:31:59,600 --> 01:32:00,719
harvest festival?

2254
01:32:00,719 --> 01:32:05,120
>> I do. Um, how are you advertising the

2255
01:32:05,120 --> 01:32:06,239
harvest festival?

2256
01:32:06,239 --> 01:32:09,280
>> So, I'm really chomping at the bit about

2257
01:32:09,280 --> 01:32:12,080
advertising. I'm trying not to advertise

2258
01:32:12,080 --> 01:32:14,480
because it hasn't been approved yet, but

2259
01:32:14,480 --> 01:32:17,280
we do have um we did a canvas of the

2260
01:32:17,280 --> 01:32:19,440
neighborhood and we do have like 75

2261
01:32:19,440 --> 01:32:22,639
signatures. Um some of them not written

2262
01:32:22,639 --> 01:32:25,520
on the paper, but we have lots of

2263
01:32:25,520 --> 01:32:28,400
community members um engagement,

2264
01:32:28,400 --> 01:32:32,800
interest. Um they're creating flyers,

2265
01:32:32,800 --> 01:32:36,080
ideas, different things like that. Um,

2266
01:32:36,080 --> 01:32:38,960
you know, just to have this this other

2267
01:32:38,960 --> 01:32:42,320
uh engagement with the council is really

2268
01:32:42,320 --> 01:32:44,400
exciting too because the kids get

2269
01:32:44,400 --> 01:32:49,120
involved and they get to have like they get to have their own little I

2270
01:32:49,120 --> 01:32:51,040
don't know [clears throat] uh uh speaker

2271
01:32:51,040 --> 01:32:54,000
box or you know reporter box,

2272
01:32:54,000 --> 01:32:54,800
>> you know,

2273
01:32:54,800 --> 01:32:56,880
>> I just want to make sure people know

2274
01:32:56,880 --> 01:33:00,400
about it and what you're offering there.

2275
01:33:00,400 --> 01:33:03,440
>> Yeah. So once we do get approval, if we

2276
01:33:03,440 --> 01:33:08,239
do get approval, um we're planning on um

2277
01:33:08,239 --> 01:33:09,920
just taking the flyers around first of

2278
01:33:09,920 --> 01:33:11,840
all to the people who signed up for it.

2279
01:33:11,840 --> 01:33:15,760
Um secondly on Facebook, on Instagram,

2280
01:33:15,760 --> 01:33:19,199
and um uh we don't have a LinkedIn page,

2281
01:33:19,199 --> 01:33:21,679
but um just basically word of mouth to

2282
01:33:21,679 --> 01:33:24,239
different organizations and asking our

2283
01:33:24,239 --> 01:33:25,760
community members to just share with

2284
01:33:25,760 --> 01:33:28,960
their families. And one other u way that

2285
01:33:28,960 --> 01:33:30,719
we're going to advertise this time is to

2286
01:33:30,719 --> 01:33:33,600
actually bring the arts

2287
01:33:33,600 --> 01:33:36,080
>> into it so that um you know we can get

2288
01:33:36,080 --> 01:33:39,040
our theater arts, our dance um uh

2289
01:33:39,040 --> 01:33:42,480
department, our dance theater um our

2290
01:33:42,480 --> 01:33:45,840
vocalists, our instrumentalists involved

2291
01:33:45,840 --> 01:33:47,679
and that always is wonderful in

2292
01:33:47,679 --> 01:33:49,520
spreading the word. Also,

2293
01:33:49,520 --> 01:33:51,360
>> do you think um some of them might be

2294
01:33:51,360 --> 01:33:53,360
willing to like when you have the flyers

2295
01:33:53,360 --> 01:33:55,840
put them in the windows maybe? Well, uh

2296
01:33:55,840 --> 01:33:57,760
I was told that there was some kind of

2297
01:33:57,760 --> 01:34:02,320
ordinance that um did not allow uh you

2298
01:34:02,320 --> 01:34:04,080
know advertisements to go in the windows

2299
01:34:04,080 --> 01:34:07,360
of the door um of the businesses. So

2300
01:34:07,360 --> 01:34:10,639
basically we have um in the past just

2301
01:34:10,639 --> 01:34:14,000
put them on the tables uh of certain

2302
01:34:14,000 --> 01:34:16,560
businesses and went to the churches you

2303
01:34:16,560 --> 01:34:19,760
know and asked the pastors to you know

2304
01:34:19,760 --> 01:34:22,880
do the announcements at church. So,

2305
01:34:22,880 --> 01:34:24,800
could I ask for some clarification on

2306
01:34:24,800 --> 01:34:27,600
that? Because I see advertisements for

2307
01:34:27,600 --> 01:34:29,440
maybe I should call them advertisements,

2308
01:34:29,440 --> 01:34:32,880
but flyers in businesses windows for all

2309
01:34:32,880 --> 01:34:35,120
types of events.

2310
01:34:35,120 --> 01:34:36,800
>> So, is there

2311
01:34:36,800 --> 01:34:38,080
>> I I don't have an answer for you

2312
01:34:38,080 --> 01:34:40,239
tonight. I'll back to you.

2313
01:34:40,239 --> 01:34:41,840
>> Yeah. And let's talk about that because

2314
01:34:41,840 --> 01:34:44,560
I I'd like an answer to that question.

2315
01:34:44,560 --> 01:34:46,800
>> Okay. Sure. I just didn't I just wanted

2316
01:34:46,800 --> 01:34:47,760
to comply.

2317
01:34:47,760 --> 01:34:49,040
>> Yeah. And I want to make sure that

2318
01:34:49,040 --> 01:34:50,320
you're not doing something you don't

2319
01:34:50,320 --> 01:34:51,040
need to do.

2320
01:34:51,040 --> 01:34:54,560
>> Mhm. Yeah. Um, this will be on Charlotte

2321
01:34:54,560 --> 01:34:57,600
Street. So, um, we want to block off the

2322
01:34:57,600 --> 01:34:59,840
block so that the children can just have

2323
01:34:59,840 --> 01:35:02,000
a good time riding their bikes, doing

2324
01:35:02,000 --> 01:35:04,639
kites and and frisbees and different

2325
01:35:04,639 --> 01:35:06,480
things like that, immersing them in

2326
01:35:06,480 --> 01:35:09,040
nature and allowing them to just explore

2327
01:35:09,040 --> 01:35:11,520
agriculture and and the birds and the

2328
01:35:11,520 --> 01:35:13,440
bees and trees. [laughter]

2329
01:35:13,440 --> 01:35:15,120
>> So, thank you. Thank you so much.

2330
01:35:15,120 --> 01:35:18,860
>> Yes. Thank you.

2331
01:35:18,870 --> 01:35:23,270
» [applause]

2332
01:35:23,280 --> 01:35:26,159
» Okay, we have um street closure request

2333
01:35:26,159 --> 01:35:28,400
YWCA

2334
01:35:28,400 --> 01:35:32,000
Tri County area annual um community

2335
01:35:32,000 --> 01:35:36,800
block event October 24th, 2026. Justin,

2336
01:35:36,800 --> 01:35:39,600
>> yes. So, this will be a closure of King

2337
01:35:39,600 --> 01:35:42,239
Street between Charlotte and North Evans

2338
01:35:42,239 --> 01:35:46,320
from 900 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

2339
01:35:46,320 --> 01:35:48,320
>> Okay.

2340
01:35:48,320 --> 01:35:50,239
And while I have you, you want to do the

2341
01:35:50,239 --> 01:35:54,159
street closer for um Winraftoft School

2342
01:35:54,159 --> 01:35:55,679
back to school?

2343
01:35:55,679 --> 01:35:57,199
>> Thank you. This will be on September

2344
01:35:57,199 --> 01:36:00,000
18th on Rosedale Drive between Wilson

2345
01:36:00,000 --> 01:36:03,280
and Malbury from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

2346
01:36:03,280 --> 01:36:05,440
>> Okay. And while I still have you,

2347
01:36:05,440 --> 01:36:08,000
alcohol request for Skooko River

2348
01:36:08,000 --> 01:36:10,960
Greenways Riverfront Park.

2349
01:36:10,960 --> 01:36:12,800
>> Yes. So the Skook River Greenways is

2350
01:36:12,800 --> 01:36:14,880
requesting permission to allow the

2351
01:36:14,880 --> 01:36:17,199
inclusion of alcohol at their new event,

2352
01:36:17,199 --> 01:36:20,239
the Skookill Shuffle 5K and 10 mileer.

2353
01:36:20,239 --> 01:36:22,080
Proceeds will be dedicated to the Skook

2354
01:36:22,080 --> 01:36:24,239
River stewardship fund that will go

2355
01:36:24,239 --> 01:36:25,920
towards ongoing maintenance of the

2356
01:36:25,920 --> 01:36:28,080
trail. Consumption area will be limited

2357
01:36:28,080 --> 01:36:29,679
to the natural amphitheater area and the

2358
01:36:29,679 --> 01:36:30,880
tented area at the top of the

2359
01:36:30,880 --> 01:36:33,679
amphitheater and monitors will be uh

2360
01:36:33,679 --> 01:36:35,040
placed in the area to ensure that

2361
01:36:35,040 --> 01:36:37,520
alcoholic beverages do not um travel

2362
01:36:37,520 --> 01:36:39,280
beyond the confines of the designated

2363
01:36:39,280 --> 01:36:42,800
areas. and um Scox Brewery will be there

2364
01:36:42,800 --> 01:36:46,400
to um ensure the due diligence and uh

2365
01:36:46,400 --> 01:36:48,480
check for proper IDs.

2366
01:36:48,480 --> 01:36:50,000
>> Okay. Since you're talking about their

2367
01:36:50,000 --> 01:36:52,320
alcohol, you might as well go down to

2368
01:36:52,320 --> 01:36:55,280
number 20 for alcohol requests. P A R

2369
01:36:55,280 --> 01:36:56,400
RC.

2370
01:36:56,400 --> 01:36:58,400
>> Yes. So, Park would like to start

2371
01:36:58,400 --> 01:37:00,639
another new tradition. Um, the Park

2372
01:37:00,639 --> 01:37:02,480
Foundation would like to request

2373
01:37:02,480 --> 01:37:04,159
permission to allow the consumption of

2374
01:37:04,159 --> 01:37:06,639
alcoholic beverages at the Putt for

2375
01:37:06,639 --> 01:37:08,639
Parks miniature golf tournament from

2376
01:37:08,639 --> 01:37:11,520
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with a rain date

2377
01:37:11,520 --> 01:37:15,280
of October 4th, 2026. So, beverages will

2378
01:37:15,280 --> 01:37:18,400
be served by ramp certified servers and

2379
01:37:18,400 --> 01:37:20,880
limited to mimosas consisting of

2380
01:37:20,880 --> 01:37:23,119
champagne and orange juice. Um, and

2381
01:37:23,119 --> 01:37:24,480
these will be served to registered

2382
01:37:24,480 --> 01:37:26,560
tournament participants ages 21 years

2383
01:37:26,560 --> 01:37:29,040
and old older. The consumption area will

2384
01:37:29,040 --> 01:37:32,639
be limited to the Manit County green um

2385
01:37:32,639 --> 01:37:34,320
patio.

2386
01:37:34,320 --> 01:37:37,040
And um just as a plug, the Puttford

2387
01:37:37,040 --> 01:37:38,960
Parks Tournament is a family-friendly

2388
01:37:38,960 --> 01:37:40,480
fundraising event, and we look forward

2389
01:37:40,480 --> 01:37:42,639
to working uh closely with Manatoni

2390
01:37:42,639 --> 01:37:45,040
Green to ensure a safe and successful

2391
01:37:45,040 --> 01:37:46,560
event promoting outdoor recreation

2392
01:37:46,560 --> 01:37:48,159
entertainment while supporting the park

2393
01:37:48,159 --> 01:37:49,600
foundation.

2394
01:37:49,600 --> 01:37:52,800
>> Okay. Thank you. Okay. Upcoming board

2395
01:37:52,800 --> 01:37:57,040
vacancies. um construction coal board of

2396
01:37:57,040 --> 01:38:00,239
appeals one three-year term to expire

2397
01:38:00,239 --> 01:38:06,080
August 8th 20 26 Anthony Campbell

2398
01:38:06,080 --> 01:38:08,719
seeking reappoint

2399
01:38:08,719 --> 01:38:12,239
environmental advisory council two

2400
01:38:12,239 --> 01:38:15,840
three-year terms to expire August 10th

2401
01:38:15,840 --> 01:38:17,440
2026

2402
01:38:17,440 --> 01:38:19,840
we have Jim Durr seeking reappointment

2403
01:38:19,840 --> 01:38:23,440
and Miles Bee seeking reappointment

2404
01:38:23,440 --> 01:38:27,040
Next is comments from citizens present.

2405
01:38:27,040 --> 01:38:29,440
>> All right. So, um before we get started

2406
01:38:29,440 --> 01:38:31,040
uh with with this, I want to do

2407
01:38:31,040 --> 01:38:32,239
something a little bit different and

2408
01:38:32,239 --> 01:38:33,840
quickly provide an update on actions

2409
01:38:33,840 --> 01:38:35,440
taken after last month's public

2410
01:38:35,440 --> 01:38:38,080
comments. So, the first one that we had

2411
01:38:38,080 --> 01:38:39,679
um that we were able to take action on

2412
01:38:39,679 --> 01:38:43,440
was uh Rich Richkmer, 1050 South Street.

2413
01:38:43,440 --> 01:38:44,960
Uh there was a concern with the street

2414
01:38:44,960 --> 01:38:47,440
tree uh on a neighboring property

2415
01:38:47,440 --> 01:38:49,199
regarding the safety of the tree as

2416
01:38:49,199 --> 01:38:52,159
there was some splitting observed. So,

2417
01:38:52,159 --> 01:38:54,719
um staff recommended that the property

2418
01:38:54,719 --> 01:38:56,880
owner have an arborist look at the tree.

2419
01:38:56,880 --> 01:38:59,440
Um and as as an update to, um some

2420
01:38:59,440 --> 01:39:00,880
information we previously sent to

2421
01:39:00,880 --> 01:39:03,119
council, the property owner provided

2422
01:39:03,119 --> 01:39:04,719
public works with three estimates from

2423
01:39:04,719 --> 01:39:06,400
arborists finding that the tree does not

2424
01:39:06,400 --> 01:39:08,400
need to be cut down, but it can be

2425
01:39:08,400 --> 01:39:11,040
trimmed and that and the trunk can be um

2426
01:39:11,040 --> 01:39:13,199
banded to prevent the uh split from

2427
01:39:13,199 --> 01:39:15,440
splitting any further. So, public works

2428
01:39:15,440 --> 01:39:17,040
gave the property owner a permit to trim

2429
01:39:17,040 --> 01:39:19,520
the tree and have it banded. Um, as a

2430
01:39:19,520 --> 01:39:21,040
reminder per burough ordinance, street

2431
01:39:21,040 --> 01:39:22,560
trees are the responsibility of the

2432
01:39:22,560 --> 01:39:24,639
property owner. The bureau will become

2433
01:39:24,639 --> 01:39:26,719
involved when there is a legitimate

2434
01:39:26,719 --> 01:39:29,199
public safety concern. In this case,

2435
01:39:29,199 --> 01:39:31,520
staff continued working um with the

2436
01:39:31,520 --> 01:39:33,119
parties to reach a reason reasonable

2437
01:39:33,119 --> 01:39:35,679
solution and costefficient solution

2438
01:39:35,679 --> 01:39:38,320
based on the findings of multiple uh

2439
01:39:38,320 --> 01:39:42,000
arborists. Next was Tracy Kitchen, 449

2440
01:39:42,000 --> 01:39:43,440
Chestnut Street, regarding alley

2441
01:39:43,440 --> 01:39:44,960
conditions, trash, and an abandoned

2442
01:39:44,960 --> 01:39:47,679
trailer. Um, so public works has done

2443
01:39:47,679 --> 01:39:49,840
one round of patching of the potholes in

2444
01:39:49,840 --> 01:39:51,920
the alley and is preparing to do a

2445
01:39:51,920 --> 01:39:53,600
second round soon that will provide for

2446
01:39:53,600 --> 01:39:56,320
a smoother uh surface. Just as a note,

2447
01:39:56,320 --> 01:39:58,400
this is an unordained private alley,

2448
01:39:58,400 --> 01:40:00,080
meaning maintenance responsibility rests

2449
01:40:00,080 --> 01:40:01,360
with the adjoining property owners

2450
01:40:01,360 --> 01:40:03,119
rather than the burrow. Never

2451
01:40:03,119 --> 01:40:05,119
nevertheless, when staff identifies a

2452
01:40:05,119 --> 01:40:06,880
relatively straightforward and lowcost

2453
01:40:06,880 --> 01:40:08,880
opportunity to improve conditions, we'll

2454
01:40:08,880 --> 01:40:10,080
attempt to assist even though the

2455
01:40:10,080 --> 01:40:12,480
burough is not no obligation to maintain

2456
01:40:12,480 --> 01:40:15,440
the alley. Um the PD determined that a

2457
01:40:15,440 --> 01:40:17,040
scrap trailer was on private property

2458
01:40:17,040 --> 01:40:19,920
was at 115 North Washington Street. As a

2459
01:40:19,920 --> 01:40:22,480
note, uh police can only require removal

2460
01:40:22,480 --> 01:40:24,239
of the trailer if it's blocking passage

2461
01:40:24,239 --> 01:40:27,040
of the alley blocking private property

2462
01:40:27,040 --> 01:40:28,719
access is abandoned without proper

2463
01:40:28,719 --> 01:40:31,199
paperwork. Um since it was on private

2464
01:40:31,199 --> 01:40:32,960
property, LNI has issued a notice of

2465
01:40:32,960 --> 01:40:35,600
violation regarding the trailer and is

2466
01:40:35,600 --> 01:40:38,320
um following up accordingly on that one.

2467
01:40:38,320 --> 01:40:40,719
uh a clean and lean issue was issued for

2468
01:40:40,719 --> 01:40:43,119
the trash and these conditions seem to

2469
01:40:43,119 --> 01:40:45,199
have improved somewhat, but we're still

2470
01:40:45,199 --> 01:40:46,719
pursuing removal of additional bulk

2471
01:40:46,719 --> 01:40:48,719
items that remain. And it should be

2472
01:40:48,719 --> 01:40:50,800
noted that LNI has a history of recent

2473
01:40:50,800 --> 01:40:53,600
enforcement activity associated with one

2474
01:40:53,600 --> 01:40:55,920
with the conditions at 115 North

2475
01:40:55,920 --> 01:40:57,920
Washington Street and we'll continue to

2476
01:40:57,920 --> 01:41:00,560
follow up regularly. So, um, in both

2477
01:41:00,560 --> 01:41:02,719
these cases, staff had already been

2478
01:41:02,719 --> 01:41:04,560
actively addressing the concerns, uh,

2479
01:41:04,560 --> 01:41:05,920
before they were raised at at the

2480
01:41:05,920 --> 01:41:07,040
council meeting, and then we took

2481
01:41:07,040 --> 01:41:09,119
additional steps afterward to pursue

2482
01:41:09,119 --> 01:41:11,679
the, uh, resolution. So, we'll continue

2483
01:41:11,679 --> 01:41:13,199
following up on the remaining

2484
01:41:13,199 --> 01:41:15,280
enforcement items and then regularly

2485
01:41:15,280 --> 01:41:18,800
check back on these areas as warrant.

2486
01:41:18,800 --> 01:41:21,360
All right. Um, so, first up, we have,

2487
01:41:21,360 --> 01:41:24,960
uh, Kaylee uh, Silver

2488
01:41:24,960 --> 01:41:29,350
with Montgomery County.

2489
01:41:29,360 --> 01:41:31,520
Hello. Hello. Can you hear me? Okay.

2490
01:41:31,520 --> 01:41:32,480
>> Yes.

2491
01:41:32,480 --> 01:41:35,119
>> Great. Thank you so so much. Hi. Uh good

2492
01:41:35,119 --> 01:41:36,800
evening. Thank you very much for letting

2493
01:41:36,800 --> 01:41:38,400
me participate in public comment. I'm

2494
01:41:38,400 --> 01:41:40,639
Kaylee Silver. As Justin mentioned, I

2495
01:41:40,639 --> 01:41:42,239
oversee Montgomery Countyy's Office of

2496
01:41:42,239 --> 01:41:44,480
Housing and Community Development and uh

2497
01:41:44,480 --> 01:41:46,800
honestly just offering an impromptu and

2498
01:41:46,800 --> 01:41:50,320
probably overdue on my part uh to come

2499
01:41:50,320 --> 01:41:52,159
and talk to Burough Council, Burough

2500
01:41:52,159 --> 01:41:54,159
staff, and thank you all as well as the

2501
01:41:54,159 --> 01:41:55,840
residents of Pottstown and kind of

2502
01:41:55,840 --> 01:41:57,760
provide a a quick update. uh regarding

2503
01:41:57,760 --> 01:42:00,159
our partnership with you and the program

2504
01:42:00,159 --> 01:42:02,400
at the former days in with our partners

2505
01:42:02,400 --> 01:42:05,600
you and Opportunity House. Um you know

2506
01:42:05,600 --> 01:42:07,840
addressing homelessness is really

2507
01:42:07,840 --> 01:42:09,760
challenging work and we appreciate

2508
01:42:09,760 --> 01:42:11,280
Pottstown's willingness to be a part of

2509
01:42:11,280 --> 01:42:13,760
the solution. Um I also want to

2510
01:42:13,760 --> 01:42:16,080
acknowledge very clearly that you know

2511
01:42:16,080 --> 01:42:19,119
no single program is going to

2512
01:42:19,119 --> 01:42:22,080
immediately or quickly solve you know

2513
01:42:22,080 --> 01:42:24,080
homelessness in in any community or past

2514
01:42:24,080 --> 01:42:25,920
town, right? the challenges around this

2515
01:42:25,920 --> 01:42:28,320
are complex. Um, but I do want to

2516
01:42:28,320 --> 01:42:30,159
highlight that while this program isn't

2517
01:42:30,159 --> 01:42:32,080
the entire answer, I'm hopefully here to

2518
01:42:32,080 --> 01:42:35,199
offer kind of that some some outcomes

2519
01:42:35,199 --> 01:42:37,920
and some data and hope that it has in my

2520
01:42:37,920 --> 01:42:39,199
belief made a really meaningful

2521
01:42:39,199 --> 01:42:41,840
difference. So, uh, since the county

2522
01:42:41,840 --> 01:42:43,119
partnered with the burrow and

2523
01:42:43,119 --> 01:42:45,199
opportunity house in, I believe around

2524
01:42:45,199 --> 01:42:48,719
April 2025, uh, the program has served

2525
01:42:48,719 --> 01:42:51,600
308, uh, Pottstownians and and people in

2526
01:42:51,600 --> 01:42:54,239
Pottstown experiencing homelessness. um

2527
01:42:54,239 --> 01:42:55,920
a little bit more about who the program

2528
01:42:55,920 --> 01:42:59,840
is serving. Um well about half of those

2529
01:42:59,840 --> 01:43:02,320
adults served entered uh this

2530
01:43:02,320 --> 01:43:04,639
opportunity house program with three or

2531
01:43:04,639 --> 01:43:07,199
more significant health conditions at at

2532
01:43:07,199 --> 01:43:08,800
the same time. Right? So some really

2533
01:43:08,800 --> 01:43:12,000
complex health stuff going on. Um about

2534
01:43:12,000 --> 01:43:15,600
onethird were 55 or older uh in the

2535
01:43:15,600 --> 01:43:17,840
program. Um and about a quarter of

2536
01:43:17,840 --> 01:43:19,280
people who've been in the program have

2537
01:43:19,280 --> 01:43:20,960
some sort of history or active thing

2538
01:43:20,960 --> 01:43:23,119
around domestic violence. Right? So just

2539
01:43:23,119 --> 01:43:24,639
offering that to highlight that the

2540
01:43:24,639 --> 01:43:27,440
people um going through this program are

2541
01:43:27,440 --> 01:43:28,960
not it's you know it's not simple.

2542
01:43:28,960 --> 01:43:30,400
There's there's a lot of coordinated

2543
01:43:30,400 --> 01:43:32,800
support needed um and a lot of you know

2544
01:43:32,800 --> 01:43:34,320
case management support that they're

2545
01:43:34,320 --> 01:43:37,199
receiving. Um and and that's what I

2546
01:43:37,199 --> 01:43:39,040
think helps make this program special,

2547
01:43:39,040 --> 01:43:41,679
right? Uh it's not just a place to stay.

2548
01:43:41,679 --> 01:43:43,920
Uh Opportunity House and partners have

2549
01:43:43,920 --> 01:43:45,840
really done a great job wrapping around

2550
01:43:45,840 --> 01:43:48,719
a ton of services and support for people

2551
01:43:48,719 --> 01:43:51,600
with some complex needs. Uh residents uh

2552
01:43:51,600 --> 01:43:53,040
at the program have been connected to

2553
01:43:53,040 --> 01:43:55,360
employment services, income supports,

2554
01:43:55,360 --> 01:43:57,679
some health care supports, uh treatment

2555
01:43:57,679 --> 01:43:59,679
supports, and um even veterinary

2556
01:43:59,679 --> 01:44:01,920
services for those who have pets. Um

2557
01:44:01,920 --> 01:44:04,320
we've had above national standards

2558
01:44:04,320 --> 01:44:06,719
around participants like increasing or

2559
01:44:06,719 --> 01:44:09,119
gaining income while in the program and

2560
01:44:09,119 --> 01:44:11,920
about 20% of people have uh at this

2561
01:44:11,920 --> 01:44:16,239
time. Um so while the program has served

2562
01:44:16,239 --> 01:44:20,000
308 people so far uh about 200 people

2563
01:44:20,000 --> 01:44:23,360
have exited the program about uh um and

2564
01:44:23,360 --> 01:44:26,800
then uh really about uh threearters of

2565
01:44:26,800 --> 01:44:28,960
them have left towards uh really

2566
01:44:28,960 --> 01:44:31,040
positive destinations house permanent

2567
01:44:31,040 --> 01:44:34,080
housing treatment programs nursing home

2568
01:44:34,080 --> 01:44:36,159
reunification with family and support

2569
01:44:36,159 --> 01:44:38,080
services. So we're seeing some really

2570
01:44:38,080 --> 01:44:40,719
positive exit outcomes too. Um but also

2571
01:44:40,719 --> 01:44:42,960
acknowledging again still always work to

2572
01:44:42,960 --> 01:44:45,119
do. Um one of the areas where we

2573
01:44:45,119 --> 01:44:47,440
continue to face challenges uh across

2574
01:44:47,440 --> 01:44:49,199
the county as well as with this program

2575
01:44:49,199 --> 01:44:52,480
is the housing availability. Um so the

2576
01:44:52,480 --> 01:44:54,480
average stay in the program is a is a

2577
01:44:54,480 --> 01:44:56,000
little longer than we'd like which I

2578
01:44:56,000 --> 01:44:57,600
think reflects that challenge. So the

2579
01:44:57,600 --> 01:44:59,280
average stay in the program is nearly

2580
01:44:59,280 --> 01:45:01,199
six months. Uh, and that's not because

2581
01:45:01,199 --> 01:45:02,880
people aren't ready to move forward, but

2582
01:45:02,880 --> 01:45:04,800
that's really because like affordable

2583
01:45:04,800 --> 01:45:06,639
housing or treatment options or

2584
01:45:06,639 --> 01:45:09,040
placement after this program remain

2585
01:45:09,040 --> 01:45:10,560
limited throughout the region and

2586
01:45:10,560 --> 01:45:12,239
throughout Montgomery County. Uh, that's

2587
01:45:12,239 --> 01:45:14,320
not a specific challenge just to this

2588
01:45:14,320 --> 01:45:16,159
program, but one we're seeing across the

2589
01:45:16,159 --> 01:45:18,560
whole county. Um, but, you know, with

2590
01:45:18,560 --> 01:45:20,480
these challenges, we are seeing uh

2591
01:45:20,480 --> 01:45:22,960
progress. Uh I joined Opportunity House

2592
01:45:22,960 --> 01:45:24,800
and their amazing staff and outreach

2593
01:45:24,800 --> 01:45:27,679
workers in Pottstown last month um and

2594
01:45:27,679 --> 01:45:30,800
walked around outside with uh to kind of

2595
01:45:30,800 --> 01:45:32,320
talk with some people who continue to

2596
01:45:32,320 --> 01:45:33,600
experience some unsheltered

2597
01:45:33,600 --> 01:45:35,600
homelessness. Uh we do see a huge

2598
01:45:35,600 --> 01:45:37,679
reduction in the number of people who

2599
01:45:37,679 --> 01:45:40,400
are uh unsheltered. Uh when I went out

2600
01:45:40,400 --> 01:45:42,400
last month with them, we countered about

2601
01:45:42,400 --> 01:45:44,400
like 20 or 30 people who remain

2602
01:45:44,400 --> 01:45:46,639
unsheltered. Uh, but what stood out to

2603
01:45:46,639 --> 01:45:48,719
me was that the staff I was with knew

2604
01:45:48,719 --> 01:45:50,719
every single one of them, actively

2605
01:45:50,719 --> 01:45:52,560
engaging with them, connecting with them

2606
01:45:52,560 --> 01:45:54,800
to services, and working to bring them

2607
01:45:54,800 --> 01:45:56,880
back into shelter and housing and

2608
01:45:56,880 --> 01:46:02,080
treatment opportunities when space and circumstance allow. So again,

2609
01:46:02,080 --> 01:46:04,000
I just want to thank you all very very

2610
01:46:04,000 --> 01:46:06,000
much for allowing me the time to to talk

2611
01:46:06,000 --> 01:46:08,000
a little bit about the program. I'd be

2612
01:46:08,000 --> 01:46:09,920
happy to take any questions or any data

2613
01:46:09,920 --> 01:46:12,400
back that you'd like to hear more. Um

2614
01:46:12,400 --> 01:46:14,400
it's helping hundreds of people,

2615
01:46:14,400 --> 01:46:16,800
reducing the unsheltered homelessness,

2616
01:46:16,800 --> 01:46:18,719
uh really creating some great pathways

2617
01:46:18,719 --> 01:46:21,840
to stability and uh I do believe that

2618
01:46:21,840 --> 01:46:23,920
again while no one thing can solve all

2619
01:46:23,920 --> 01:46:26,880
the problems, I am really so grateful

2620
01:46:26,880 --> 01:46:29,440
for the support of of Pottstown. Uh so

2621
01:46:29,440 --> 01:46:32,080
thank you very much for this work and uh

2622
01:46:32,080 --> 01:46:33,920
and I believe some some graduates of the

2623
01:46:33,920 --> 01:46:35,920
program might be uh Pottstown residents

2624
01:46:35,920 --> 01:46:38,080
and and uh talking a little bit more

2625
01:46:38,080 --> 01:46:39,920
today too. So thank you very very much

2626
01:46:39,920 --> 01:46:40,960
for your time.

2627
01:46:40,960 --> 01:46:42,960
>> Great. And just as a note, um we do have

2628
01:46:42,960 --> 01:46:45,520
a policy that we don't get back um to

2629
01:46:45,520 --> 01:46:47,520
commenters at the meeting, but um

2630
01:46:47,520 --> 01:46:50,080
certainly if council has any questions,

2631
01:46:50,080 --> 01:46:51,920
um send them along to me. I'd be happy

2632
01:46:51,920 --> 01:46:54,000
to get those out to Kaylee. All right.

2633
01:46:54,000 --> 01:47:00,629
Next up, we have Deb Spence, please.

2634
01:47:00,639 --> 01:47:02,560
» Good evening, everyone. Can you hear me?

2635
01:47:02,560 --> 01:47:02,960
>> Yeah.

2636
01:47:02,960 --> 01:47:04,159
>> Yes.

2637
01:47:04,159 --> 01:47:07,360
>> Okay, great. Uh, Madame President, I I

2638
01:47:07,360 --> 01:47:10,960
know this job is not easy and um I know

2639
01:47:10,960 --> 01:47:12,960
most of what you deal with never makes

2640
01:47:12,960 --> 01:47:16,000
it into a headline or Facebook post and

2641
01:47:16,000 --> 01:47:18,239
I know the criticism shows up a lot

2642
01:47:18,239 --> 01:47:20,480
faster than the thank yous, but I

2643
01:47:20,480 --> 01:47:22,480
appreciate the work you're putting in,

2644
01:47:22,480 --> 01:47:24,560
the work you're doing, and I want you to

2645
01:47:24,560 --> 01:47:26,880
stay encouraged and I want you to keep

2646
01:47:26,880 --> 01:47:30,000
going. And um, but next is a quick

2647
01:47:30,000 --> 01:47:33,280
update on the Pottstown app. This is a

2648
01:47:33,280 --> 01:47:35,679
free civic resource that level flat

2649
01:47:35,679 --> 01:47:38,639
association runs for Ptown residents.

2650
01:47:38,639 --> 01:47:41,040
The site is live and and residents are

2651
01:47:41,040 --> 01:47:42,880
using it every week to find local

2652
01:47:42,880 --> 01:47:45,760
events, jobs, burrows, services, and who

2653
01:47:45,760 --> 01:47:48,159
represents them. And Lisa Bonnie, you

2654
01:47:48,159 --> 01:47:51,520
can actually go on there pot.app and you

2655
01:47:51,520 --> 01:47:53,840
can ask Pottstown is a tab right there

2656
01:47:53,840 --> 01:47:56,159
on lefth hand side. What do you need to

2657
01:47:56,159 --> 01:47:57,920
get a permit for? Do you need to get a

2658
01:47:57,920 --> 01:48:00,639
permit for electrical work, for a fence?

2659
01:48:00,639 --> 01:48:02,480
And it will tell you yes. and it'll

2660
01:48:02,480 --> 01:48:04,800
point you to the website to get that

2661
01:48:04,800 --> 01:48:07,360
permit started. So, you know, private

2662
01:48:07,360 --> 01:48:09,679
sector is always more advanced than

2663
01:48:09,679 --> 01:48:11,840
government, but we're we're here to

2664
01:48:11,840 --> 01:48:14,639
support government in any way we can. It

2665
01:48:14,639 --> 01:48:17,679
has the one calendar and every event

2666
01:48:17,679 --> 01:48:19,840
that's happening in town. You don't have

2667
01:48:19,840 --> 01:48:21,360
to hunt for it. You can go right there

2668
01:48:21,360 --> 01:48:24,159
on the one calendar. And I'm asking

2669
01:48:24,159 --> 01:48:26,400
everyone in this room or anyone

2670
01:48:26,400 --> 01:48:28,719
watching, if you run an event, a

2671
01:48:28,719 --> 01:48:31,280
meeting, a fundraiser, youth program, a

2672
01:48:31,280 --> 01:48:33,440
harvest festival, cleanup, anything like

2673
01:48:33,440 --> 01:48:36,639
that, submit it to the one calendar.app,

2674
01:48:36,639 --> 01:48:39,199
it takes like two minutes to do it. And

2675
01:48:39,199 --> 01:48:41,679
um you know, so all of the events you

2676
01:48:41,679 --> 01:48:44,159
can you can send everyone to that app

2677
01:48:44,159 --> 01:48:47,360
for, you know, quick answer. Um last

2678
01:48:47,360 --> 01:48:49,600
thing I want to talk about, um you

2679
01:48:49,600 --> 01:48:51,440
didn't give it in your update, Justin.

2680
01:48:51,440 --> 01:48:53,840
that circle back to the chicken or

2681
01:48:53,840 --> 01:48:56,800
ordinance and and right now chickens are

2682
01:48:56,800 --> 01:48:59,280
not allowed in the burrow and and that

2683
01:48:59,280 --> 01:49:02,320
is the rule on paper but in practice

2684
01:49:02,320 --> 01:49:05,440
they are running around town um and and

2685
01:49:05,440 --> 01:49:07,440
everybody knows it. You see them all

2686
01:49:07,440 --> 01:49:10,080
over the place. So I would like to know

2687
01:49:10,080 --> 01:49:12,960
if there can be an ordinance in place.

2688
01:49:12,960 --> 01:49:16,560
Um, Nortown just updated theirs and they

2689
01:49:16,560 --> 01:49:18,960
set a limit on hens, no roosters,

2690
01:49:18,960 --> 01:49:21,600
setbacks from the property line,

2691
01:49:21,600 --> 01:49:24,159
standards for the for the coupe and and

2692
01:49:24,159 --> 01:49:26,800
for keeping it clean and and and I'm

2693
01:49:26,800 --> 01:49:29,920
interested in it because I, you know, we

2694
01:49:29,920 --> 01:49:32,159
are at war. We are country at war.

2695
01:49:32,159 --> 01:49:33,840
Grocery stores could be shut down for a

2696
01:49:33,840 --> 01:49:35,920
week or month. Um, we could we could

2697
01:49:35,920 --> 01:49:37,440
lose power. You never know what's going

2698
01:49:37,440 --> 01:49:40,239
to happen. And if we had, you know, some

2699
01:49:40,239 --> 01:49:43,040
fresh eggs, some potential, you know,

2700
01:49:43,040 --> 01:49:45,119
protein at some point, I I would

2701
01:49:45,119 --> 01:49:47,679
appreciate it if it were legal to have

2702
01:49:47,679 --> 01:49:50,960
those things um in the barrel so that

2703
01:49:50,960 --> 01:49:53,040
not only we can, you know, have some

2704
01:49:53,040 --> 01:49:55,040
food security, but also at the same

2705
01:49:55,040 --> 01:49:57,360
time, you know, live a healthier and

2706
01:49:57,360 --> 01:50:02,400
more sustainable life. Um so um anyway I

2707
01:50:02,400 --> 01:50:09,679
think I am done with my comment and uh I do like um that Manasha is making

2708
01:50:09,679 --> 01:50:13,040
those dots with the uh with the uh land

2709
01:50:13,040 --> 01:50:15,679
bank. So I I I appreciate that. Um um

2710
01:50:15,679 --> 01:50:18,239
thank you all. Have a good night.

2711
01:50:18,239 --> 01:50:21,040
>> Thank you Deb. I appreciate you. Thank

2712
01:50:21,040 --> 01:50:21,840
you.

2713
01:50:21,840 --> 01:50:24,320
>> Thank you. Um Shauna, did you want to

2714
01:50:24,320 --> 01:50:29,510
speak again? [clears throat]

2715
01:50:29,520 --> 01:50:31,920
Hello. Yes. Um on behalf of Hearts of

2716
01:50:31,920 --> 01:50:35,199
Humanity, we go to the Ricket Center to

2717
01:50:35,199 --> 01:50:37,520
um manage the children's garden in the

2718
01:50:37,520 --> 01:50:39,920
back. Um I know that there are hundreds

2719
01:50:39,920 --> 01:50:41,840
of thousands of dollars earmarked for

2720
01:50:41,840 --> 01:50:44,239
this and for that, but the children's

2721
01:50:44,239 --> 01:50:46,159
garden is in the back

2722
01:50:46,159 --> 01:50:49,199
>> and I take the alleyway to get to the

2723
01:50:49,199 --> 01:50:52,080
children's garden. And one time my car

2724
01:50:52,080 --> 01:50:54,560
ended up in a hole in the alleyway in

2725
01:50:54,560 --> 01:50:59,360
the back. And these alleyways are just I

2726
01:50:59,360 --> 01:51:02,080
don't know how they could be uh uh uh

2727
01:51:02,080 --> 01:51:08,560
the responsibility of the homeowners or whatnot, but these alleyways are

2728
01:51:08,560 --> 01:51:11,280
deplorable. They're also the gutters.

2729
01:51:11,280 --> 01:51:13,199
with all the rain that we've

2730
01:51:13,199 --> 01:51:15,760
had, we should be looking at that. All

2731
01:51:15,760 --> 01:51:18,880
the trash ends up in the gutters and our

2732
01:51:18,880 --> 01:51:22,560
place looks horrendous, you know, with

2733
01:51:22,560 --> 01:51:24,719
people who are coming in and going to

2734
01:51:24,719 --> 01:51:26,880
the low show and, you know, doing

2735
01:51:26,880 --> 01:51:30,400
October Madness. We want a clean,

2736
01:51:30,400 --> 01:51:33,040
safe, even the alleyways. You know, I

2737
01:51:33,040 --> 01:51:34,480
remember when my daughter was going to

2738
01:51:34,480 --> 01:51:36,719
school, I would tell her time and time

2739
01:51:36,719 --> 01:51:39,040
again, don't take the alleyways. That

2740
01:51:39,040 --> 01:51:43,440
was a very long time ago. Now 2026, my

2741
01:51:43,440 --> 01:51:45,520
car ends up in a hole in the back of the

2742
01:51:45,520 --> 01:51:49,679
Ricket Center. My question now is of

2743
01:51:49,679 --> 01:51:52,159
those hundreds of thousands of dollars,

2744
01:51:52,159 --> 01:51:55,040
is any of it earmarked for the alleyway

2745
01:51:55,040 --> 01:51:57,280
behind the Ricket Center because there

2746
01:51:57,280 --> 01:52:00,239
is an amazing amount of children that

2747
01:52:00,239 --> 01:52:02,800
go, you know, back and forth in that

2748
01:52:02,800 --> 01:52:04,800
alleyway. And I'd like to see some

2749
01:52:04,800 --> 01:52:07,760
lights. I'd like to know that some of

2750
01:52:07,760 --> 01:52:10,639
these dollars are being earmarked for

2751
01:52:10,639 --> 01:52:13,040
our alleyways

2752
01:52:13,040 --> 01:52:16,239
with the impact transportation u money

2753
01:52:16,239 --> 01:52:18,800
that's coming in through that initiative

2754
01:52:18,800 --> 01:52:23,119
live or play all this. Are our alleyways

2755
01:52:23,119 --> 01:52:26,320
and our trash being addressed? Even the

2756
01:52:26,320 --> 01:52:28,320
trash trucks don't work [music] anymore

2757
01:52:28,320 --> 01:52:30,400
the way they're supposed to. And these

2758
01:52:30,400 --> 01:52:32,639
poor guys are lifting up these huge

2759
01:52:32,639 --> 01:52:36,560
heavy totes that we were made to get so

2760
01:52:36,560 --> 01:52:38,480
that they can fit on the back of these

2761
01:52:38,480 --> 01:52:41,840
trash trucks and electronically lift up

2762
01:52:41,840 --> 01:52:45,199
these huge heavy the guys are lifting up

2763
01:52:45,199 --> 01:52:48,320
these trash cans manually by hand. I

2764
01:52:48,320 --> 01:52:49,920
just feel sorry for them. I try not to

2765
01:52:49,920 --> 01:52:52,880
put as I mean I try not to generate as

2766
01:52:52,880 --> 01:52:55,119
much trash on account of it

2767
01:52:55,119 --> 01:52:57,360
>> because I mean it's just so sad the

2768
01:52:57,360 --> 01:53:00,400
trash trucks don't even work anymore. So

2769
01:53:00,400 --> 01:53:02,239
on behalf of Hearts of Humanity, on

2770
01:53:02,239 --> 01:53:05,440
behalf of myself as a, you know, a

2771
01:53:05,440 --> 01:53:08,400
property owner, taxpayer,

2772
01:53:08,400 --> 01:53:10,960
could we earmark some of these funds for

2773
01:53:10,960 --> 01:53:13,520
alleyways, trash,

2774
01:53:13,520 --> 01:53:15,199
>> gutters?

2775
01:53:15,199 --> 01:53:16,560
Thank you.

2776
01:53:16,560 --> 01:53:20,288
>> Thank you. Next is Laura Johnson.

2777
01:53:20,288 --> 01:53:30,550
[snorts]

2778
01:53:30,560 --> 01:53:33,679
Hello, Laura Johnson. Um, normally I get

2779
01:53:33,679 --> 01:53:35,440
up here and I say I'm not speaking on

2780
01:53:35,440 --> 01:53:37,040
behalf of the school district. I'm just

2781
01:53:37,040 --> 01:53:38,960
a private citizen. Tonight I'm going to

2782
01:53:38,960 --> 01:53:41,440
start with some schoolboard related

2783
01:53:41,440 --> 01:53:42,239
updates.

2784
01:53:42,239 --> 01:53:44,159
>> Okay. Um, the first thing I wanted to

2785
01:53:44,159 --> 01:53:46,080
let everybody know of, anybody in the

2786
01:53:46,080 --> 01:53:48,320
audience, is that the school district

2787
01:53:48,320 --> 01:53:52,960
recently um, reenacted a property tax

2788
01:53:52,960 --> 01:53:56,080
and rent rebate tax credit on your

2789
01:53:56,080 --> 01:53:58,560
property taxes. It is the same one that

2790
01:53:58,560 --> 01:54:00,880
is done at the state level. Um where it

2791
01:54:00,880 --> 01:54:04,400
is income qualifying and one other qual

2792
01:54:04,400 --> 01:54:06,320
qualification that goes along with it to

2793
01:54:06,320 --> 01:54:10,000
be either 65 years of age or older, be a

2794
01:54:10,000 --> 01:54:13,040
widow or widowerower age 50 years 50

2795
01:54:13,040 --> 01:54:16,080
years of age or older or be permanently

2796
01:54:16,080 --> 01:54:19,119
disabled and 18 years of age and older.

2797
01:54:19,119 --> 01:54:21,760
And it goes for renters and homeowners.

2798
01:54:21,760 --> 01:54:24,320
So, if you qualify for the state

2799
01:54:24,320 --> 01:54:26,639
property tax and rent rebate, you also

2800
01:54:26,639 --> 01:54:29,040
qualify for the school district one. The

2801
01:54:29,040 --> 01:54:31,679
school district one is 75% of the state

2802
01:54:31,679 --> 01:54:33,920
one. So, if you get $1,000 back from the

2803
01:54:33,920 --> 01:54:36,880
state, you'd get 750 back from the

2804
01:54:36,880 --> 01:54:39,119
school district. So, this was something

2805
01:54:39,119 --> 01:54:42,159
that we did in the last budget. It is an

2806
01:54:42,159 --> 01:54:44,560
effort to try to

2807
01:54:44,560 --> 01:54:46,880
particularly for our residents,

2808
01:54:46,880 --> 01:54:50,000
homeowners or renters again who are on a

2809
01:54:50,000 --> 01:54:53,440
fixed limited income to help alleviate

2810
01:54:53,440 --> 01:54:56,080
some of the pressure. So that can be um

2811
01:54:56,080 --> 01:54:58,480
if you're looking for that application,

2812
01:54:58,480 --> 01:55:00,800
um you apply for the school district one

2813
01:55:00,800 --> 01:55:02,480
after you've already gotten the state

2814
01:55:02,480 --> 01:55:04,880
one because we just use their you know

2815
01:55:04,880 --> 01:55:06,080
if you're okay with the state, you're

2816
01:55:06,080 --> 01:55:09,599
okay with us. Um, if you Google school

2817
01:55:09,599 --> 01:55:11,599
Pottstown School District rebate, it is

2818
01:55:11,599 --> 01:55:13,119
the first thing that'll come up. You can

2819
01:55:13,119 --> 01:55:15,440
also you'll find it on our website. Um,

2820
01:55:15,440 --> 01:55:17,119
so I just wanted everybody to know about

2821
01:55:17,119 --> 01:55:19,199
that because that is a not insignificant

2822
01:55:19,199 --> 01:55:22,639
amount of money. Um, it's up to $1,000

2823
01:55:22,639 --> 01:55:25,760
from the state and up to 750 from the

2824
01:55:25,760 --> 01:55:27,440
school district. So, it can also be

2825
01:55:27,440 --> 01:55:29,920
lower than that.

2826
01:55:29,920 --> 01:55:32,080
Um, the other thing I wanted to flag on

2827
01:55:32,080 --> 01:55:34,639
the school district side is that we're

2828
01:55:34,639 --> 01:55:37,599
in the fall. It is um sports season. It

2829
01:55:37,599 --> 01:55:40,800
is band season. And you can find um

2830
01:55:40,800 --> 01:55:43,440
school sports schedules on the school

2831
01:55:43,440 --> 01:55:44,719
district website. If you go to

2832
01:55:44,719 --> 01:55:46,719
potstownschools.org and go to the

2833
01:55:46,719 --> 01:55:49,679
activities tab, the Trojan sports

2834
01:55:49,679 --> 01:55:51,360
schedule is right there. And while

2835
01:55:51,360 --> 01:55:53,119
certainly everybody should go to FET

2836
01:55:53,119 --> 01:55:55,199
this Friday night, if you're not for

2837
01:55:55,199 --> 01:55:57,440
some reason, um and you want to do

2838
01:55:57,440 --> 01:55:59,040
something else, there is a football game

2839
01:55:59,040 --> 01:56:02,000
as Madame Mayor mentioned. Um, it is

2840
01:56:02,000 --> 01:56:04,480
also middle school band music night

2841
01:56:04,480 --> 01:56:06,719
along with is the marching band's first

2842
01:56:06,719 --> 01:56:08,639
show. So anyway, lots of good stuff

2843
01:56:08,639 --> 01:56:10,560
happening there. So now to take off the

2844
01:56:10,560 --> 01:56:11,920
schoolboard hat and just put on the

2845
01:56:11,920 --> 01:56:14,000
private citizen hat. I just also want to

2846
01:56:14,000 --> 01:56:16,400
say that I love love love this idea of

2847
01:56:16,400 --> 01:56:18,960
the arts district. Um, I think something

2848
01:56:18,960 --> 01:56:21,760
like this would be another really good

2849
01:56:21,760 --> 01:56:25,119
focal point um for our town to be known

2850
01:56:25,119 --> 01:56:27,760
for a thing. It reminds me back to when

2851
01:56:27,760 --> 01:56:30,159
we had the urban land institute study

2852
01:56:30,159 --> 01:56:32,960
and one of the things it suggested was

2853
01:56:32,960 --> 01:56:34,880
pick some focus areas where you're going

2854
01:56:34,880 --> 01:56:37,360
to really lean in and I remember because

2855
01:56:37,360 --> 01:56:39,440
education was mentioned and from the

2856
01:56:39,440 --> 01:56:42,000
school side I was like yay. Um but arts

2857
01:56:42,000 --> 01:56:44,880
is another one that can really it's

2858
01:56:44,880 --> 01:56:48,080
positive for revitalization but not just

2859
01:56:48,080 --> 01:56:50,639
like practically but culturally and

2860
01:56:50,639 --> 01:56:54,480
community um the vibe basically. So,

2861
01:56:54,480 --> 01:56:56,159
just wanted to throw that out there.

2862
01:56:56,159 --> 01:56:59,350
>> Thank you.

2863
01:56:59,360 --> 01:57:00,880
» All right. Next up, we have Heather

2864
01:57:00,880 --> 01:57:04,000
Smith, please.

2865
01:57:04,000 --> 01:57:12,070
>> Okay. Next up, we have Chelsea Hoth.

2866
01:57:12,080 --> 01:57:17,270
» Sure. [laughter] My case, please.

2867
01:57:17,280 --> 01:57:19,599
» Good evening, everybody. On behalf of

2868
01:57:19,599 --> 01:57:21,760
Your Way Home tonight, I'm here to ask

2869
01:57:21,760 --> 01:57:23,920
for your continued partnership in

2870
01:57:23,920 --> 01:57:25,040
responding to the growing need for

2871
01:57:25,040 --> 01:57:26,320
housing in Montgomery Countyy's

2872
01:57:26,320 --> 01:57:27,760
communities. [clears throat] Your Way

2873
01:57:27,760 --> 01:57:29,040
Home Montgomery County, if you didn't

2874
01:57:29,040 --> 01:57:31,199
know, it's the county's unified and

2875
01:57:31,199 --> 01:57:33,040
coordinated housing crisis response

2876
01:57:33,040 --> 01:57:35,040
system for families and individuals

2877
01:57:35,040 --> 01:57:37,679
experiencing homelessness or at imminent

2878
01:57:37,679 --> 01:57:39,679
risk of homelessness.

2879
01:57:39,679 --> 01:57:41,920
Federal policy changes through HUD's

2880
01:57:41,920 --> 01:57:44,320
continuum continuum of care funding

2881
01:57:44,320 --> 01:57:47,280
process is already being implemented.

2882
01:57:47,280 --> 01:57:49,360
And these these reductions are creating

2883
01:57:49,360 --> 01:57:51,199
new uncertainties for communities

2884
01:57:51,199 --> 01:57:53,679
working to prevent and end homelessness.

2885
01:57:53,679 --> 01:57:55,119
National housing and homelessness

2886
01:57:55,119 --> 01:57:57,040
organizations have warned that these

2887
01:57:57,040 --> 01:57:59,360
changes could place additional pressure

2888
01:57:59,360 --> 01:58:01,840
on permanent housing programs and reduce

2889
01:58:01,840 --> 01:58:04,080
the stability of funding that local

2890
01:58:04,080 --> 01:58:06,480
systems rely upon. For Montgomery

2891
01:58:06,480 --> 01:58:08,719
County, the message is clear. Federal

2892
01:58:08,719 --> 01:58:10,480
resources alone will not be enough to

2893
01:58:10,480 --> 01:58:12,320
meet the need. We will need local

2894
01:58:12,320 --> 01:58:14,400
leadership, practical problem solving,

2895
01:58:14,400 --> 01:58:16,239
and strong partnerships to expand

2896
01:58:16,239 --> 01:58:18,480
housing options and ensure that people

2897
01:58:18,480 --> 01:58:20,480
and families experiencing housing

2898
01:58:20,480 --> 01:58:23,040
instability have a path to safe, stable

2899
01:58:23,040 --> 01:58:25,840
homes. Pottstown Burough has played an

2900
01:58:25,840 --> 01:58:27,599
essential role. We thank you for your

2901
01:58:27,599 --> 01:58:28,960
willingness to partner with Montgomery

2902
01:58:28,960 --> 01:58:30,960
County and Opport Opportunity House at

2903
01:58:30,960 --> 01:58:34,320
the Days In. Since January of 2025, as

2904
01:58:34,320 --> 01:58:36,560
Kaylee Silver mentioned, over 300 people

2905
01:58:36,560 --> 01:58:38,639
have been served. Nearly all of them

2906
01:58:38,639 --> 01:58:40,080
entered experiencing chronic

2907
01:58:40,080 --> 01:58:42,719
homelessness and 94 have successfully

2908
01:58:42,719 --> 01:58:46,080
transitioned into permanent housing.

2909
01:58:46,080 --> 01:58:47,760
Local governments control many of the

2910
01:58:47,760 --> 01:58:49,040
practical tools that shape whether

2911
01:58:49,040 --> 01:58:51,280
housing can be created or preserved,

2912
01:58:51,280 --> 01:58:53,360
including zoning, land use, permitting,

2913
01:58:53,360 --> 01:58:54,880
and a host of other reasons I've talked

2914
01:58:54,880 --> 01:58:57,040
to you about before. We also recognize

2915
01:58:57,040 --> 01:58:58,639
that every municipality is different.

2916
01:58:58,639 --> 01:59:00,639
The right opportunities in one community

2917
01:59:00,639 --> 01:59:02,159
may look different from the right

2918
01:59:02,159 --> 01:59:04,239
opportunities in another. Some

2919
01:59:04,239 --> 01:59:05,920
municipalities may have publicly owned

2920
01:59:05,920 --> 01:59:09,199
or underutilized land, while others may

2921
01:59:09,199 --> 01:59:11,520
have redevelopment opportunities, zoning

2922
01:59:11,520 --> 01:59:13,360
updates to consider, faith or

2923
01:59:13,360 --> 01:59:15,280
institutional partners like vacant

2924
01:59:15,280 --> 01:59:18,159
churches or local projects that could be

2925
01:59:18,159 --> 01:59:20,880
adapted to meet community needs. So, I'm

2926
01:59:20,880 --> 01:59:22,880
here tonight to just extend the offer

2927
01:59:22,880 --> 01:59:24,800
from Your Way Home as their board

2928
01:59:24,800 --> 01:59:26,960
chairperson to say if you ever would

2929
01:59:26,960 --> 01:59:28,480
like an update from Your Way Home about

2930
01:59:28,480 --> 01:59:30,480
the services we can offer, please reach

2931
01:59:30,480 --> 01:59:32,960
out to me directly as as their chair.

2932
01:59:32,960 --> 01:59:35,280
Um, we we welcome the opportunity to be

2933
01:59:35,280 --> 01:59:37,119
a resource to Pottstown. We hope you

2934
01:59:37,119 --> 01:59:38,639
will participate in a countywide

2935
01:59:38,639 --> 01:59:40,800
conversation about how local governments

2936
01:59:40,800 --> 01:59:43,040
can help ensure every county resident

2937
01:59:43,040 --> 01:59:45,599
has access to safe and stable housing.

2938
01:59:45,599 --> 01:59:47,119
We would also welcome the chance to talk

2939
01:59:47,119 --> 01:59:49,599
with you about what we are already doing

2940
01:59:49,599 --> 01:59:51,440
locally, what barriers you're seeing

2941
01:59:51,440 --> 01:59:53,760
here in town, and where your way home

2942
01:59:53,760 --> 01:59:55,920
can step in to help. Uh, this letter is

2943
01:59:55,920 --> 01:59:58,000
also signed by our vice chair, Meg

2944
01:59:58,000 --> 02:00:00,080
Sneed. Thank you for your time.

2945
02:00:00,080 --> 02:00:01,040
>> Thank you.

2946
02:00:01,040 --> 02:00:02,560
All right. Now we have

2947
02:00:02,560 --> 02:00:06,470
Chelsea.

2948
02:00:06,480 --> 02:00:08,480
» Are you speaking Chelsea or is the baby?

2949
02:00:08,480 --> 02:00:10,323
>> Oh, he doesn't really talk.

2950
02:00:10,323 --> 02:00:11,440
[clears throat]

2951
02:00:11,440 --> 02:00:13,280
>> He's only five months old, so he doesn't

2952
02:00:13,280 --> 02:00:15,040
speak. [laughter] My 5-year-old's in the

2953
02:00:15,040 --> 02:00:16,880
corner sleeping.

2954
02:00:16,880 --> 02:00:18,480
>> Um, my name's Chelsea. I'm grateful to

2955
02:00:18,480 --> 02:00:20,880
be here. Um, I'm a graduate of the

2956
02:00:20,880 --> 02:00:24,000
Opportunity House program. Uh, yes. In,

2957
02:00:24,000 --> 02:00:26,159
uh, the spring of 2025, I found myself

2958
02:00:26,159 --> 02:00:29,520
living in a car um, in my car and I was

2959
02:00:29,520 --> 02:00:31,360
sleeping in the Walmart parking lot. I

2960
02:00:31,360 --> 02:00:34,480
was um bouncing from like public parking

2961
02:00:34,480 --> 02:00:36,080
lot to public parking lot in the middle

2962
02:00:36,080 --> 02:00:37,360
of the night so I wouldn't get in

2963
02:00:37,360 --> 02:00:39,440
trouble, right? Um it was probably one

2964
02:00:39,440 --> 02:00:42,159
of the worst experiences of my life. Um

2965
02:00:42,159 --> 02:00:43,760
it was right around when my dad passed

2966
02:00:43,760 --> 02:00:45,280
away, so I really didn't have any

2967
02:00:45,280 --> 02:00:49,679
support from family. Um and you know, it

2968
02:00:49,679 --> 02:00:51,520
got to the point where my car got repoed

2969
02:00:51,520 --> 02:00:54,800
and I was living in tents. Um, so that's

2970
02:00:54,800 --> 02:00:57,440
when I reached out to Your Way Home and

2971
02:00:57,440 --> 02:00:59,760
uh they were able to get me on the wait

2972
02:00:59,760 --> 02:01:02,000
list for shelters in the county. I

2973
02:01:02,000 --> 02:01:03,599
wanted to stay in Pottstown because I've

2974
02:01:03,599 --> 02:01:05,679
lived in Pottstown for a really long

2975
02:01:05,679 --> 02:01:10,159
time and um I'm like my support network

2976
02:01:10,159 --> 02:01:12,880
I've built is here. So, and my son lived

2977
02:01:12,880 --> 02:01:15,040
here so I wanted to stay in Pottstown.

2978
02:01:15,040 --> 02:01:16,320
So, they were able to get me into the

2979
02:01:16,320 --> 02:01:19,119
opportunity house. And when I was when I

2980
02:01:19,119 --> 02:01:21,280
got there, I was welcomed. Um, the

2981
02:01:21,280 --> 02:01:24,560
program really helped me in the sense

2982
02:01:24,560 --> 02:01:26,719
that like I was really down on my luck.

2983
02:01:26,719 --> 02:01:30,000
I was addicted to drugs. I didn't have

2984
02:01:30,000 --> 02:01:32,719
anywhere to turn. I felt hopeless. I

2985
02:01:32,719 --> 02:01:34,880
wasn't allowed to see my older son. And

2986
02:01:34,880 --> 02:01:37,119
while I was there, I got to work on my

2987
02:01:37,119 --> 02:01:39,760
mental health. I got to uh get

2988
02:01:39,760 --> 02:01:42,400
employment. And I found out that I was

2989
02:01:42,400 --> 02:01:44,320
pregnant. So, they were very supportive

2990
02:01:44,320 --> 02:01:46,960
there as well. Um, and then I was able

2991
02:01:46,960 --> 02:01:49,280
to get the support to get custody of my

2992
02:01:49,280 --> 02:01:52,159
son back. Since leaving the Opportunity

2993
02:01:52,159 --> 02:01:55,119
House in January, I've been in stable

2994
02:01:55,119 --> 02:01:57,360
housing uh through Family Services of

2995
02:01:57,360 --> 02:02:00,159
Montgomery County, and uh I've been able

2996
02:02:00,159 --> 02:02:02,239
to get full custody of my 5-year-old.

2997
02:02:02,239 --> 02:02:05,520
And I've utilized so many like resources

2998
02:02:05,520 --> 02:02:07,920
and uh different opportunities that the

2999
02:02:07,920 --> 02:02:10,000
county offers all because the

3000
02:02:10,000 --> 02:02:12,560
Opportunity House showed them to me. I

3001
02:02:12,560 --> 02:02:14,239
didn't know all of these things were out

3002
02:02:14,239 --> 02:02:17,119
there until I went there and was able to

3003
02:02:17,119 --> 02:02:19,679
swallow my pride and ask for help. They

3004
02:02:19,679 --> 02:02:23,760
are a very welcoming like organization

3005
02:02:23,760 --> 02:02:25,760
and they do really care about the people

3006
02:02:25,760 --> 02:02:29,199
that are there. They all the staff knows

3007
02:02:29,199 --> 02:02:31,840
every single resident. They like talk to

3008
02:02:31,840 --> 02:02:33,520
you like you're a human being, not like

3009
02:02:33,520 --> 02:02:37,280
a statistic. And it is it is very much a

3010
02:02:37,280 --> 02:02:39,360
program that does a lot of really good

3011
02:02:39,360 --> 02:02:42,320
work. Um, so that's all I really have to

3012
02:02:42,320 --> 02:02:43,840
say. Thank you very much.

3013
02:02:43,840 --> 02:02:46,869
>> Well, KUDOS TO YOU. YOU GO, GIRL.

3014
02:02:46,869 --> 02:02:47,599
[applause]

3015
02:02:47,599 --> 02:02:51,589
>> YES.

3016
02:02:51,599 --> 02:02:54,000
» Love this.

3017
02:02:54,000 --> 02:02:55,840
>> All right. Next up, we have Bob Brown.

3018
02:02:55,840 --> 02:02:58,000
Please,

3019
02:02:58,000 --> 02:03:01,040
>> that's a hard one.

3020
02:03:01,040 --> 02:03:03,119
>> See what you got.

3021
02:03:03,119 --> 02:03:06,080
>> Be a little um [laughter]

3022
02:03:06,080 --> 02:03:09,920
just a a little food for thought. Okay.

3023
02:03:09,920 --> 02:03:13,599
probably just about all of us the next

3024
02:03:13,599 --> 02:03:16,960
time something significant comes up as

3025
02:03:16,960 --> 02:03:20,400
far as the banners are concerned 300 or

3026
02:03:20,400 --> 02:03:24,000
whatever we're not going to be here.

3027
02:03:24,000 --> 02:03:26,080
>> So that's just you know a little food

3028
02:03:26,080 --> 02:03:30,159
for thought. Okay. Um I was glad to see

3029
02:03:30,159 --> 02:03:33,119
that the banner program is on the next

3030
02:03:33,119 --> 02:03:37,040
agenda. So that you know kind of filled

3031
02:03:37,040 --> 02:03:39,920
me up a little bit. Um,

3032
02:03:39,920 --> 02:03:42,159
normally I come here and I guess most

3033
02:03:42,159 --> 02:03:44,560
people think I'm the guy of gloom and

3034
02:03:44,560 --> 02:03:47,599
doom, but I'm not today. Today is a good

3035
02:03:47,599 --> 02:03:52,639
day and I just want to make sure that um

3036
02:03:52,639 --> 02:03:58,560
these issues are addressed. That's my biggest thing.

3037
02:03:58,560 --> 02:03:59,280
Thank you.

3038
02:03:59,280 --> 02:04:00,000
>> You're welcome.

3039
02:04:00,000 --> 02:04:02,080
>> Thank you. All right. Next up, we have

3040
02:04:02,080 --> 02:04:05,119
Art Miller. Please

3041
02:04:05,119 --> 02:04:05,520
>> ask.

3042
02:04:05,520 --> 02:04:06,719
>> Art is passing.

3043
02:04:06,719 --> 02:04:10,000
>> Next is Doug Slick, did you determine

3044
02:04:10,000 --> 02:04:11,360
>> my time for

3045
02:04:11,360 --> 02:04:15,360
>> Thank you. All right. Still

3046
02:04:15,360 --> 02:04:18,320
>> that concludes public comment.

3047
02:04:18,320 --> 02:04:24,070
>> Okay. Um,

3048
02:04:24,080 --> 02:04:26,239
counselor's discussion, general

3049
02:04:26,239 --> 02:04:29,440
discussion. I'm going start with

3050
02:04:29,440 --> 02:04:30,159
Joe.

3051
02:04:30,159 --> 02:04:30,880
>> I don't have anything.

3052
02:04:30,880 --> 02:04:32,880
>> You don't have anything? Okay. How about

3053
02:04:32,880 --> 02:04:34,239
you, Andrew?

3054
02:04:34,239 --> 02:04:34,960
>> Couple things.

3055
02:04:34,960 --> 02:04:38,639
>> Okay. first thing and Johnny Corson, I

3056
02:04:38,639 --> 02:04:42,800
was at the U car show and uh they took

3057
02:04:42,800 --> 02:04:45,599
me into a new candy store that's going

3058
02:04:45,599 --> 02:04:48,159
to be opening. Okay.

3059
02:04:48,159 --> 02:04:51,280
>> And that's a really cool thing. And so

3060
02:04:51,280 --> 02:04:52,960
when that What's the name of that place,

3061
02:04:52,960 --> 02:04:55,280
Peggy?

3062
02:04:55,280 --> 02:04:56,320
>> Sweet treat.

3063
02:04:56,320 --> 02:04:58,080
>> Society

3064
02:04:58,080 --> 02:04:58,560
sweets.

3065
02:04:58,560 --> 02:05:00,800
>> Is that societ?

3066
02:05:00,800 --> 02:05:03,520
>> Yeah, that's going to be a really really

3067
02:05:03,520 --> 02:05:05,280
great thing. And we're going to need

3068
02:05:05,280 --> 02:05:07,360
lots of events in town that's going to

3069
02:05:07,360 --> 02:05:09,599
be able to support that because it's one

3070
02:05:09,599 --> 02:05:11,760
thing to put something in there. And

3071
02:05:11,760 --> 02:05:14,800
there's another thing to have it leave.

3072
02:05:14,800 --> 02:05:17,199
>> Say like Mrs. Pickles. Okay.

3073
02:05:17,199 --> 02:05:21,040
>> Yeah. Gone. Um and so

3074
02:05:21,040 --> 02:05:22,560
please, please, please, please, when

3075
02:05:22,560 --> 02:05:24,000
that comes out,

3076
02:05:24,000 --> 02:05:25,360
>> I mean, it's going to have all kind

3077
02:05:25,360 --> 02:05:26,880
candy. Probably kind of like the

3078
02:05:26,880 --> 02:05:29,119
peppermint stick in Boyertown. So, I

3079
02:05:29,119 --> 02:05:31,920
think that's a a pretty uh cool thing.

3080
02:05:31,920 --> 02:05:35,040
I'm very happy about that. Um, I just

3081
02:05:35,040 --> 02:05:38,239
want to let everybody know on Monday

3082
02:05:38,239 --> 02:05:41,840
night, given what I heard from Peggy,

3083
02:05:41,840 --> 02:05:43,440
uh, with regard to the banners, I'm

3084
02:05:43,440 --> 02:05:46,400
going to make a motion to, uh, take down

3085
02:05:46,400 --> 02:05:49,280
10 of those banners and put the next 10

3086
02:05:49,280 --> 02:05:51,199
sequential

3087
02:05:51,199 --> 02:05:52,880
applicants

3088
02:05:52,880 --> 02:05:54,239
up.

3089
02:05:54,239 --> 02:05:57,920
I do know the first one on the list

3090
02:05:57,920 --> 02:06:01,040
is um Mark Gibson's mother, a

3091
02:06:01,040 --> 02:06:02,560
93-year-old

3092
02:06:02,560 --> 02:06:06,639
woman who served in uh Korea. And from

3093
02:06:06,639 --> 02:06:07,920
what I understand, she's the first

3094
02:06:07,920 --> 02:06:09,440
African-American

3095
02:06:09,440 --> 02:06:13,760
to from Pennsylvania to serve in the

3096
02:06:13,760 --> 02:06:17,199
armed forces uh in war. I guess

3097
02:06:17,199 --> 02:06:20,880
>> I'm going to make that motion. Okay.

3098
02:06:20,880 --> 02:06:23,920
And we'll see what happens.

3099
02:06:23,920 --> 02:06:30,629
And last thing I want to talk about is

3100
02:06:30,639 --> 02:06:34,239
I think that and there is no place no

3101
02:06:34,239 --> 02:06:36,800
place in this burrow for elected

3102
02:06:36,800 --> 02:06:40,400
officials to be profitering. None. None

3103
02:06:40,400 --> 02:06:42,960
whatsoever.

3104
02:06:42,960 --> 02:06:46,719
They should not be taking part in in

3105
02:06:46,719 --> 02:06:50,320
making in in getting houses and flipping

3106
02:06:50,320 --> 02:06:53,040
them and making six figure profits. I

3107
02:06:53,040 --> 02:06:54,960
think that disqualifies them as a public

3108
02:06:54,960 --> 02:06:57,760
servant and they should not run for

3109
02:06:57,760 --> 02:07:02,079
anything ever. That is not okay. I don't

3110
02:07:02,079 --> 02:07:04,079
know what

3111
02:07:04,079 --> 02:07:06,960
uh antenna they have to think that's

3112
02:07:06,960 --> 02:07:10,480
okay, but it's wrong. It is wrong.

3113
02:07:10,480 --> 02:07:12,719
Wrong.

3114
02:07:12,719 --> 02:07:16,639
And there's no nice way to say that.

3115
02:07:16,639 --> 02:07:19,760
I'm going to give Mr. Brandt, okay, the

3116
02:07:19,760 --> 02:07:21,679
deeds and things that show that I don't

3117
02:07:21,679 --> 02:07:23,119
know if we'll do anything with it

3118
02:07:23,119 --> 02:07:30,149
because

3119
02:07:30,159 --> 02:07:32,000
last

3120
02:07:32,000 --> 02:07:37,199
>> we had a count hall, Lisa and I, and

3121
02:07:37,199 --> 02:07:40,639
according to the signin sheet, a lot of

3122
02:07:40,639 --> 02:07:43,599
people came. Okay, there were 73 people

3123
02:07:43,599 --> 02:07:46,159
that signed up and another 20 that did

3124
02:07:46,159 --> 02:07:48,560
not uh want to sign up. Unfortunately,

3125
02:07:48,560 --> 02:07:50,880
for some reason, it was reported 40%

3126
02:07:50,880 --> 02:07:53,119
less by Mr. Brandt who was there for all

3127
02:07:53,119 --> 02:07:56,320
three hours. Don't know why. Perhaps

3128
02:07:56,320 --> 02:07:59,840
counting wasn't his forte,

3129
02:07:59,840 --> 02:08:02,400
but I don't appreciate minimizing it

3130
02:08:02,400 --> 02:08:04,159
because

3131
02:08:04,159 --> 02:08:07,158
>> no. [clears throat]

3132
02:08:07,168 --> 02:08:09,040
[snorts] Okay. I don't want an answer.

3133
02:08:09,040 --> 02:08:13,199
This isn't a dialogue. this is my time.

3134
02:08:13,199 --> 02:08:14,719
So,

3135
02:08:14,719 --> 02:08:16,800
we had a lot of people there, a lot of

3136
02:08:16,800 --> 02:08:18,320
good conversations. We got to talk back

3137
02:08:18,320 --> 02:08:20,960
and forth, okay? Which was rare,

3138
02:08:20,960 --> 02:08:24,800
>> which is rare in this burrow. And we're

3139
02:08:24,800 --> 02:08:25,679
going to have another one. We're going

3140
02:08:25,679 --> 02:08:29,520
to try to do them quarterly, okay? And

3141
02:08:29,520 --> 02:08:33,920
it would be nice if maybe the next time

3142
02:08:33,920 --> 02:08:35,679
some of the other counselors, not more

3143
02:08:35,679 --> 02:08:38,639
than four, and maybe some of the burrow

3144
02:08:38,639 --> 02:08:42,480
people could come and listen to the

3145
02:08:42,480 --> 02:08:45,510
people

3146
02:08:45,520 --> 02:08:47,920
and not treat us

3147
02:08:47,920 --> 02:08:52,870
like we have four eyes.

3148
02:08:52,880 --> 02:08:55,119
So, we're going to have another one.

3149
02:08:55,119 --> 02:08:56,560
It's great conversation. A lot of people

3150
02:08:56,560 --> 02:09:00,320
came out and uh

3151
02:09:00,320 --> 02:09:02,480
hopefully we'll we'll continue them

3152
02:09:02,480 --> 02:09:05,679
because we're here for you guys, okay?

3153
02:09:05,679 --> 02:09:09,440
We're here for you, not here for me.

3154
02:09:09,440 --> 02:09:11,199
We're here for you and we want to hear

3155
02:09:11,199 --> 02:09:17,750
you.

3156
02:09:17,760 --> 02:09:21,030
» Okay.

3157
02:09:21,040 --> 02:09:22,880
» Ray.

3158
02:09:22,880 --> 02:09:24,480
>> Okay. So, I got a couple things to say.

3159
02:09:24,480 --> 02:09:26,960
First, I want to apologize. I was in no

3160
02:09:26,960 --> 02:09:30,079
way trying to doc dismiss you. I I

3161
02:09:30,079 --> 02:09:32,079
apologize for that. I do believe in us

3162
02:09:32,079 --> 02:09:34,239
having an open conversation about things

3163
02:09:34,239 --> 02:09:36,880
and I I apologize. That was not cool in

3164
02:09:36,880 --> 02:09:39,440
any way whatsoever. So, um I just want

3165
02:09:39,440 --> 02:09:41,840
to put that out there. So, um the second

3166
02:09:41,840 --> 02:09:44,079
thing I want to thank Jamie for a great

3167
02:09:44,079 --> 02:09:47,119
uh low show. Um it's it's one of my

3168
02:09:47,119 --> 02:09:48,880
favorite times in Pottown. I love seeing

3169
02:09:48,880 --> 02:09:50,719
people come to town. The the car show

3170
02:09:50,719 --> 02:09:54,960
people are such cool people. Um they're fun to mess with. I have a lot

3171
02:09:54,960 --> 02:09:57,040
of fun messing with them. We sell water

3172
02:09:57,040 --> 02:09:59,440
and pretzels and soda and energy drinks

3173
02:09:59,440 --> 02:10:01,360
on behalf of the scouts and they're just

3174
02:10:01,360 --> 02:10:04,239
a cool group of people and it's always

3175
02:10:04,239 --> 02:10:07,119
fun for me to have youth engage such a

3176
02:10:07,119 --> 02:10:10,239
great audience. Um and the uh the guys

3177
02:10:10,239 --> 02:10:12,560
are always uh guys and gals I should say

3178
02:10:12,560 --> 02:10:15,119
just you know uh they're always really

3179
02:10:15,119 --> 02:10:17,199
engaging to the youth. So I really enjoy

3180
02:10:17,199 --> 02:10:19,440
that. Um, I want to thank Mike and Andy

3181
02:10:19,440 --> 02:10:21,040
from Parks and Wreck for having a great

3182
02:10:21,040 --> 02:10:23,760
conversation. Um, there was a um, a

3183
02:10:23,760 --> 02:10:25,440
recent adult soccer pickup program that

3184
02:10:25,440 --> 02:10:27,360
was played over at Polloc Park. Um, I

3185
02:10:27,360 --> 02:10:29,199
played three out of the four nights that

3186
02:10:29,199 --> 02:10:31,679
we had things going on. Um, I was

3187
02:10:31,679 --> 02:10:33,520
definitely the oldest guy in attendance.

3188
02:10:33,520 --> 02:10:35,760
Uh, and probably the guy who that was

3189
02:10:35,760 --> 02:10:37,599
the longest distance uh, from when they

3190
02:10:37,599 --> 02:10:39,119
played soccer last to when they were

3191
02:10:39,119 --> 02:10:41,280
playing soccer now. But, uh, it was

3192
02:10:41,280 --> 02:10:43,599
still fun. Um, I think that, you know,

3193
02:10:43,599 --> 02:10:46,560
Pollock Park and the soccer field and so

3194
02:10:46,560 --> 02:10:48,639
having something like adult soccer is a

3195
02:10:48,639 --> 02:10:50,400
great boon in our it's a great feather

3196
02:10:50,400 --> 02:10:52,079
in our cap. You know, when you think

3197
02:10:52,079 --> 02:10:53,760
about the idea of the art, you know,

3198
02:10:53,760 --> 02:10:55,840
district and you think about the unique

3199
02:10:55,840 --> 02:10:58,079
things that we have town downtown and we

3200
02:10:58,079 --> 02:10:59,760
have great opportunities for people to

3201
02:10:59,760 --> 02:11:01,520
buy houses and then there are these, you

3202
02:11:01,520 --> 02:11:03,440
know, these really cool programs that

3203
02:11:03,440 --> 02:11:04,719
happen. These are the things that

3204
02:11:04,719 --> 02:11:06,639
attract people to our town and they're

3205
02:11:06,639 --> 02:11:07,920
the people that attract really young

3206
02:11:07,920 --> 02:11:09,679
people to our town that want to buy into

3207
02:11:09,679 --> 02:11:11,760
our town. So I think that's a it's a

3208
02:11:11,760 --> 02:11:13,280
great opportunity. I'm hoping that we

3209
02:11:13,280 --> 02:11:15,520
can do something more with it uh in the

3210
02:11:15,520 --> 02:11:18,639
future. Um but I definitely wanted to

3211
02:11:18,639 --> 02:11:21,119
kind of uh shine a light on that. Um

3212
02:11:21,119 --> 02:11:23,440
third thing or fourth thing I guess at

3213
02:11:23,440 --> 02:11:25,679
this point uh so one of the things that

3214
02:11:25,679 --> 02:11:27,119
when we when I joined the board, one of

3215
02:11:27,119 --> 02:11:29,199
the things that we talked about was

3216
02:11:29,199 --> 02:11:31,119
collaborate on what our vision of a

3217
02:11:31,119 --> 02:11:33,760
board of the board is. uh what we sort

3218
02:11:33,760 --> 02:11:36,320
of uh saw as like our hopes and dreams

3219
02:11:36,320 --> 02:11:38,800
where we saw our commonalities uh where

3220
02:11:38,800 --> 02:11:41,679
we saw maybe you know things that we saw

3221
02:11:41,679 --> 02:11:44,400
to overlap. I I don't think that we have

3222
02:11:44,400 --> 02:11:47,040
that yet and I do want to explore the

3223
02:11:47,040 --> 02:11:49,840
idea of figuring out what our board is.

3224
02:11:49,840 --> 02:11:52,800
I mean when I was on the school board I

3225
02:11:52,800 --> 02:11:55,199
had always uh you know a vision to sort

3226
02:11:55,199 --> 02:11:58,480
of call back on. Um, and I feel like we

3227
02:11:58,480 --> 02:12:00,560
as a board don't kind of have that yet.

3228
02:12:00,560 --> 02:12:03,280
And I would like to see that we would uh

3229
02:12:03,280 --> 02:12:06,239
work on that idea in the spirit of what

3230
02:12:06,239 --> 02:12:08,159
Andrew you were talking about in having

3231
02:12:08,159 --> 02:12:10,560
conversation. And I do, you know, it's

3232
02:12:10,560 --> 02:12:12,079
exciting that you guys had your town

3233
02:12:12,079 --> 02:12:13,280
hall. It's great that you had a good

3234
02:12:13,280 --> 02:12:15,040
turnout. Um, I heard there was a lot of

3235
02:12:15,040 --> 02:12:16,880
great conversation there. I was unable

3236
02:12:16,880 --> 02:12:18,320
to come. I had mentioned that I had

3237
02:12:18,320 --> 02:12:20,000
emailed both you guys. I wasn't able to

3238
02:12:20,000 --> 02:12:21,520
come because I was playing soccer that

3239
02:12:21,520 --> 02:12:24,480
night. Um, in the spirit of that idea,

3240
02:12:24,480 --> 02:12:26,320
what I want to propose, and I sent this

3241
02:12:26,320 --> 02:12:29,119
to to Trita and Trinita looked over it

3242
02:12:29,119 --> 02:12:30,480
and then it's something that's in front

3243
02:12:30,480 --> 02:12:33,599
of Matthew now, is the idea of maybe us

3244
02:12:33,599 --> 02:12:35,599
um having like a workshop at the end of

3245
02:12:35,599 --> 02:12:36,800
like our voting meeting. So,

3246
02:12:36,800 --> 02:12:38,000
historically speaking, our voting

3247
02:12:38,000 --> 02:12:40,880
meeting tends to be last month was not

3248
02:12:40,880 --> 02:12:43,040
the case, but uh it tends to be a little

3249
02:12:43,040 --> 02:12:44,639
on the shorter side, right? It's looking

3250
02:12:44,639 --> 02:12:48,079
like this uh Wednesday is or or Monday

3251
02:12:48,079 --> 02:12:50,239
is not going to be the case either. But

3252
02:12:50,239 --> 02:12:52,480
what I'm sort of proposing if we were to

3253
02:12:52,480 --> 02:12:54,480
pick certain subjects in advance, we

3254
02:12:54,480 --> 02:12:56,480
could have kind of like a workshop where

3255
02:12:56,480 --> 02:12:59,679
we could talk about uh uh a topic,

3256
02:12:59,679 --> 02:13:01,679
staying on topic, having a conversation,

3257
02:13:01,679 --> 02:13:03,840
a back and forth, you know, riffing on

3258
02:13:03,840 --> 02:13:06,159
each other idea, coming up with ideas in

3259
02:13:06,159 --> 02:13:08,239
advance if there were stakeholders that

3260
02:13:08,239 --> 02:13:09,920
we wanted to bring in or were interested

3261
02:13:09,920 --> 02:13:11,760
in bringing in and we could have sort of

3262
02:13:11,760 --> 02:13:13,520
like a like you were sort of talking

3263
02:13:13,520 --> 02:13:15,840
like a town hall but really focusing on

3264
02:13:15,840 --> 02:13:18,239
the idea of having a conversation about

3265
02:13:18,239 --> 02:13:19,520
a given subject.

3266
02:13:19,520 --> 02:13:22,719
uh at a board meeting to your point, we

3267
02:13:22,719 --> 02:13:24,719
people need to see us deliberate and if

3268
02:13:24,719 --> 02:13:27,520
we're not having uh conversations, then

3269
02:13:27,520 --> 02:13:29,040
they don't know how we're deliberate,

3270
02:13:29,040 --> 02:13:31,840
how our thought process is going. So, um

3271
02:13:31,840 --> 02:13:34,239
I I would like to say that I did not

3272
02:13:34,239 --> 02:13:36,000
come up with that idea of the workshop

3273
02:13:36,000 --> 02:13:38,000
all on my own. I need to lay this at

3274
02:13:38,000 --> 02:13:40,159
Mike Hayes, Laura Johnson, and David

3275
02:13:40,159 --> 02:13:43,360
Charles feet. Uh they um helped me weigh

3276
02:13:43,360 --> 02:13:45,360
in or they helped weigh in on the idea.

3277
02:13:45,360 --> 02:13:47,199
So, it was not something that just came

3278
02:13:47,199 --> 02:13:49,360
out of this brain. Uh there's other

3279
02:13:49,360 --> 02:13:50,400
things that come out of the spring, but

3280
02:13:50,400 --> 02:13:52,320
not that. So, all right.

3281
02:13:52,320 --> 02:13:56,880
>> Okay. Um Ryan, I'm going to have you go

3282
02:13:56,880 --> 02:13:59,599
next because Lisa want to take the last

3283
02:13:59,599 --> 02:14:01,679
one next to last, I guess.

3284
02:14:01,679 --> 02:14:04,320
>> Certainly comply. Of course, the low

3285
02:14:04,320 --> 02:14:06,960
show was fantastic as usual. It's took

3286
02:14:06,960 --> 02:14:08,880
me my son found a Lamborghini in the

3287
02:14:08,880 --> 02:14:11,599
color that he liked. So, yeah. You know,

3288
02:14:11,599 --> 02:14:14,480
it's, you know, it was really neat last

3289
02:14:14,480 --> 02:14:16,480
year and then this year too. We usually

3290
02:14:16,480 --> 02:14:18,320
we go into the alley, get a beer and sit

3291
02:14:18,320 --> 02:14:20,079
there and then just really see all the,

3292
02:14:20,079 --> 02:14:22,079
you know, what downtown is when

3293
02:14:22,079 --> 02:14:24,480
something like that happens.

3294
02:14:24,480 --> 02:14:26,320
>> I didn't hear anything negative comments

3295
02:14:26,320 --> 02:14:28,719
at all or

3296
02:14:28,719 --> 02:14:31,920
sorry Jamie had one incident, but uh

3297
02:14:31,920 --> 02:14:33,440
thank our police department and looking

3298
02:14:33,440 --> 02:14:34,560
forward to

3299
02:14:34,560 --> 02:14:36,719
>> what he has come in the future.

3300
02:14:36,719 --> 02:14:38,880
>> Absolutely.

3301
02:14:38,880 --> 02:14:39,920
Lisa,

3302
02:14:39,920 --> 02:14:42,320
>> I have a couple things. Okay. Um, first,

3303
02:14:42,320 --> 02:14:45,440
I just want to address the banners. Um,

3304
02:14:45,440 --> 02:14:49,119
I am glad to hear that Paid has offered

3305
02:14:49,119 --> 02:14:51,920
to take down some of the IP pickstown

3306
02:14:51,920 --> 02:14:55,679
banners and put up some of the veterans

3307
02:14:55,679 --> 02:14:59,920
banners with people of color. Um, I have

3308
02:14:59,920 --> 02:15:02,320
a hard time though accepting a

3309
02:15:02,320 --> 02:15:06,639
three-page document from the burrow as I

3310
02:15:06,639 --> 02:15:08,960
didn't read the entire three pages

3311
02:15:08,960 --> 02:15:13,119
because to me it's it's a lot of excuse.

3312
02:15:13,119 --> 02:15:16,239
Um, I don't know why this has taken so

3313
02:15:16,239 --> 02:15:19,679
long. Um, I'm sure if that question was

3314
02:15:19,679 --> 02:15:22,480
answered, it would be another bunch of

3315
02:15:22,480 --> 02:15:26,159
excuses. To me, this doesn't need to be

3316
02:15:26,159 --> 02:15:28,320
such a difficult issue and it did not

3317
02:15:28,320 --> 02:15:31,520
need to drag on this long and I hope

3318
02:15:31,520 --> 02:15:34,079
council will do something to speed this

3319
02:15:34,079 --> 02:15:36,960
up.

3320
02:15:36,960 --> 02:15:40,079
Okay. Um, I would like I guess this

3321
02:15:40,079 --> 02:15:42,320
would be directed to our president and

3322
02:15:42,320 --> 02:15:44,639
vice president to consider moving

3323
02:15:44,639 --> 02:15:48,159
citizens comments up on Wednesday nights

3324
02:15:48,159 --> 02:15:49,920
because I'm sure a lot of you that had

3325
02:15:49,920 --> 02:15:52,639
something to say are tired and I'm sure

3326
02:15:52,639 --> 02:15:54,320
some people have left because they

3327
02:15:54,320 --> 02:15:56,960
couldn't sit and wait. Um, so I think we

3328
02:15:56,960 --> 02:15:59,040
should consider that this is the

3329
02:15:59,040 --> 02:16:01,040
people's meeting.

3330
02:16:01,040 --> 02:16:02,719
And the last thing I want to address is

3331
02:16:02,719 --> 02:16:04,480
kind of what we talked about already.

3332
02:16:04,480 --> 02:16:08,880
Um, I just want to be clear that I have

3333
02:16:08,880 --> 02:16:12,400
brought concerns as a resident and a

3334
02:16:12,400 --> 02:16:14,960
council person about development

3335
02:16:14,960 --> 02:16:18,000
decisions in Pottstown.

3336
02:16:18,000 --> 02:16:20,239
Those concerns have been dismissed as

3337
02:16:20,239 --> 02:16:22,480
they're personal.

3338
02:16:22,480 --> 02:16:24,639
with a specific developer. I warned

3339
02:16:24,639 --> 02:16:26,560
council about past developments, the

3340
02:16:26,560 --> 02:16:29,520
material used, changing commitments, and

3341
02:16:29,520 --> 02:16:30,960
what could happen if we continued

3342
02:16:30,960 --> 02:16:32,880
granting zoning support, variances,

3343
02:16:32,880 --> 02:16:35,120
waivers, and other accommodations.

3344
02:16:35,120 --> 02:16:37,120
I expressed these concerns to every

3345
02:16:37,120 --> 02:16:39,599
council member, but I was simply told I

3346
02:16:39,599 --> 02:16:42,399
did not like him. My concerns have been

3347
02:16:42,399 --> 02:16:45,040
based on experience. When the original

3348
02:16:45,040 --> 02:16:48,479
church site design was denied,

3349
02:16:48,479 --> 02:16:50,000
I was removed from a board in my

3350
02:16:50,000 --> 02:16:53,359
development by the developer.

3351
02:16:53,359 --> 02:16:54,880
And when he didn't get the outcome he

3352
02:16:54,880 --> 02:16:57,040
wanted, he sought to remove two council

3353
02:16:57,040 --> 02:17:00,629
members.

3354
02:17:00,639 --> 02:17:03,040
My concerns have been based on

3355
02:17:03,040 --> 02:17:05,040
experience.

3356
02:17:05,040 --> 02:17:06,639
I want to know if council was aware of

3357
02:17:06,639 --> 02:17:09,760
those two things that I just mentioned.

3358
02:17:09,760 --> 02:17:12,399
Even after that, council was presented

3359
02:17:12,399 --> 02:17:15,599
with a significantly better design. I

3360
02:17:15,599 --> 02:17:19,439
voted to support that to zoning.

3361
02:17:19,439 --> 02:17:22,319
I would like council to tell me again

3362
02:17:22,319 --> 02:17:25,840
how that is personal and that wasn't the

3363
02:17:25,840 --> 02:17:31,990
first project that I supported.

3364
02:17:32,000 --> 02:17:36,000
Now, after I warned of all of this, we

3365
02:17:36,000 --> 02:17:38,319
are back here dealing with changes,

3366
02:17:38,319 --> 02:17:40,479
additional requests.

3367
02:17:40,479 --> 02:17:43,439
Will the same behavior be displayed if

3368
02:17:43,439 --> 02:17:47,120
we deny or don't support something?

3369
02:17:47,120 --> 02:17:49,359
I have also questioned the continued

3370
02:17:49,359 --> 02:17:51,200
support

3371
02:17:51,200 --> 02:17:53,359
that the developer has received from our

3372
02:17:53,359 --> 02:17:56,719
burrow manager and paid. I would like to

3373
02:17:56,719 --> 02:17:58,240
understand

3374
02:17:58,240 --> 02:18:01,840
why. Explain it to me why you

3375
02:18:01,840 --> 02:18:04,080
continuously support this when you have

3376
02:18:04,080 --> 02:18:07,760
evidence right in front of you that you

3377
02:18:07,760 --> 02:18:11,359
have been told that for some reason I

3378
02:18:11,359 --> 02:18:13,760
feel falls on deaf ears. So if you'd

3379
02:18:13,760 --> 02:18:16,559
like to explain it to me, please I am

3380
02:18:16,559 --> 02:18:19,830
all ears.

3381
02:18:19,840 --> 02:18:22,160
There was two issues that were brought

3382
02:18:22,160 --> 02:18:26,240
up. the church project um which was

3383
02:18:26,240 --> 02:18:29,840
tabled to next month and I am still

3384
02:18:29,840 --> 02:18:32,319
confused on how that happened right

3385
02:18:32,319 --> 02:18:34,880
before this meeting.

3386
02:18:34,880 --> 02:18:38,240
To me that's preventing the public from

3387
02:18:38,240 --> 02:18:41,679
knowing things.

3388
02:18:41,679 --> 02:18:44,240
Second, we are asked to approve waiverss

3389
02:18:44,240 --> 02:18:48,160
on a separate project. Why? Why are we

3390
02:18:48,160 --> 02:18:50,399
being asked this? What justifies

3391
02:18:50,399 --> 02:18:53,200
continued relief? What has this

3392
02:18:53,200 --> 02:18:54,800
developer done to give council

3393
02:18:54,800 --> 02:18:57,200
confidence in granting more

3394
02:18:57,200 --> 02:18:58,719
accommodations

3395
02:18:58,719 --> 02:19:00,399
than what the original votes were based

3396
02:19:00,399 --> 02:19:01,920
on?

3397
02:19:01,920 --> 02:19:03,519
I've asked these questions before

3398
02:19:03,519 --> 02:19:05,359
original before original support was

3399
02:19:05,359 --> 02:19:08,399
given. My concerns were again dismissed.

3400
02:19:08,399 --> 02:19:10,080
Many of the things I warned are now

3401
02:19:10,080 --> 02:19:13,040
happening. So, I'm asking again, what is

3402
02:19:13,040 --> 02:19:15,359
the basis for your votes and your

3403
02:19:15,359 --> 02:19:18,240
support?

3404
02:19:18,240 --> 02:19:21,200
My position is based on more than six

3405
02:19:21,200 --> 02:19:24,319
years of experience. What I've observed,

3406
02:19:24,319 --> 02:19:26,719
what has occurred where I live, and the

3407
02:19:26,719 --> 02:19:30,000
evidence before us. Council can vote and

3408
02:19:30,000 --> 02:19:32,559
move on, but the residents live with the

3409
02:19:32,559 --> 02:19:34,240
construction, materials, and

3410
02:19:34,240 --> 02:19:36,399
consequences of those decisions every

3411
02:19:36,399 --> 02:19:37,920
day.

3412
02:19:37,920 --> 02:19:39,920
This is not about personality. It's

3413
02:19:39,920 --> 02:19:42,559
about accountability, transparency,

3414
02:19:42,559 --> 02:19:44,880
credibility, standards, and whether

3415
02:19:44,880 --> 02:19:46,719
commitments made to the bureau actually

3416
02:19:46,719 --> 02:19:48,479
mean anything.

3417
02:19:48,479 --> 02:19:51,120
I'm asking council to stop dismissing

3418
02:19:51,120 --> 02:19:54,319
the messenger and examine the evidence.

3419
02:19:54,319 --> 02:19:56,880
Residents deserve to know not only what

3420
02:19:56,880 --> 02:20:00,080
decisions we make, but why. Pottstown

3421
02:20:00,080 --> 02:20:02,479
deserves accountability and better than

3422
02:20:02,479 --> 02:20:04,800
what we are giving.

3423
02:20:04,800 --> 02:20:12,550
That's all.

3424
02:20:12,560 --> 02:20:14,882
Well, I guess it's it's me now.

3425
02:20:14,882 --> 02:20:17,120
[laughter] I messed up when I skipped

3426
02:20:17,120 --> 02:20:18,240
over and got a little

3427
02:20:18,240 --> 02:20:19,200
>> Sorry, that was my fault.

3428
02:20:19,200 --> 02:20:20,560
>> That's okay. That's okay. I was like,

3429
02:20:20,560 --> 02:20:23,600
"Wait a minute. Why I feel like I Okay.

3430
02:20:23,600 --> 02:20:27,439
Um I just want to say uh Red Horse and

3431
02:20:27,439 --> 02:20:31,840
Low Show did a fabulous job uh with the

3432
02:20:31,840 --> 02:20:34,960
car show. It was packed and it was cars

3433
02:20:34,960 --> 02:20:38,000
lined up. It was amazing. All the

3434
02:20:38,000 --> 02:20:40,080
storefronts was looking beautiful. It

3435
02:20:40,080 --> 02:20:44,080
was it was great. And um so that Sunday

3436
02:20:44,080 --> 02:20:46,880
I went to go try to get I wanted to get

3437
02:20:46,880 --> 02:20:49,760
um me one of the license plates and

3438
02:20:49,760 --> 02:20:52,800
contribute to the library. And I went up

3439
02:20:52,800 --> 02:20:54,560
there and I walked around and I said,

3440
02:20:54,560 --> 02:20:56,240
"Oh, you know, it was a little line. I'm

3441
02:20:56,240 --> 02:20:59,040
thinking it's maybe 10 people." It was

3442
02:20:59,040 --> 02:21:01,120
not it. I don't I couldn't even count. I

3443
02:21:01,120 --> 02:21:02,640
was

3444
02:21:02,640 --> 02:21:06,640
I wasn't upset. I was emotionally

3445
02:21:06,640 --> 02:21:11,920
happy that all these people was here for

3446
02:21:11,920 --> 02:21:14,720
our library like now and they probably

3447
02:21:14,720 --> 02:21:16,800
wasn't like majority but that line was

3448
02:21:16,800 --> 02:21:18,240
long. So I'm going to take it that they

3449
02:21:18,240 --> 02:21:19,600
was doing that for the library. I'm

3450
02:21:19,600 --> 02:21:22,479
going I'm going to bless it that way. So

3451
02:21:22,479 --> 02:21:25,840
I was I was so emotional. I said I kept

3452
02:21:25,840 --> 02:21:27,359
and then every I'm standing there trying

3453
02:21:27,359 --> 02:21:29,760
to record trying to do a video and

3454
02:21:29,760 --> 02:21:31,680
people was like like kind of move me out

3455
02:21:31,680 --> 02:21:33,120
the way because they like trying to get

3456
02:21:33,120 --> 02:21:37,680
in the line. Um but it was so heartfelt

3457
02:21:37,680 --> 02:21:39,760
and then I seen

3458
02:21:39,760 --> 02:21:42,080
you there and I was like oh my he was

3459
02:21:42,080 --> 02:21:44,800
working he [laughter]

3460
02:21:44,800 --> 02:21:46,640
he was working he was doing his job. I

3461
02:21:46,640 --> 02:21:48,000
was like look at I took pictures and

3462
02:21:48,000 --> 02:21:50,960
stuff and I posted but um that made me

3463
02:21:50,960 --> 02:21:52,880
feel good. That's that's pot right

3464
02:21:52,880 --> 02:21:55,040
there. That right there, that's

3465
02:21:55,040 --> 02:21:57,680
Pottstown. Okay. The cars was lined up.

3466
02:21:57,680 --> 02:21:59,520
They was running the engines and stuff

3467
02:21:59,520 --> 02:22:01,439
like that. It was It was It was nice.

3468
02:22:01,439 --> 02:22:04,560
That was the Potts Town that I love

3469
02:22:04,560 --> 02:22:08,240
right there. Um

3470
02:22:08,240 --> 02:22:10,240
I'm I'm glad that the library got there

3471
02:22:10,240 --> 02:22:12,240
got got some funding. So, that was good,

3472
02:22:12,240 --> 02:22:14,640
too. Um the town hall meeting, I was

3473
02:22:14,640 --> 02:22:16,319
there. I was at the town hall meeting

3474
02:22:16,319 --> 02:22:19,920
and sat next to sat sat next to Dan um

3475
02:22:19,920 --> 02:22:23,040
the burough council president, the last

3476
02:22:23,040 --> 02:22:24,640
burough council president and his wife.

3477
02:22:24,640 --> 02:22:26,560
So I they came to the meeting so I said

3478
02:22:26,560 --> 02:22:28,800
we we sat near the back cuz I had to

3479
02:22:28,800 --> 02:22:31,359
leave um and go to work cuz I had to be

3480
02:22:31,359 --> 02:22:34,240
there early. So um but I was there and I

3481
02:22:34,240 --> 02:22:36,080
caught up some some of the stuff and it

3482
02:22:36,080 --> 02:22:38,399
was it was pretty good. I mean, you

3483
02:22:38,399 --> 02:22:40,399
know, it was it was the you know, the

3484
02:22:40,399 --> 02:22:42,800
sounding was a little off with the mic

3485
02:22:42,800 --> 02:22:44,880
and everything, but other than that,

3486
02:22:44,880 --> 02:22:48,800
they worked it out. Um,

3487
02:22:48,800 --> 02:22:51,680
I think that's it for me cuz I'm going

3488
02:22:51,680 --> 02:22:56,630
to go into

3489
02:22:56,640 --> 02:22:59,760
the back to the agenda. Um, discussion

3490
02:22:59,760 --> 02:23:03,680
and and potential action on the Heroes

3491
02:23:03,680 --> 02:23:07,120
of Pottstown banner program.

3492
02:23:07,120 --> 02:23:08,479
We'll deal with Oh, am I supposed to

3493
02:23:08,479 --> 02:23:09,760
read that, too?

3494
02:23:09,760 --> 02:23:11,840
>> Was that me? I couldn't remember. Oh,

3495
02:23:11,840 --> 02:23:12,160
okay.

3496
02:23:12,160 --> 02:23:14,080
>> Yeah, just that we're gonna talk about

3497
02:23:14,080 --> 02:23:14,640
it.

3498
02:23:14,640 --> 02:23:16,160
>> Okay. Okay. Okay.

3499
02:23:16,160 --> 02:23:19,200
>> Okay. We will have a discussion and

3500
02:23:19,200 --> 02:23:22,240
potential action on the Heroes of

3501
02:23:22,240 --> 02:23:25,359
Pottstown banner program. We ask that

3502
02:23:25,359 --> 02:23:28,319
everyone review the materials

3503
02:23:28,319 --> 02:23:31,520
attached to the agenda and that's where

3504
02:23:31,520 --> 02:23:35,040
it says a heroes banner program. Um,

3505
02:23:35,040 --> 02:23:37,040
come with your thoughts for Monday's

3506
02:23:37,040 --> 02:23:40,000
night's meeting and send them to us in

3507
02:23:40,000 --> 02:23:41,600
advance.

3508
02:23:41,600 --> 02:23:43,760
Actually, it's not us, not me. You going

3509
02:23:43,760 --> 02:23:46,800
to send this to Justin or Zach?

3510
02:23:46,800 --> 02:23:47,760
>> Yeah, you can send them to

3511
02:23:47,760 --> 02:23:49,280
administration hottown.

3512
02:23:49,280 --> 02:23:51,840
>> Yep. There you go.

3513
02:23:51,840 --> 02:23:54,319
>> Okay.

3514
02:23:54,319 --> 02:23:57,120
All right, counselors, everything is You

3515
02:23:57,120 --> 02:24:00,080
have any questions about the last one?

3516
02:24:00,080 --> 02:24:02,000
Okay. All right. I guess we're going to

3517
02:24:02,000 --> 02:24:04,240
end this meeting

3518
02:24:04,240 --> 02:24:08,230
at 9:24.

3519
02:24:08,240 --> 02:24:10,800
25. Okay. 9:25. Thank you. Drive safe.

3520
02:24:10,800 --> 02:24:14,040
Be safe.