PRESENT – President Bollendorf, Vice President Reichner, Councilwoman McMenamin, Councilwoman Shay, Councilman A ‘Harrah, Councilman Myers, Councilwoman Jacobus, Mayor Schultz, Chief Ruegg, Manager Hegele, Assistant Secretary DeRenzis, Solicitor Geiser, Engineer Goff, and Treasurer Smith were present.

CALL TO ORDER – President Bollendorf called the May 6, 2024, Committee Meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Chief Ruegg led the Pledge of Allegiance.

MEETING NOTES – President Bollendorf reviewed the Public Comment Policy on the back of the agenda with regards to addressing Council and time allotment.

PUBLIC COMMENT – Kelly A’Harrah, 145 W. Lehman Avenue, asked if Council was voting on the rejection bids tonight and Manager Hegele stated no, they have to put the bids out again.

Mrs. A’Harrah asked what parks the Geese Chasers were going and Manager Hegele stated Miller Meadow, the pool and Eaton and that it is in their contract they are not to disturb nests.

Mrs. A’Harrah questioned the alcohol waiver request and asked the goal and purpose of it because she is concerned about allowing alcohol in Miller Meadow because it is an open space.

NEW BUSINESS
1.Public Safety Committee
•ENTERPRISE FIRE COMPANY EXPENDITURE LIST – Councilwoman Jacobus stated Included in your packet is a copy of the Fire Company Expenditure List for the month of April 2024 in the amount of $11,807.25. This item will be on the May 20, 2024, voting meeting agenda for consideration.

2.Finance/Grants Committee
•FEE SCHEDULE AMENDMENT – FEE IN LIEU – Vice President Reichner stated the Borough recently conducted a review of our current fee in lieu calculation for land development projects. While reviewing our current formula, the Borough also reviewed what other municipalities charge for these types of projects. If Council would like to update this fee, please let us know what you would like to revise the fee to, and we will have a revised resolution prepared for the May 20th meeting for consideration. Currently the Borough charge based off assessment value but Solicitor Geiser suggested to charge per unit. It was decided to change to $1,100.00 per unit. This item will be on the May 20, 2024, voting meeting agenda for consideration.
•PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENT PROJECT PAYMENT #4 – Vice President Reichner stated Engineer Goff requested to have this item as a placeholder on the agenda. We do not have an amount yet but hope to have one in time for Monday’s meeting. If we do not, we will have a figure and payment request from Engineer Goff for the May 20th meeting.
•REJECTION OF PROJECT BIDS – MEMORIAL PARK STREAMBANK AND CELANO PARK IMPROVEMENTS – Vice President Reichner stated In December, the Memorial Park Streambank and Windsor/Lancaster/Meadowbrook projects were bid. The Borough received and reviewed proposals; however, the bids came in considerably higher than the grant estimates. The Borough is not ready to proceed with these projects currently and as a result, Council will need to reject the bids received formally during a Council meeting. This item will be on the May 20, 2024, agenda for consideration.
•FINANCING UPDATE/DISCUSSION – Vice President Reichner stated this update has been tabled.
•LIBRARY EXPENDITURE LIST – Vice President Reichner stated included in your packets is the Library Expenditure List for the month of May 2024 in the amount of $ 20,816.00. This item will be on the May 20, 2024, voting meeting agenda for consideration.

3.Community Outreach & Events Committee
•UPCOMING EVENTS – Councilman A’Harrah announced the upcoming events.
•NEW BUSINESS – Councilman A’Harrah stated the Borough has received applications for several new businesses and once they have completed their paperwork, finished their fit outs, and have received their certificates to occupy, they will be ready for their Grand Openings, and we will announce their dates when we receive them so stay tuned.
•FRIENDS OF CRESSBROOK UPDATE – Councilman A’Harrah stated the Friends of Cressbrook the Friends of Cressbrook will tomorrow May 7, 2024, at 6:00 P.M. to discuss upcoming fundraiser and the archeological dig.
•BUSINESS RECOGNITION: BOB JOHNSTON, STATE FARM INSURANCE- Councilman A’Harrah recognized Bob Johnston, State Farm Insurance.
•NEWSLETTER ANNOUNCEMENT – Councilman A’Harrah stated Hatboro Highlights, the Borough’s annual paper newsletter, was sent to print on April 25th and depending on the printer’s workload, it should arrive at everyone’s doorstep in the next week or two!
•HOMETOWN HERO BANNER DISCUSSION – Councilman A’Harrah stated each year the Public Works Department hangs and removes the Hometown Hero Banners up and down York Road. This year we are requesting Council authorize the hanging and removal of these banners by the Public Works Department. This will make these banners in line with the annual banner schedule approved by Council earlier in the year. This item will be on the May 20th agenda for consideration.
•SPECIL EVENT REQUEST: YOGA IN THE PARK – Councilman A’Harrah stated Included in your packet is a Special Event request from Nourishing Storm requesting to have Yoga in Memorial Park. This item will be on the May 20, 2024, voting meeting agenda for consideration.
•SPECIAL EVENT REQUEST: MUSIC IN THE MEADOW – Councilman A’Harrah stated included in your packet is a Special Event requesting entertainment, games, and food vendors for the community in Miller Meadow during Cruise Nights from 5:30 P.M. – 8:30 P.M. on May 17th, June 21st, July 19th, August 16th, and September 20th. This item will be on the May 20, 2024, voting meeting agenda for consideration.
•ALCOHOL WAIVER REQUEST: MUSIC IN THE MEADOW – Councilman A’Harrah stated as a part of the Music in the Meadow Events from 5:30 P.M. until 8:30 P.M. on May 17th, June 21st, July 19th, August 16th, and September 20th, the Events Committee is requesting an alcohol waiver which will allow attendees to consume alcohol within Miller Meadow only. This will not apply elsewhere in the Borough, only Miller Meadow. This item will be on the May 20, 2024, voting meeting agenda for consideration. If Council approves, Chief Ruegg will issue the special permit according to the above dates.

4)Public Works Committee
•SNOW REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT – Councilwoman Shay stated Included in your packet is a copy of the Snow Reimbursement Agreement from PennDOT. The Borough provided updated information to PennDOT to show $17,000 in eligible expenses for the 2022-2023 calendar year. The Borough is hoping that the amount of the agreement increases to reflect the actual costs. We are working to see if PennDOT can revise the agreement and hope to have a revised copy for the May 20th meeting. Council will need to approve signature of the agreement at the May meeting.

5)Environmental Affairs & Parks Committee
•EAC UPDATE – Councilman Myers stated the EAC met on May 1st and discussed the tree tenders will mulch and check trees and had a meeting with 17 volunteers for the community garden, agreed on a logo which should be circulating, and their next meeting will be June 3rd.
•SHARED ENERGY MANAGER PROGRAM UPDATE – Councilman Myers stated Manager Hegele and Assistant Secertary DeRenzis continue to meet with Wilson Engineering for the Shared Energy Manager Program. The most recent meeting covered information on Electric Vehicle Charging for the Borough. Wilson Engineering is working on reviewing the Borough’s current parking ordinance to propose amendments to incorporate locations where EV charging is permissible, incentivize the installation for property owners, and regulate parking spaces containing EV chargers. Staff are also working on finalizing the fleet study requested and will be sending this over to the consultant this week. Once received, they will review the fleet study and provide a guideline for vehicles that may be good candidates for electric replacements in the future.
•GOOSE GUYS PROPOSAL – Councilman Myers stated included in your packets is a proposal from Geese Chasers that Council will need to discuss. This item will be on the May 20, 2024, voting meeting agenda for consideration.

Councilwoman wanted to make sure that everything stays better after the incident that was had last year but was resolved and she just wants to make sure it stays that way.

•MILLER MEADOW MUGWORT REMOVAL – Councilman Myers stated included in your packets is a memo from Manager Hegele with two quotes attached regarding the removal of mug wort in Miller Meadow that Council will need to discuss. This item will be on the May 20, 2024, voting meeting agenda for consideration. Manager Hegele stated she met with two venders that were recommended by a former EAC member – Land Stewards with a quote of $ 11,650.00 and LWLA with a quote of $ 31,500.00. She stated both would do the job which consists of three parts – 1) will prep the area which PW will help with by mowing, 2) design and planting which council will have to discuss if they wish to do so 3) education – PW is not trained to know the difference between plantings so both companies will provide education. President Bollendorf stated a fee in lieu of will be used for this project.

Merrie Keller, 110 W. Monument Avenue, asked if the removal as from a grant and President Bollendorf stated no, fee in lieu of will be used.

Lynn Smith, 26 Lacey Street, asked if it was decided on tonight where they will spend the money and President Bollendorf stated that they will vote at the next meeting. Manager Hegele explained how mug wort is removed and both companies mentioned that smothering, which has been mentioned, will not work because of the size of the job.

Kelly A’Harrah, 15 W. Lehman Avenue, stated likes that we can use Public Works as it will help with some of the cost and asked about the fee n lieu of and President Bollendorf explained it has to be used for park improvements only.

Councilman A’Harrah, wanted to make sure the Geese Chasers will not remove nests and Manager Hegele stated it is in their contract they are not allowed to disturb the nests.

6)Administration Committee
•MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS – Councilwoman McMenamin announced the upcoming meetings for the next month.
•LAND DEVELOPMENT UPDATE – Councilwoman McMenamin stated Land Development updates are as follows:

CVS Property: The CVS Project was issued Conditional Use and Land Development Approvals on Monday, November 27, 2023.The developer is still working on the next steps of filing agreements, posting financial security, permit applications etcetera. We will keep everyone updated on the groundbreaking.
21-23 & 37 N. York Road (Canalley Property): The project located at 21- 23 and 37 N. York Road was issued preliminary and final land development approvals on March 25, 2024. The developer is still working on the next steps of filing agreements, posting financial security, permit applications etcetera. We will keep everyone updated on the groundbreaking.

Victorian Village: The Victorian Village II project has been delayed for quite some time due to the cost of construction materials. They are beginning to perform more sitework in preparation for construction, and we should have additional information to provide in the coming months.

Gamburg’s: We will continue to keep everyone updated regarding the sale and proposed use of the property when the time comes.

2 Home Road: The owners of 2 Home Road are working on finalizing plans for the new home to be constructed on the subdivided lot. We will continue to provide updates on this project as they are available.

410 N. York Road: The property owner went before the Planning Commission on March 12, 2024, with a sketch plan. He will come back to the PC with a resubmission when he is ready which will address the professional’s comments.

330 S. WARMINSTER ROAD ZONING APPEAL: Councilwoman McMenamin stated On Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at 7 PM, the Zoning Hearing Board of the Borough of Hatboro will be hearing an application for an appeal from an action taken by the Zoning Officer relating to the rental of parking spaces to tractor trailers at Station Park (330 S. Warminster Road). The property owner, Velocity Ventures, believes that the renting of parking spaces to tractor trailers and associated uses should be permitted at the property as a use by right OR in the alternative, the applicant is requesting a variance to permit this renting of spaces. Solicitor Geiser will be attending this meeting to defend the Zoning Officer’s notice of violation on behalf of the Borough and will be joined by Manager Hegele, Assistant Secretary DeRenzis, and Fire Marshal Valesky. This meeting was postponed as the applicant asked for a continuance and we will update the public on a new date once it has been determined.

•ZONING SUB COMMITTEE PUBLIC WORKSHOP UPDATE – Councilwoman McMenamin stated thank you to everyone who attended Wednesday’s Zoning Workshop! This workshop was hosted by the Hatboro Zoning Sub Committee and the Montgomery County Planning Commission to receive input and feedback on proposed zoning amendments for the Borough. If you did not attend this event but wish to provide feedback, please stay tuned for online survey information!

•SNACK STAND BID – Councilwoman McMenamin stated the Borough received one bid for the Snack Stand from Ernie Pio of Street Food Sandwich Shop. He is proposing a lease amount of $1,000 for the season which is the same as last year. Mr. Pio is also requesting 3 to close early at 7 PM each day as business slows down after that and he does not make much revenue during that time. The Pool Committee discussed the proposed terms and agreed that not many people patronize the snack stand at the end of each evening and did not think members would be upset at the early snack stand closure if Council wanted to proceed with the awarding of the bid. If Council is ok with these terms, you will need to award the bid formally at the May 20, 2024, Council Meeting. Once the award is bid, Mr. Pio will be able to begin occupying the space and prepare for the upcoming season.
•PUBLIC OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS RESOLUTION – Councilwoman McMenamin stated included in your packet is a copy of a resolution and an email from Solicitor Geiser relating to Supreme Court case Lindke v Freed, 144 S. Ct. 756 (2024) and the use of social media by Public Officials. Solicitor Geiser and her office are recommending all their municipalities adopt this resolution as this establishes that no individual employee or official has such power to speak or act on behalf of the Borough unless approved by the Borough. Council will need to consider this resolution for adoption on the May 20, 2024, Council meeting.

•2024 POOL RATIFICATION LIST: Included in your packets is the 2024 Pool Ratification list which Council will need to discuss and approve. This item will be on the May 20, 2024, voting meeting agenda for consideration.

OLD BUSINESS AND UPDATES – Chief Ruegg explained the rules regarding the new Pedestrian Flashers and stated pedestrians will still need to still look before entering the crosswalk even after the flashers have been activated to make sure the vehicles have stopped for them to cross.

PUBLIC COMMENT – Kelly A’Harrah, 145 W. Lehman Avenue, stated that she agrees with the fee in lieu of change and also stated she has volunteers for the community garden.

ADJOURNMENT – President Bollendorf adjourned the May 6, 2024, Committee Meeting at 7:48 P.M.
Respectfully Submitted by:

Diane C. Hegele, Borough Manager/Zoning Officer/Open Records Officer
Transcribed by Cindy Bollendorf, Recording Secretary