Pennsburg official questions expense of wayfinding program

                The Upper Perkiomen Valley Chamber of Commerce's $400,000 wayfinding sign program is alive and well, officials said Tuesday night, and they're awaiting a grant decision that will hopefully see those signs installed before winter.

                But Pennsburg borough councilwoman Diane Stevens questioned why the sign program is so expensive.  Each sign will cost several thousand dollars, she said, asking when the vote was taken by Pennsburg to commit money to the project.

                "I think this project is a complete waste of money," she said during the council meeting.  "That grant money could be used for other, more important things."

                Chamber President Luanne Stauffer said the $413,739 total project is slated to include about 65 signs including gateway signs, which will mark entry into the Upper Perkiomen Valley at five locations, municipality boundary markers and attraction markers, which will point out libraries, parks and historical sites.

                The aim of the program, which will help the municipalities who had sign programs as part of their individual comprehensive plans, is to promote the area in general as eco-tourism site, which would benefit area businesses, Stauffer said.

                "These sign programs have economic value," she said.  "This program is evidence-based from an economic standpoint.  That's why businesses are supporting it.    

                "And it shows wherever you are in the Upper Perkiomen Valley, you are a part of a community that cares.  We're very proud of it [the program]," Stauffer said. 

                The signs will range from 8 feet to 18 feet tall, Stauffer said, and are made to PennDOT standards based on the speed limits at each site where they will be erected.  Each of the seven participating municipalities, Pennsburg, Red Hill, East Greenville, Green Lane, Marlborough, Upper Hanover and Hereford townships, committed $13,000 to the project last fall.

                Each municipality also gave approximately $1,000 to PerkUp, the branch of the chamber which spearheaded the gateway project, Stauffer said.  Some of that money was used for the sign program as well.

                The grant the chamber is waiting for an outcome on is a $289,390 state grant through the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED).  They will hear by Nov. 10 if the monies can be used to complete the signs.

                As for the large size of the signs, and the involved process and materials to install them as was discussed by Pennsburg officials months ago, Stauffer said grant monies could be used for installation.

                "We realize these signs are more cumbersome than previously thought and we don't want to burden municipal road crews," she said.  "Our goal is to make this as easy as we can for local municipalities."

                Mayor Vicki Lightcap defended the sign program and the use of borough money for it, saying wayfinding signs have been planned for the area for more than 15 years.

                "People don't know where the Upper Perkiomen Valley is and the assets we have here," she said.

                "There has been a lot of residential development in this valley.  There will have to be a business base to support that," Council President Kris Kirkwood said.  "If they don't spend their money here they'll go spend it in Pottstown, Quakertown or somewhere else."  

                In other news, council discussed passing a feral cat ordinance because of repeated problems with the animals in the borough, officials said.

                Lightcap said an animal organization, which she didn't identify, came to borough officials concerned because it was receiving feral cats who were injured in the borough.  The cats were injured intentionally, according to officials.  

                "It's getting to the point where the animals are getting harmed," she said of the stray cats.

                Officials refused to identify specific locations where the stray cats are problematic, but said the cats are not properly vaccinated and are reportedly ripping open and spreading trash.  They said an ordinance would put ownership of the cats on the people feeding and caring for them.  It would also allow the borough's animal control officer to remove them.

                A discussion on the ordinance is ongoing.

                Council also voted to advertise for the purchase of a used backhoe, for $79,500, funded by budgeted monies for equipment as well as $23,000 in surplus liquid fuels money, and a new assistant roads supervisor following an executive session.