The tri-borough trash collection cooperative, which has lasted for nearly half a century, will soon go the way of Britain and their recent "BRexit" from the European Union.

        It was reported by Pennsburg's representative to the Solid Waste/Recycling Committee, Diane Stevens, that Red Hill would be leaving the collective.

        A letter from Red Hill Borough Manager Bradley Gotshall to East Greenville and Pennsburg officials announced that the Red Hill borough council voted to "break from the tri-borough committee, going on our own in the bidding process for collection of solid waste and recycling."

        The letter further stated that "With the collection of solid waste being such an essential part of what it is local government does, we felt that the service should be more tailored to the needs of the residents of Red Hill.  With the litany of options provided by solid waste haulers these days, each municipality ought to provide the services specific to the needs of their own citizens.  Additionally, with the consistently improving systems of curbside recycling, our board felt that it is time our Borough focuses on developing a contract that meets the financial and programmatic desires of our citizenry."

        The current contract with J. P. Mascaro and Sons expires at the end of 2016.  In March, it was reported that the three boroughs were advertising for bids to investigate the cost of moving from their own municipality run recycling programs to those run by a private contractor, in addition to solid waste pick-up.

        The next meeting of the tri-borough committee is scheduled for July 19 at 6 p.m.

        In other business, Councilman Bob Seville announced that Upper Perk Police Corporal James Lavin along with Elizabeth Allebach, Joy Ritchey, and Sarah Rhodes received a Life Saving Award from Upper Perk Police Chief Michael Devlin at a ceremony held on Thursday morning at the Upper Perkiomen Valley YMCA.

        According to the award, on May 14, 2016, Lavin was off-duty and volunteering at the annual Upper Perk YMCA 5K race when he received information that a runner was "down and in distress" on the race course.  He notified members of the Upper Perkiomen Valley Ambulance and responded to the scene in his personal vehicle.

        When he arrived, the patient was being tended to by race-participants Allebach, Rhodes, and Ritchey.  The group initiated CPR on the victim and called for help.  Lavin arrived at the scene and took over the CPR until emergency medical service personnel arrived and utilized an Automated External Defibrillator device on the patient.  The patient was transported to the hospital and released six days later, expected to make a full recovery.

        Corporal Lavin, who was in attendance at the meeting, received rising applause and thanks from council members and attendees.

        Council also approved documents that will be used for background checks for employees.  Councilors did express some concerns over background checks for volunteers at borough sponsored events.

        Members of volunteer fire companies were required to undergo background checks last summer, but a question remains about other volunteers at borough functions such as Community Day, volunteering at the Community Garden, and others.

        Council Vice-President Bruce Lord expressed concern that requiring volunteers like "14-year-old Boy Scouts" to complete expensive background checks could discourage people from volunteering.

        Council agreed to table the matter while the requirements for background checks are investigated further.