Last week, East Greenville's Borough Council expressed a willingness to work with Pennsburg representatives in an attempt to salvage the relationship between the boroughs and preserve the Upper Perk Police Commission 

                On Tuesday, Pennsburg Borough Council committed to take the first step towards mediation with its neighboring municipality. The members voted unanimously to attend a meeting to begin that discussion.

                "I don't see any harm in it," Solicitor Chuck Garner said prior to the vote.

                During the public meeting, Garner said he would reach out to East Greenville Solicitor Michelle Forsell to set up the meeting.

                Diane Stevens, a member of Pennsburg council, said she would prefer that the meeting occur as soon as possible.

                East Greenville is poised to withdraw from the police commission at 12:01 a.m. March 6, 2017.

                Pennsburg Borough Council President Kris Kirkwood, Mayor Vicki Lightcap -- both members of the police commision -- and Garner will meet with East Greenville officials to explore the possibility of hiring an independent mediator at a time and location to be determined.

                "We can sit together and talk," Lightcap said. "We are all adults. We are setting the example."

                According to Kirkwood, Pennsburg officials want to continue engaging in a positive relationship with East Greenville.  "We will do our best to be a cooperative neighbor," he said after the meeting. "I hope East Greenville officials cooperate equally."

                Prior to the vote, Garner said he received a letter from Forsell on Sept. 28, the day after East Greenville officials voted to attempt to mediate their relationship.

                Three weeks earlier, on Sept. 6, East Greenville officials voted to terminate the contract that establishes the commission. A prepared statement read by Tracey Hunsinger, then the council's vice president, claimed the partnership with Pennsburg had "deteriorated to the extent that it is irretrievably broken." 

                Responding to an audience question, Stevens said personality conflicts have plagued the police commission at least since 2000, when she was serving on Pennsburg council.

                According to Garner, only members of each borough council have the power to change the commission's methodology. He said they must agree on a mechanism to avoid the recent flurry of tie votes that have recently plagued commission.

                When Red Hill exited the police commission in the late 1990s, it left the body with six members. Garner described the relationship between Pennsburg and East Greenville at that time as pretty positive.

                The solicitor added that officials from the two remaining boroughs "had their fingers crossed" hoping that "it would never lead to a tie situation."