The proposed mediation between Pennsburg and East Greenville, which could lead to the preservation of the Upper Perk Police District, appears to be on hold.

                A preliminary meeting, scheduled for Wednesday night, was cancelled by East Greenville officials. Michelle Forsell, East Greenville's solicitor, sent an email to Pennsburg Solicitor Chuck Garner at 9:42 a.m. Tuesday informing him of the cancellation.

                Pennsburg Borough Council President Kris Kirkwood, Mayor Vicki Lightcap and Solicitor Chuck Garner were planning to represent Pennsburg in the meeting at Tomlinson & Gerhart Law, on Main Street in East Greenville, where Forsell is employed.

                "Please be advised that we need to cancel the pre-mediation meeting scheduled for Wednesday, November 2," Forsell wrote.

                Forsell offered no reason for the cancellation in the email. She did not return multiple phone messages or an email seeking comment.

                Tracey Hunsinger, East Greenville Borough Council acting-president, did not return multiple emails seeking comment. Mayor Ryan Sloyer responded Tuesday night, but provided no insight.

                "At this time, we have no comment for you," Sloyer wrote in an email to the Town & Country. "You will be provided information at the council meetings just like the public." 

                Garner had no idea where the decision leaves the mediation. "Hopefully, the process will be pushed back a week," he said Tuesday night following Pennsburg's Borough Council meeting.

                According to Garner, Hunsinger, Sloyer and Forsell were expected to meet with the Pennsburg representatives.

                Kirkwood said he expected officials from both sides to discuss the terms of the mediation, which included choosing an independent mediator as well as setting the ground rules and figuring out what issues to work on.

                "We are upset about this," Kirkwood said Tuesday afternoon. "We did not want to see this happen. But we're not surprised."

                In September, three weeks after voting to leave the police commission, East Greenville officials voted to seek mediation with Pennsburg to repair the relationship between the neighboring municipalities. Pennsburg Borough Council agreed to a similar measure in October.

                Last month, East Greenville officials presented their plan to create their own police department. Sloyer proposed hiring a full-time police chief, one full-time officer and two to three part-time officers to cover the borough.

                During the Oct. 26 public meeting, the mayor suggested that council allow Robert McCluskie, Marita Thomson and himself – the borough's three representatives on the Upper Perk Police Commission – to begin the process that would lead to hiring a chief, who would then help with developing the new police department.

                Sloyer also suggested that municipal officials begin work on an ordinance creating the East Greenville Police Department in the event that upcoming mediation to resolve the conflict between the boroughs fails.

                "East Greenville appears to have already made up its mind to hire a new chief and write an ordinance" creating the new department, Kirkwood said Tuesday.

                According to Kirkwood, Pennsburg officials have no issues with East Greenville, other than the fact that they want to withdraw from of the police commission.

                "I want to remain optimistic," Kirkwood said.

                Kirkwood provided no timeline for the proposed mediation, saying that East Greenville officials could vote any time to rescind their decision to leave the commission.

                "The timing of this depends on what direction East Greenville takes this," Kirkwood said. "They can stop this any time."