Pennsburg Borough Council voted unanimously to move forward with formal mediation with East Greenville related to the Upper Perk Police Commission.

        However, the resolution approved during Tuesday's public meeting included one condition: East Greenville must extend its withdrawal date from the commission to Dec. 31.

        In September, East Greenville Borough Council voted to dissolve the commission on March 6.  On Dec. 5, borough officials voted to remain in the police commission until June 1.

        According to council President Kris Kirkwood, the condition was attached to assure that the communities could have "meaningful time to mediate."

        Chuck Garner, Pennsburg's solicitor, declined to comment further. After the meeting, he said the borough would comply with a confidentiality agreement set up between the boroughs. Garner added that any additional information related to the mediation process would be disseminated through a joint press release. 

        "We want to respect the process," the solicitor said.

        With three East Greenville council members and Mayor Ryan Sloyer in the audience, Pennsburg officials approved the resolution, without discussion, following a 53-minute executive session.

        The resolution, which was not included on the meeting agenda, permits Pennsburg officials to spend up to $3,000 in legal fees towards mediation with the neighboring municipality through the Montgomery Bar Association's Center for Mediation and Arbitration, located in Norristown.  

        According to its website, the Center for Mediation and Arbitration "provides quick, efficient, cost-effective dispute resolution for lawyers, insurance companies and any members of the public who have a civil dispute or a pretrial case pending in Montgomery, Delaware, Berks, Chester, Bucks or Philadelphia counties."

        Mediation is "the process in which the parties attempt to resolve their dispute with the assistance of a neutral, impartial third party who promotes or facilitates an understanding among the parties of their common interests in reconciling or settling the matter," according to the website.

        It also claims that the goal of the program is "to provide an opportunity for an expeditious resolution of disputes outside of the courts."