While members of East Greenville Borough Council contemplate the community's future without the Upper Perk Police District, municipal officials remain hopeful that mediation with Pennsburg will still proceed.

                "We're begging Pennsburg to mediate," East Greenville council President Tracey Hunsinger said after the Feb. 10 public meeting.

                Officials from both boroughs should be able to complete the process by May 1, according to a prepared statement read by Hunsinger during the meeting. She estimated that only two sessions, each lasting no longer than four hours, would be required.

                "To do otherwise is a disservice to your residents," Hunsinger said.

                Municipal officials introduced a motion to sign the paperwork that would ratify their willingness to participate in mediation through the Montgomery County Bar Association with the neighboring municipality. But the issue was tabled until the next meeting following discussions of adding conditions to the agreement.

                Residents of East Greenville would have to rely on state police coverage for an undisclosed period should council proceed with its decision to withdraw from the Upper Perk Police Commission on June 1.

                During the meeting, municipal officials admitted that a new East Greenville Police Department would not be prepared to serve at that deadline. Solicitor Stephen Kramer told the audience he wasn't sure he could write the legal ordinance creating the department by the beginning of June.

                "I assume there will be interim coverage by the state police," Kramer said during the meeting. State police have been notified of the situation in the borough, according to Hunsinger.

                Earlier in the meeting, council voted unanimously to create a police committee. Hunsinger said the body would be used to do more research on starting the department. No other committee details were disclosed.

                Council member Jennifer Moran offered a motion to push back the borough's withdrawal date from the commission to Dec. 31. Moran and Ryan Pugh voted for the measure, which failed 4-2. 

                In January, East Greenville officials rejected a condition from Pennsburg to delay their withdrawal to the end of the year before starting formal mediation.

                Residents on Friday suggested that council add its own stipulations to the new motion, such as pushing the withdrawal date to August or September or in order to get Pennsburg to the table, or requiring a conclusion date.

                "I think we would be willing to move the date back if we get some movement" from Pennsburg, Sloyer said during the meeting. 

                "If it's legal that is a good idea," Hunsinger said.

                According to Keith Gerhart, Pennsburg officials would entertain the possibility of going to mediation if East Greenville pushed its dissolution date back three or four months.

                "Mediation can work," said Gerhart, a candidate for mayor, during the meeting. 

                Gerhart said he met unofficially with Pennsburg officials for two hours on Feb. 4. He said they didn't agree on everything, but they walked away as friends. "We shook hands," Gerhart said.

                Several residents asked council to comply with Pennsburg's condition. Lon Brinckman II argued that the borough would avoid three potential lawsuits by pushing the dissolution date back to Dec. 31.

                "Call their bluff," Brinckman said. "We'll see who the bad guy is right now."