In late February, at the same public meeting where he accepted an appointment to East Greenville Borough Council, Michael Perlow Jr. argued that municipal officials should slow the process to start its own police department.

           At Tuesday night's public meeting, Perlow made a similar but more strenuous argument. He asked council to delay consideration of an ordinance that would create the East Greenville Borough Police Department while municipal officials get a better handle on the related expenses.

           "This is the most important decision this council is going to make all year," Perlow said during the meeting. "Let's make sure we get it right."

           Municipal officials expect to consider the ordinance at their April 3 public meeting, according to council President Tracey Hunsinger. Perlow asked to delay any potential votes until the end of the month to make sure officials have a solid plan.

           "We need to make sure we're doing what is best the best job for the people of East Greenville," he said.

           Perlow suggested that council extend the June 1 date when East Greenville plans to would withdraw from the Upper Perk Police District. He suggested December 31 as an appropriate dissolution replacement.

           "It's incumbent on us to wait until the end of the year to do the job we need to," Perlow said.

           Council member Ryan Pugh made the motion to delay the dissolution date to the end of the year, which Perlow seconded. However, the vote failed 4-2. Those two council members cast the only affirmative votes.

           Perlow, who is not running for re-election, explained that he felt very uncomfortable voting to approve a police department in the borough by the designated date.  "I don't see any way this thing is going to come together by then," he said. "There is no reason to rush through this."

           The council member suggested that the police budget should be analyzed by an independent entity before the ordinance is approved. Doing otherwise, Perlow said, would be to put the cart before the horse.  "We're probably going to need help setting up this department," he said.

           Hunsinger described the numbers in the budget as accurate. She expressed confidence that the municipality could meet its current deadline.

           A retired geotechnical engineer, Perlow told the audience he had several concerns about the budget.  "What I did notice was too many unknowns," he said after the meeting.

           According to Mayor Ryan Sloyer, who participated in the meeting via telephone, the borough's police committee is planning to interview multiple police consultants. Hunsinger stated that the consultant hired by borough officials will review the budget.

           According to Perlow, the borough's current affiliation with the Upper Perk Police Commission has created budgeting issues for East Greenville. He described the governing makeup of the commission, which includes three members each from Pennsburg and East Greenville, as unworkable.