Pennsburg Borough Council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a request by the Upper Perkiomen School District to connect its proposed middle school to the Upper Montgomery Joint Authority.

            Members approved a resolution authorizing UMJA to provide sanitary sewer service to the proposed school, which would be constructed on Montgomery Avenue in Upper Hanover.

            The district is seeking 12 EDUs (effluent discharge units) for the facility, according to attorney Joseph Clement. Following the vote, Clement thanked council. He told the members that district officials would soon return to council with plans to install sidewalks along Montgomery Avenue.

            "We look forward to working with you in the future," Clement said during the meeting.

            Earlier in June, Clement threatened to sue the borough on behalf of the school district if the EDU request was not approved. On Tuesday, the lawyer demurred.

            "The last thing we want to do is sue a municipality," Clement said after the vote.

            Standing on the steps outside borough hall, the lawyer explained that UMJA Executive Superintendent Glenn Quinn instructed district officials to get permission from Upper Hanover and Pennsburg, a neighboring municipality, in order to have access to the EDUs.  Upper Hanover has already approved a similar request, according to Clement.

            Multiple emails to Quinn seeking comment have not been returned.

            According to the lawyer, the district must submit a plan module to the authority and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to secure the EDUs. Clement couldn't provide a timeline, but said he hoped it would be completed sooner rather than later. 

            "This is just the first step," Clement said.

            In other news, Keith Gerhart introduced himself to borough council. Although Gerhart did not announce that he won the Republican and Democratic Primary election for East Greenville mayor last month, he told council, "You all know who I am."

            Gerhart told members that he wanted to start the process of restoring the respect between the two boroughs.  "It's always been that way," he said.

            Gerhart also told the members he had a plan, but declined to divulge his ideas at the advice of counsel.

            "My goal is to restore sanity to the Upper Perkiomen Valley," Gerhart said.

            Council member Diane Stevens did not attend the public meeting, which lasted seven minutes.