Last Thursday, Trumbauersville Borough Council convened a special work session at the Trumbauersville Fire Company, giving residents a chance to weigh-in on a proposed recovery house at 20 East Broad Street. Norristown Attorney David Sander was on hand to talk with the crowd of over fifty people about the borough's options.

            "Hopefully by the end of the evening, we will all get a better understanding of what we can and can't do," said President Edward Child, opening the meeting.

            Child went on to explain that the borough's former solicitor, Gregory Ghen, who announced his retirement earlier this month, advised council to cease any efforts to stop the conversion of the single-family home to a recovery house.

            While still looking for a candidate to replace Ghen as solicitor, council engaged Sander of Kilkenny Law to offer some insight into the Fair Housing Act that considers recovery from addiction a disability.

            Sander explained that the borough's own ordinance, in compliance with the Fair Housing Act, includes group homes in the definition of a family. Sander also worked with North Wales through a similar situation and noted that the Montgomery County borough is now responsible for a $200,000 settlement.

            "The law, as it stands in the state of Pennsylvania, both state and federal courts, is pro sober house, anti folks who don't want a sober house," Sander explained.

            Several residents spoke during the meeting, voicing concerns around safety, primarily focused on the fact that ten adults will be living in a single-family home. A few, however, specifically opposed the residents being in recovery, noting the proximity of the house to several bars.

            "This cannot be a supportive environment," said Chloe Kane, a borough resident who also works as a recovery nurse.

            Councilman Frederick Potter questioned whether a for-profit entity would still fall under the definition of a family. Potter reiterated his concerns from last month that the number of bathrooms and bedrooms in the home could not support ten residents.

            "What makes them so special that they can call a sober house a boarding house," Potter said. "I don't get it."

            Sander advised council to review the borough's code around bathrooms as well as parking but cautioned against the zoning hearing board ruling against the recovery house rather than working with the property owners.

            "Whether you win on a local level with your definitions, you are going to run into trouble on appeal,"

            While property owners Andrew and Angela Sullivan were there, they opted not to answer direct questions but offered to speak to any residents with concerns outside of the public meeting. Recovery house volunteer Joanne Cramer was the only resident in attendance Thursday night to speak in favor of the recovery house.

            "This is an epidemic and we all have to do our part," Cramer said. "We have to give them another chance."

            In an emailed letter sent to the Town and Country after the meeting, Angela Sullivan explained that the recovery home would be certified through the Pennsylvania Alliance of Recovery Residences (PARR) and will meet strict standards to maintain that certification.

            At the end of the meeting, council voted unanimously to authorize Sander to further explore the Sullivan's plans for the recovery house, borough codes that could impact plans and any possible recourse for the borough at this time.