Waterways, Ordinances, Zoning Dominate Meeting

            Last week, at the Marlborough Board of Supervisors monthly meeting, the news was not good for the waterway issues that surfaced in February.

            Speaking on behalf of Burt Shive, the Parks and Recreation Board Member who reported on the vegetation problem at Skymount Lake last month, Township Manager/Secretary/Treasurer Marybeth Cody asked the Board how they wanted to proceed with the matter.

            Acknowledging that the problem is increasing, Member Brian Doremus still resisted giving the green light to Princeton Hydro, a lake management business, and its plan to treat the invasive plants with herbicides.

"First is money. That's the number one concern," said Doremus. "It wasn't in this year's budget."

            Member Bill Jacobs resurrected his concerns about the potency of the chemicals to be used. "I don't know if the [herb]icide's been tested as a potential carcinogen before we start dumping stuff like that in there."

            Chairman Billy Hurst said, "I think we need other proposals, also, for a different way of doing it."

"Application timing, I know, is an issue," Doremus said. "We may not make it this season."         

            The Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy has, for now, decided against seeking a grant for a boat ramp along the Perkiomen Creek near Gravel Pike and Upper Ridge Road.

            "Their engineer's estimate came in double what they expected," explained Cody. "They're hoping to get on the next grant program which is sometime in the fall."

            The Nuisance and Driveway Ordinance proposals moved forward on   2-1 votes. For Jacobs, who cast the nay votes, his bone of contention is still the penalties attached to the ordinances. Both would mandate up to $1,000/day fines for violations. Jacobs favored graduated monetary penalties: $100/$300/$500 over an extended period of time.

            Jacobs researched ordinances in other municipalities before reaching his conclusion. "I want it to have some bite, but I don't want to hammer them like a sledgehammer."

            "I don't want to be the one limiting the judge's power," countered Hurst before votes were taken.

            The proposals will now be advertised and scheduled for further public airing before the ordinance is enacted.

            Spurred by the proposal last month by H&K chairman John Haines IV  to establish a non-profit museum and organization and host events and conferences on his properties, the supervisors want to look at the provisions for Institutional Overlay.

            "We feel there is the need for some text changes," Doremus said before the board agreed to direct the Planning Commission to conduct a "review and refresh".

            Several Green Lane Naturals supporters were in attendance at the meeting as owner Natalie Valeriano addressed the board regarding issues surrounding her business.

            In February, the supervisors had discussed parking problems at the establishment and whether or not Green Lane Naturals was operating as a restaurant in violation of its original application to the township. An enforcement notice was sent on February 25, giving the business 30 days to comply.

            "We would like to stay in business and do a lot of takeout sales," Valeriano told the board.

           "We have ordinances for the protection of the township," Hurst responded, urging Valeriano to work with township officials to reach a mutually acceptable resolution.

            "We're not looking to chase businesses out of Marlborough."

            During public comments, resident Joann Moyer raised the issue of paid health care insurance for supervisors under the terms of an ordinance passed last year that also stated that part-time employees can buy into the plan by paying the entire premium.

            "I really believe that the framework of the ordinance has merit allowing the part-time employees to join the township's plan," Moyer said. She claimed that the health care ordinance, as worded, will have a detrimental effect on the township budget.

            Moyer, also a member of Marlborough's Planning Commission, cited West Rockhill Township's health care ordinance as a model that should be followed by Marlborough. West Rockhill did away with its township-paid health care insurance for their supervisors because it was sapping the budget.

            Moyer asked the Marlborough supervisors to consider doing the same, allowing supervisors to join the health care plan only if they pay the premiums.

            Marlborough budgeted $172,000 for health care in 2020. Doremus is the only supervisor eligible to join the plan this year but has opted not to.

            Highway Materials will be doing night paving on Route 29 on or about March 29. The project could take a few weeks.

            Prior to the meeting an executive session on personnel was held that resulted in offering the part-time Administrative Assistant job to Francy Nino-Knott.

            The next Board of Supervisors meeting is scheduled for April 8 at 7.