East Greenville council wants to change the way students are dropped off at the Upper Perkiomen 4^th &  5^th Grade Center during the next school year. On Monday, the members directed Solicitor Michael E. Peters to prepare a letter asking district administrators to implement a drop-off ban on Jefferson Street beginning in September.

            Member Joe Rock broached the subject during the public meeting, which was broadcast on Zoom due to concerns related to COVID-19. He said the proposal, favored by borough officials and the municipal police department, calls for permitting parent drop-off in the back of the school.

            "We think it's doable," Rock said near the end of the meeting, adding that the final decision is entirely up to district officials since the alternate drop-off spot is owned by the school.

            Rock made the suggestion after Manager Jim Fry told him school officials have not gotten back to borough officials after multiple inquires on this issue. The member said he didn't want concerns over the coronavirus to not be the reason administrators have not responded.

            Vice President Douglas Criddle said he reached out to school officials on the issue but received no response. James Raftery worried aloud that the policy could create a backlash in terms of where parents drop off their children but said he was all for the proposal if a viable alternative could be identified.

            While no decisions have been made in regards to proposed changes to that process, the Upper Perkiomen School District is committed to ensuring that the drop-off process is as safe as possible for students, families and community members, according to information provided by Nicole Gum, its Communication Specialist.

           In an email received Tuesday afternoon, Gum explained that administrators have been looking at a few options based upon several meetings with municipal officials – including one on-site with a few members from East Greenville – to discuss the current process, student safety and the impact of local traffic. "Additionally, when the mandatory school closure for COVID-19 went into effect, district resources and focus shifted to supporting our At-Home Learning format.

            "Upon our return to normal in-person school, the district administration will continue to review the process and work with East Greenville to come to an agreement on what is best," she wrote.

            In other news, the members approved a resolution to extend the property tax discount period to May 31. James Raftery cast the lone opposing vote, arguing that June 30 would be a better date.

            Council also voted to approve an emergency declaration that extended 60 days from the date of the meeting. The declaration could be extended or revoked at any time, according to the solicitor.

            Citing concerns related to the pandemic, council voted unanimously to delay all late fees related to water bills in the current billing cycle until June 22. They also put off all water shutoffs during the current pay period.

            The members also voted to waive the late trash fees for three residents. Fegely called it a one-time event. They cited issues with the mailing of those trash bills and the unprecedented conditions created by the coronavirus.

            Additionally, council voted to continue paying the borough's crossing guards. Fegely explained that she volunteered to serve as a morning guard at the crossing guard at the intersection of Jefferson Avenue and 5th Street. However, the governor closed all public school in the Commonwealth before she could begin the job.

            According to information presented by Mayor Keith Gerhart, the Borough of East Greenville Police Department responded to 154 calls in March, compared to only 30 by the state police. Nine of the calls were identified as public services. They included four calls for vehicle accidents and one each for a warrant, alarm, fire call and vandalism. Officers responded to 111 calls for "other," according to the information accumulated by Chief Randy Morris. It states that the department provided eight assists and handled 16 traffic calls, and one call each for a domestic and an animal incident.