East Greenville Council's 2021 draft budget holds the line on taxes. On Monday night, the members voted unanimously to advertise the $1.718 million budget.

            Council expects to approve the budget, which will maintain a 6.25 millage rate, on Dec. 2, according to President Angie Fegely. She said after the meeting that a $96,000 transfer from the borough's capital fund was necessary to make the blueprint balanced.

            Residents will pay an additional $9 in trash fees in 2021. The current annual cost for solid waste removal is $123, said the council president.

            Municipal officials have budgeted $2,000, through both the general and water budgets, to upgrade their website and $25,000 for office and meeting room improvements. Fegely said she would prefer to have council sit at a semi-circle podium – rather than its current horizontal one – similar to what Pennsburg Council utilizes.

            The budget also calls for multiple equipment purchases. The council president identified the allocation of $46,000 for the borough's water department and $12,000 for a backhoe.

            Council voted to accept the resignation of James Raftery. He was forced to resign after taking a job with the federal government, according to Fegely. Applicants looking to complete the four-year term, which expires at the end of 2021, must submit a letter of interest to the municipality by 3 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 13. Raftery was elected three years ago.

            A fence purchased three years ago for the Borough of East Greenville Police Department, which is still in storage, could be sold. A local person has expressed interest in purchasing the poles, gate and razor wire, said Manager Jim Fry. Council voted during the meeting to advertise the sale of the materials.

            The members spent $7,500 to purchase the fence in late 2017 with the intent of creating an impound area. Fry said after the meeting that a newly elected council decided not to install it.

            Council discussed the issue during several ensuing meetings. In June of 2018, the members scrapped a plan to have municipal officials install the fence. Fry said Monday night that the work was above the borough maintenance staff's capability.

            Council unanimously approved the appointment of Karen Kniese and Donna Ornosky, pending completed background checks, as new crossing guards in the borough. Both were interviewed by Manager Jim Fry. Member Alison Palmer said they could be placed at the intersection of Fourth and State streets, Main Street or at Third and Jefferson streets.

            The elected officials authorized Palmer, a member of the borough's Shade Tree Commission, to purchase nine new trees to be planted on Main Street. Palmer and Member Greg Gadreau plan on purchasing the trees.

Gadreau identified the chosen species as dogwood, Autumn Cherry and Eastern Redbud. He described the trees as full-grown and single trunk with a non-invasive root system.

            In October, the Borough of East Greenville Police Department responded to 111 total incidents. They included 21 for public service, 20 traffic incidents, six assists, three accidents, two warrants, and one each fire, fraud and animal incidents, according to Mayor Keith Gerhart. The information, collected by Chief Randy Morris, includes 49 incidents identified as "other."