Burger King Proposal approved by Planning Commission        

            Pennsburg Council unanimously approved a 2022 tentative budget totaling $2.671 million during Tuesday night's council meeting. The proposal does not include a tax hike, according to municipal officials.

            The tentative budget, which was also approved for advertisement, requires a transfer of approximately $107,000 said council President Diane Stevens. Two weeks earlier, she identified that amount as $53,609.

            Last month, municipal officials cited the cost of trash removal and road repairs as two of the borough's largest increases in expenses.

            In a text message received after the meeting, the council president explained that the cost of promoting an officer from part-time to full-time, insurance, the increased cost in ammunition, fuel oil, and gasoline accounted for the majority of the additional $54,609.

            She stated that the projected surplus at the end of 2021 will be $163,417.71. Two weeks earlier, Stevens had credited most of the leftover money to residential development.

            Member F. Robert Seville, participating in the meeting over the phone, thanked the borough's department heads and everyone who worked on the budget process. He described the process as the smoothest in his six years on council.

            Vice President Patrick Suter had noted during an Oct. 26 meeting that municipal officials have been practicing "extreme fiscal responsibility" and lauded Mayor Charles Shagg and Member Wayne Stevens who have volunteered to pick up items for the borough's roads department in order to eliminate delivery fees. Suter did not attend the most recent meeting.

            In other news, the proposal by a franchisee to build a Burger King in the Pennsburg Square Shopping Center – located at 436 Pottstown Ave. – has already been approved by the borough's planning commission, according to Diane Stevens.

Shortly after the beginning of 2022 municipal officials expect to see building plans, said Terrence Naugle, the borough's engineer.

            He said the restaurant, to be located on the pad closest to Quakertown National Bank, will cover approximately 3,200 square feet and include a double drive-through. Naugle estimates construction will last approximately six months, with completion in August or September of 2022.

            Municipal officials continued a conditional use hearing previously scheduled for the Deerfield Land Development, a proposed 48-townhome community on Montgomery Avenue. Solicitor Adam Sager said it would be rescheduled at a later date.

            On Oct. 12, municipal officials suspended the hearing following 80 minutes of testimony after determining that Todd Hendricks, of the Hendricks Group, had not contacted all residents living within 500 feet of the property as required by law. After the meeting, Diane Stevens explained that 100 residents living within that area have not been notified.

            The members approved a measure to purchase a Bosch Jackhammer for a price not to exceed $3,000. Prior to the vote, Wayne Stevens told council he could pick it up Wednesday in Allentown.

            He said the municipality could fund the purchase with money raised from the sale of seven items. Wayne Stevens announced that a zero-turn mower recently received a bid of $3,195 on an online government auction website.