An ordinance proposed for advertisement during the next council meeting on Wednesday, September 7 will ensure electric and hybrid vehicle owners have access to public charging stations in Quakertown. During council's monthly work session Monday night, Borough Manager Scott McElree explained that the ordinance would limit parking in the six designated spaces to vehicles that are actively charging.

            The charging stations, located at Borough Hall, the Triangle Parking Lot and the Trolley Barn, are owned by the borough but serviced and managed through the EV charging company ChargePoint. ChargePoint customers pay $2.00 for the first hour of charge and $1.00 for every subsequent hour. The ordinance will impose a fine on vehicles that are parked in the designated charging station spaces and not actively charging.

            A second ordinance that will be considered for advertisement next month pertains to the borough's required Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) submission to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Borough Solicitor Peter Nelson will review the boilerplate ordinance draft provided by DEP before the next meeting.

            "We are not the bus driver on this," Council Vice President James Roberts noted.

            McElree will also further explore the impact of the Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority's (BCWSA) July vote to begin sale negotiations with Aqua Pennsylvania.

            "There have been several Bucks County municipalities that have gone on record opposing this proposed sale," Council President Donald Rosenberger commented. Rosenberger noted, however, that BCWSA is a customer of the borough, making the relationship different from other municipalities.

            Council will also revisit a tabled motion to update "avoided costs" for the electric department.  The federal Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) describes avoided costs as amounts paid to qualifying facilities for generated power versus generating the power themselves or purchasing from another entity.

            Quakertown has purchased wholesale power for its electrical system since 1969.