When the expense of purchasing an emergency generator with funds from a federal loan became unfeasible, Pennsburg officials considered other options. On Tuesday, council started the process of applying for a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

            The members voted unanimously to submit a non-disaster letter of interest to Tom Hughes, director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency's Emergency Management Mitigation, Insurance and Resilient Communities Office. Municipal officials hope to acquire a FY 2022 Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant worth $123,281.

            According to council President Diane Stevens, they would utilize the money to purchase a large generator that could power the municipal building, located at 76 W. 6th St., and a utility terrain vehicle (UTV) that could be utilized during emergencies throughout the borough. She wrote in a text message received after the meeting that the borough's fire marshall, emergency management coordinator and deputy EMC recommended that the vehicle be included. "This is all very preliminary," Stevens said during the meeting.

            The idea to apply for the grant came to a head within the last week, said the council president. Municipal officials recently conferred with a representative from a grant writing firm in Harrisburg.

            Bill Van Etten, the grant writer for the Pennsburg Volunteer Fire Company, referred borough officials to Penn Strategies and Stevens said council would discuss the potential cost of hiring a grant writer, and other related details, during the Sept. 27 workshop meeting.

            The members discussed a proposal to acquire a 38-kilowatt generator to power the business office when the power goes out. The municipality received a quote of $44,533 for that unit, according to Stevens.

            The borough's current generator would be moved to the maintenance garage that is included in a plan to upgrade facilities through a low-interest loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

            The members also discussed fueling the new generator with propane. One option could be acquiring four 1,000-gallon tanks. Wayne Stevens estimated the cost of purchasing the tanks at $30,000. Installation would cost an additional $8,000.

            The funds for the new generator were initially included in a plan to refurbish the building. However, council decided to remove it and some additional items after the initial bids came in last month significantly higher than expected. 

"We're trying to be creative," Administrative Manager Lisa Hiltz said after the meeting.

            Diane Stevens noted that the attempt to acquire a grant is separate from the planned renovations. She said after the meeting that the borough has secured a $1.351 million grant from the USDA, and that additional details of the reduced scope would be discussed in two weeks.

            Diane Stevens announced that council met in executive session on Aug. 31 and Sept. 5 to discuss personnel issues. They met in private following the public portion of Monday's meeting to discuss litigation with East Greenville. No decisions were made, according to a text from her.

Solicitor Daniel I. Sager participated in the meeting via telephone. Joe Adam, chief of the Upper Perk Police Department, did not attend the meeting.