Pennsburg Council added a supplemental engineering firm during a workshop meeting Tuesday night. Without discussion, the members voted unanimously to hire Remintgon & Vernick Engineers. The firm, based locally in King of Prussia, could likely become the borough's primary engineering firm Jan. 1 when council reorganizes, according to council President Diane Stevens.

            John Rundy, a project manager with RVE, appeared during the public portion of the meeting that lasted just seven minutes. Rundy, who lives in New Hanover, will work directly with the borough and serve as its new code enforcement officer according to Stevens.

            Following the public portion of the meeting, Stevens and Mayor Charles Shagg explained that the borough's main firm, Great Valley Consultants of Wyomissing, were not getting things done in a timely matter. According to Stevens, the firm is understaffed.

            The municipality has had recent issues related to code enforcement follow ups, according to Shagg. He said its staff has yet to complete the diagrams for the borough's planned tot lot, which has prevented municipal employees from beginning excavation work.

            Rundy was slated to meet with municipal officials Wednesday to discuss which projects his company would take responsibility for. Following the meeting, the council president said the members will likely vote to appoint RVE -- which is headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J., and has 450 employees in multiple locations in the state as well as Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and North Carolina -- as its primary engineer.

            One member suggested that the new firm handle the borough's plan to apply for a loan through the U.S. Department of Agriculture to renovate the Municipal Building at 76 West 10th Street. During the meeting, Stevens announced that the borough recently received permission from the federal agency to bid out the revamped specifications.

            According to Shagg, Great Valley Consultants' inability to keep up with the work on the project has prevented the borough from proceeding in a timely fashion. He said it cost the borough approximately $30,000 in increased interest rates.

            Great Valley Consultants includes 12 employees, according to its website. Terrence Naugle, a company vice president, has been assigned to the borough since it was hired in December of 2020. Naugle handled Pennsburg's code enforcement responsibilities prior to the vote to hire the agency.

            Great Valley Consultants replaced Gilmore & Associates as the borough's engineer. In January of 2021, Stevens said the Berks County firm charged a lower rate than its predecessor and offered suggestions and solutions to issues.

            In other news, Stevens reported that developer Tim Hendricks has submitted a revised sketch plan on his proposed 48-unit development at 704 Montgomery Ave. She said the new plan, which includes an emergency access and shifts some of the structures away from a riparian corridor, will be discussed during a Dec. 20 planning commission meeting.

            Council met in executive session following the portion of the meeting to receive a status update on the borough's lawsuit with East Greenville, according to Stevens. She said no votes were taken.