Without discussion, Pennsburg Council passed separate motions to approve a 2023 budget and an ordinance that includes a tax increase of 1.5 mills for property owners.  Only Member Mike Mensch voted against an item to adopt the $3.337 million budget. A second motion setting the new tax rate at 8.725 mills passed unanimously.

            Next year's budget will also include a $15 increase in trash bill fees. The additional cost is necessitated by the borough's contract with its trash hauler and the increased cost of chipping fees, according to council President Diane Stevens.

            Two weeks earlier, Mensch expressed his verbal opposition to the tax hike, which is expected to generate an additional $229,124. He asked his colleagues to consider cutting back on some of the projects to help the residents.

            Prior to a vote to advertise the budget and the new tax rate, Mensch claimed several constituents have approached him with questions about the proposed increase of $188 per property owner . He said they asked about potentially limiting the size of the tax hike.

            "Normal people are already struggling," Mensch said during the Dec. 13 meeting, adding that the proposed tax increase would hurt residents in the long run. "People's budgets are already strapped."

            Council has not raised taxes in five years, according to council President Diane Stevens. After the earlier meeting, she explained that nearly all the additional funds will go towards returning the borough's police department to 24/7 coverage. "We're making progress on that goal," Member Wayne Stevens said during that meeting. "Sometimes you have to pay for progress."

            Diane Stevens asked Mensch if he had any suggestions about which proposals could be pared back. He did not offer any ideas.

            In other news, the members voted unanimously to approve a conditional use approval for the Deerfield development at 704 Montgomery Avenue, where Tim Hendricks wants to construct 48 twin homes on nine acres.

            After the meeting, John Rundy – the borough's appointed engineer – confirmed that the members voted to grant the Telford developer's application on two requests made during a Dec. 8 hearing, with conditions. Council approved his proposal to demolish the main residence provided the applicant obtained all necessary permits.

            Council also agreed to allow the developer to provide a road crossing over a riparian corridor on the property so long as it complies with a Land Use plan filed with the borough on Oct. 4. All plantings, stream bank stabilization and landscaping must be within guidelines set by Montgomery County Planning Commission and the riparian corridor must be maintained by following guidance set by borough ordinance and recommendation of the county planning commission. No trees or plants may be removed from the corridor without permission of the borough's zoning officer or engineer, according to the language of the agreement.

            After the meeting, Rundy said he didn't expect the developer to implement these changes any time soon. During the meeting, council voted to approve a land development extension for the project to April 5.

            According to Vice President Patrick Suter, this is the first extension granted on the development's current iteration. He said the original proposal received at least four extensions before the members voted to deny it due to its ambiguities.

            Additionally, the members voted to reappoint Janet Albert to a three-year term on the borough's zoning hearing board and Leon Ritchey to a five-year term as a representative on the Upper Montgomery Joint Authority board of directors.

            Council also voted to appoint Sheri Kline to a four-year-term on the borough's planning commission. Kline, a resident of Hunter Drive, replaces Ethel Ritchey.

            Suter ran the meeting, which lasted less than 30 minutes. Diane Stevens and Solicitor Daniel Saeger participated via telephone.