Last Thursday night Trumbauersville Borough Council voted to request Quakertown Community School District administer approximately $4,332 in scholarship funds the borough has raised.  The borough has held onto the money for three years.  It has decided to release the funds so Trumbauersville students can utilize the money for their choice of higher education.

            Criteria for the scholarship award requires the deserving student to be a resident of Trumbauersville with academic achievement and community involvement.  The funds can be offered to one student or several either in one year or spread over a few years.  The student who is chosen for the scholarship award will be recommended by the school district's principal and teachers.  The award will be given as a committee of Trumbauersville Borough councilmen decide.

            Trumbauersville Council President Ed Childs explained to residents who attended the council meeting that the Borough of Trumbauersville follows the   Pennsylvania Code of Boroughs that requires the borough council to hold regular advertised meetings.  Among its many state-mandated duties the borough enacts ordinances and levies taxes, and sets the agenda for its meetings.  The state requires the agenda for a municipal meeting to be posted 24 hours prior to the meeting.  If a member of the borough council wants to add a report to the borough agenda, it must be submitted 24 hours before the meeting so that the borough can comply with state regulations. 

            Childs noted the Pennsylvania Code of Boroughs treats a mayor as a "guest of the borough council."  The mayor is not required to attend council meetings.  As a rule, boroughs tend to have a weak mayoral system where the elected council holds most of the power.  Mayors in boroughs across Pennsylvania are responsible for law enforcement.  Generally, mayors do not vote at a borough meeting.  However, if there is a tie vote the mayor is permitted to vote to break the tie.  Childs noted no one is ever prohibited from speaking at a borough council meeting.

            The borough intends to add more arsenic capability for well #2 and well #3.  Arsenic is a naturally occurring substance in the earth.  Periodically, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) adjusts the permitted levels of arsenic in water.  Childs explained whether DEP arsenic levels are raised or lowered, it is still the same water that residents have always used.

            A review of street addresses has determined that several properties in the borough are actually numbered incorrectly.  Christ Lutheran Church's address should be 218 East Broad St. not 114 East Broad St.  The borough council has the ability to rectify the address issue.  It will notify Bucks County of the correct address. 

Councilman Fred Potter noted, "The more you look into old times, the more mistakes you find."

            T-Mobile will provide wireless internet at the borough park for $50 per month.  Wireless internet will enable wireless security cameras to operate at the park.  The borough expects to completely revamp its playground in 2024.

            Childs informed the borough council that the Quakertown Area Planning Commission (QAPC) encompasses municipalities that encircle the Quakertown Community School District.  At its recent meeting the QAPC discussed three separate proposed industrial plans in neighboring municipalities. 

A warehouse is proposed for Tollgate Road and Route 309.  The size is 649,000 square feet.  It is the approximate circumference of 11 football fields.  A warehouse of 173,000 square feet is proposed along West Pumping Station Road between Route 309 and Oneill Road.  Additionally, the former BonTon/Redner's Shopping Center is proposed to include a manufacturing facility, warehouse, research laboratory, and shopping center space.

            As a result of Childs' information a few Trumbauersville residents expressed concern that if several proposed industrial sites are constructed in nearby municipalities, traffic, especially industrial truck traffic, would increase through the borough. 

The borough council discussed several traffic-calming measures that can be utilized to control speeding.  It was noted pedestrian crossing signs are expected to be installed shortly.  The borough recently employed a new maintenance person, Keith Rupple who will perform the work.  PennDOT is responsible for painting lines on state roads.

            The borough council agreed to have the Trumbauersville fire police assist with traffic control at Pennsburg Borough's Halloween Parade on Sunday, October 29.  The fire police are expected to report to Pennsburg's Station 65 for assignment at 5 p.m. The fire police will assist with traffic control at the Sellersville Borough Winter Fest scheduled for Saturday, December 9th from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.  Additionally, the fire police will assist with traffic control at the Sellersville Memorial Day Parade on Saturday, May 25, 2024 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

            The Trumbauersville Fire Company will host an open house at its fire station to make residents aware of fire prevention.  The open house is scheduled for Tuesday, October 10, from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.