Ambulance coverage changing; police deals with park issues 

            Last week, the Marlborough supervisors approved the 2024 budget as advertised. The budget includes a 0.5 millage increase for the general fund and a new 0.185 millage emergency services tax.

            Township Secretary/Treasurer Marybeth Cody said last month that the millage increase will cost each assessed parcel owner approximately $68 per year and the new emergency service tax will add approximately $25 per year to each parcel's tax obligation.

            As he did last month, Supervisor Brian Doremus voted against the budget, feeling that budget cuts should come before an increase in taxes.

            Prior to the vote on the budget, the board approved the transfer of $40,000 left over from the 2023 salt fund into the general fund for 2024.

            Doremus proposed that the tax increase in the 2024 budget could be rescinded since this $40,000 was available, but neither Billy Hurst and Bill Jacobs would second the motion.

            Doremus then voted no on other budget-related items including the general fund and liquid fuels budget.

            Unsettled by apparent leadership problems at Freedom Valley Ambulance, the supervisors decided to contract with Upper Perkiomen Valley Ambulance (UPVA) for primary coverage of the township beginning in January.

            "As of now we are staffed, for the most part, 24 hours a day, seven days a week," said , Jake LaForet, the UPVA's battalion chief. "Most of Marlborough is within 10 minutes of our station."

            LaForet promised that, except for "random" circumstances, an advanced life support (ALS) truck would be available for Marlborough calls.

            UPVA promised to honor Freedom Valley memberships until the next subscription drive.

            The supervisors decided to split the ambulance fees for 2023 between Freedom Valley and Upper Perk. The former will receive $10,000 of the $15,000 total.

            In other years, Freedom Valley had received the entire fee, but, as Cody pointed out to the board, Upper Perk picked up approximately one-third of the calls in Marlborough last year.

            In his report to the board, Police Chief Darren Morgan commented on the issues in Marlborough's parks and open spaces. Among the problems are motorized vehicle usage and tree stands illegally erected in the parks. Morgan noted that even though a half-dozen stands have been taken down, "there's many more out there."

            The chief suggested that a letter could be sent to residents who surround the park properties reminding them of the park rules. "They think that since we're not using it, they can use it how they want to," Morgan said.

            The board agreed and authorized a letter.

            Morgan's message to residents, "Remove all your tree stands, cameras, your feeders and everything else."

            In other park news, Parks and Recreation member Burt Shive reported on preliminary plans for the Quonset hut at Skymount. The 50 foot by 100 foot space could be subdivided for uses such as a picnic area, pickleball court and basketball court.

            Shive also reported on areas of concern at Skymount including fishing without permits.

            He stated that online payment options might help collect the $5 fee.

           Cody opined that people are simply ignoring the fee and Shive agreed but said, "We're trying to be nice with this conversation."

            Another problem at Skymount is people not throwing caught fish back into the lake, as mandated. Morgan noted that there is a fine involved, through the township's ordinance, if a person is caught leaving the lake with fish.  "It's a park violation," he said.

            Additionally, Shive brought up the use of electric motors – now banned – in the lake. Doremus, also a member of the park board, related that its members were split on allowing electric motors. He reminded the supervisors that the lake might be too shallow in spots to allow for electric motors and that the lake is a small body of water.

            "We could attract a lot more people to the lake, and utilize the lake that much more," said Shive, who also proposed an additional fee for the use of the electric motor.

            An executive session about a legal matter was held before the regular meeting.

            The next supervisors meeting, on Jan. 3 at 7 p.m., will be the annual organization meeting, followed by the regular meeting. On Jan. 22, there will be a joint supervisors work session/planning commission meeting.