Pennsburg's police department is opening itself to an evaluation by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. Earlier this month, council approved a letter of intent for the state agency to complete the examination of the Upper Perk Police Department.

            Local governments participate in state or regional initiatives aimed at improving public safety and community relations, according to information provided by Joe Adam, chief of the department. It states that the DCED's involvement is to be part of a larger strategy to enhance policing practices in the borough.
            The intent of the evaluation is to obtain an understanding of the needs of the municipality and its residents, according to the police chief's email. It states that the study will provide the municipal leaders with a starting point of information pertaining to recommended staffing levels, equipment reviews and any needed upgrades to the police facilities.
            The DCED, with its expertise in municipal operations and law enforcement practices, can provide an objective assessment and suggest improvements, according to Adam's email. The department's participation could also assist in the reception of financial support through grants from the agency. 

            A smaller, more focused study of the department than the state agency usually conducts, may only take a few weeks, according to information provided by the police chief.

            In related police news, the members voted on Jan. 14 to approve four purchases for the Upper Perk Police Department. The officer's equipment fund will cover the cost, totaling $16,450.31.

            The department will acquire a new secure weapons cabinet ($2,533.13), ballistic shields ($4,299.90), new lockers ($5,682.25) and less lethal shotguns and ammunition ($3,825.03). The purchases will reduce the size of the account, which had approximately $50,000, according to Adam.

            A military-style cage will replace a safe that is not able to hold all officer's weapons, according to Adam. He said the new cabinet will be placed in the station's patrol room.

           The shields will be placed in each police vehicle and be available to every officer.

            According to Adam, the lockers – for the officers' locker room – will replace the current ones gifted to the borough from the Upper Perkiomen School District 30 years ago.  "Our current lockers are at the end of their life," Adam said.

            Council also voted to approve an inter-municipal agreement with Upper Hanover over three properties in the Deerfield development, located on Montgomery Avenue. Pennsburg will receive tax revenue from two of three properties near municipal boundaries; the township will collect from the third.

            Council approved the appointment of two people to its civil service commission. President Patrick Suter will serve a six-year term, while Stacie De Angelis has a six-year term as an alternate. The body also reappointed Matt Christy to a three-year term on the borough's zoning hearing board.

            Council also approved a change order for municipal renovations funded through a loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  It voted to spend an additional $5,732 to shift the location of a salt shed.

            Instead of positioning it directly adjacent to the new maintenance garage, the bin will be separated from the structure and located between two buildings, according to engineer Owen Hyne. He said most of the funds will be utilized to build the foundation for the salt shed.

            Work on the borough's civic building and garage renovation project is two-thirds complete, according to Hyne. A low-interest loan from the federal agency is funding it.