Ordinances acted on by Marlborough supervisors

            At last week's Marlborough Township's monthly supervisors meeting, it was announced that the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will facilitate a public discussion and hearing regarding the new Perkiomenville quarry owner's request for expansion. The supervisors also acted on several ordinances in the legislative pipeline.

            In response to township and resident concerns about Heidelberg Materials Northeast LLC's request to expand quarrying operations at its Perkiomenville plant, the DEP has offered to schedule a public meeting to discuss the issues.

            The DEP has tentatively scheduled the meeting for Monday, March 24, at 6 p.m., at the Marlborough municipal building, 6040 Upper Ridge Road.

            A letter sent to Manager/Secretary Marybeth Cody by Lisa Strobridge, the local government liaison for the DEP, stated that the meeting will include representatives from the quarry and the DEP. Strobridge wrote that the goals of the "informal conference" are to clarify "potential misunderstandings" and collect "written or verbal comments and/or objections from the public."

            Late last year, Heidelberg Materials (formerly Highway Materials LLC) notified the township that it had applied to the DEP to add 1.31 acres to its property and also requested permission to import mine reclamation fill.

            Earlier in 2024, the Marlborough supervisors had rebuffed a similar attempt by Highway Materials, before it was acquired by Heidelberg Materials, to rezone the property.

            The notification by Heidelberg Materials provoked a response from residents near the quarry, led by spokesperson Marya Schoenholtz, asking the DEP to hold a public meeting.

            In a missive to fellow residents, Schoenholtz wrote that Heidelberg Materials is asking to "expand the blasting boundaries" and fill the quarry's pit with reclamation materials instead of water.

            "[Heidelberg] included in the permit application that they have community support for these changes!" Schoenholtz wrote. "As you all know, we as a community came together last year to tell the Board of Supervisors that we DO NOT support these changes to the quarry's plans."   

            Cody said the meeting format will include an informational and question and answer session at 6 p.m., followed by a formal public hearing starting at 7 p.m.

            In other business, the supervisors dealt with several ordinances including approving amendments to the open burning ordinance. The supervisors also voted to advertise the sewer authority's grinder pump ordinance and to advertise the police department's switch of its affiliation to a new Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) organization.

            The changes to the existing open burning ordinance mostly centered on burnable materials and enforcement. "I can't say there are any major changes to it," said Supervisor Brian Doremus. "It's more of a list of items that fall under hazardous and the enforcement of it. It changes who can enforce it."

            Doremus, responding to a question from resident Bruce Jackson, said the biggest change is, "You can't burn your household garbage."

            The grinder pump ordinance matches Green Lane's and shifts the management and enforcement to the Green Lane-Marlborough Joint Authority (GLMJA) instead of the township and borough.

            With the vote on the SWAT ordinance, Marlborough is one step closer to joining Western SWAT. Pennsburg, New Hanover, Douglass, Pottstown and Lower Frederick are also members and East Greenville is expected to approve the agreement.

            The votes on the ordinances were unanimous.

            The supervisors did not agree to advertise the accessory ordinance amendments. The board and the solicitor, Mark Cappuccio, still have questions and concerns about how the ordinance is written. The supervisors decided to send it back to the planning commission for revision.

            At the work session held on January 27, Jon Lesher, of the Montgomery County Planning Commission, walked the supervisors through the ordinance, clarifying differences between livestock and domesticated animals and issues associated with livestock. 

            An ordinance dealing with flag lots, which, among other things, are zoning-conforming but their "only road frontage and access is limited to an access strip", was sent for professional review.

            At the work session held on January 27 supervisors Billy Hurst and Bill Jacobs voted to repeal a 2019 health insurance ordinance that, among other provisions, allowed supervisors to get 100 percent healthcare coverage through the township's plan.

            Doremus was the only supervisor to take advantage of the provision and he voted against the repeal. He will now have to find healthcare insurance when his present term expires at the end of this year.

            Cody announced that Marlborough has received a Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program Grant of $180,000. The money will be used for projects at Skymount Park. Specific plans for the money will be announced soon.

            Hurst was not present at last week's meeting but participated remotely.

            The next supervisors meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 12, at 7 p.m., at the municipal building.