The number of alcohol vendors at First Fridays in East Greenville could be changing. On Monday, council directed its solicitor to amend the borough ordinance regulating that.

            According to President Douglas Criddle, the goal is to provide language to prioritize borough businesses during the festival that is scheduled to debut in May. He said that the goal is to help locally owned entities without turning First Friday into an alcohol fueled event.  "We want to make sure our local businesses have the exposure they need," Criddle said after the meeting.

            Besides favoring businesses that pay taxes in the borough, the amendment will include language that eliminates the advertising requirement, according to Solicitor Mark Eastburn. He said it will also require entities to open up tables on closed streets and prohibit sales on private property.

            According to Criddle the municipality will confer with its police department and the Upper Perkiomen Valley Chamber of Commerce, who runs the event, to work out the ideal number of businesses permitted to sell alcohol and the locations they will utilize. The previous events have remained under control, according to Mayor Stephen Wescott, who oversees the Borough of East Greenville Police Department.

            Currently, three alcohol vendors are permitted to operate at the festival. Last year, council approved three permit applications for each event. Simple Days Beer, the Spinnerstown Hotel, and Perkiomen Valley Brewery were included during 2024.

            Earlier this month, the owners of Simple Days, located at 231 Main Street, asked council to allow them to set up a table away from their business. The told the members the current rules, requiring them to set up on their property, was hurting sales.

            Three properties on Main Street are the subject of tax notice appeals with the Montgomery County Board of Assessment. Two of the properties were previously owned by the Archdiocese of Allentown, one of which houses the The Thrifty Frog, LLC, according to Manager Jim Fry.

            Both are the former location of the Church of Saint Philip Neri. The third property, located across the street, currently serves as a parking lot.

            According to Fry, the municipality has received a zoning application for a day care center at a vacant school house next the thrift shop. He told council that the applicant is "from outside the area."

            According to Member John Dingler, the municipality received two quotes for the replacement of back steps at Borough Hall, located at 206 Main Street. He declined to provide any figures or identify who submitted them.

            Dinger, who chairs the borough's Property Committee, said one of the bids was for wood and the other was for a composite material. He told the members that the goal is to receive at least one more quote for each material.

            According to Criddle, council met in executive session prior to the public portion of the meeting to confer with its attorney related to complaints received related to personnel issues.

            Council next meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday, April 7.