Pennsburg's council president made an impassioned plea to Upper Perkiomen Valley municipalities to stick with his plan to implement a regional police department. During Monday's Pennsburg council meeting, Patrick Suter asked representatives from the communities who attended the April 30 meeting to participate in further discussions.
            Suter claims the goal is to create 24/7 local police coverage throughout the Valley. He said the objective is to do what is best for everyone.
           The council president asked East Greenville to return to the table. Last week, its council decided to opt out of the discussions.
         "There are too many variables," Council President Alison Palmer said on May 4.
         East Greenville council directed Mayor Stephen Wescott to inform Pennsburg that his community prefers to keep its department. On Tuesday, Suter said he had not yet heard from Wescott. The Pennsburg president expressed hope that the neighboring community was reconsidering its decision.
        However, Palmer confirmed later Tuesday night that East Greenville had not changed its position. She wrote in a text message that the mayor was out of town on a work trip.
       Last week, Palmer told her colleagues that Suter's plan called for not firing any of East Greenville's officers. Suter reiterated that point Tuesday, adding that the current department's officers would receive raises as part of a regional department. However, Palmer expressed concern that some of East Greenville's officers would not survive a regionalization since they would need to be hired by the new department.
       "It would be reckless and irresponsible for me, [Mayor Brian Mentzer] or [Vice President Keith Goodwin] to suggest firing officers," Suter said. "We need more officers."

         Suter implored communities to partner with Pennsburg to avoid the impact of legislation in the Pennsylvania General Assembly that would charge municipalities without full-time police coverage for state police coverage. He predicted that the eventual expense would be cost-prohibitive
        East Greenville downplayed its concern over the bill. According to Palmer, similar legislation has been proposed for several years with little to no movement. She said the current bill would not apply to her borough due to its population.

        Council unanimously approved an action item awarding the contract for repairs on 11th Street. Sacks & Sons, Inc, of Lower Frederick, will be paid $412,115.72 to complete the work. A multi-modal grant is funding the project.

        Streets in Pennsburg will be swept June 4-5. Signs alerting the public about restricted parking will be posted a week in advance, according to Member Richard DeAngelis.The members agreed to have violating vehicles ticketed, but not towed.

        The members voted to approve a trash bid contract and set a tentative schedule. New bids will be due July 6. The members hope to award a new contract on July 14.
        The bid package includes a bunch of options for bulk pickups, according to Solicitor Mark Hosterman.

        Member Eileen Fields said it will also include an option to allow residents to pay their trash fee quarterly.

         Council granted preliminary/final plan approval for Perkiomen School to construct a pickleball court and playground on its campus. Construction on the project, near the intersection of Seminary and West Second streets, is expected later this summer, according to Zachary Ranstead, a civil engineer with T&M Associates, of Philadelphia, who represented the school during the meeting.

        The members voted to ratify Giedre Suter as the borough's deputy tax collector. Patrick Suter abstained from the vote regarding his wife.
        Two months ago, council approved a similar motion regarding the deputy tax collector. Last month, Hosterman concluded that the body acted improperly when it appointed her to the position after former council President Diane Stevens claimed the action item was added to the March 10 agenda too close to the meeting date.

         Council approved its summer hours. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the municipal building – located at 76 W. 6th St. – will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. Friday.

        The members met in executive session to discuss the regional police meeting. They expected to receive a confidential legal opinion on the matter, according to the council president.

         In April, the Upper Perk Police Department responded to 798 total calls for service. That includes 266 for public service, 143 traffic details and 84 vehicle investigations.

         The officers issued 54 traffic citations and 46 warnings. They responded to five non-reportable and three reportable vehicle accidents. They handled four parking complaints.

         Police made six arrests and responded to five false fire alarms at businesses in the borough. The department did not issue a non-traffic citation last month, according to information provided by Chief Joe Adam.

         In terms of crimes, the department handled five incidents of forgery/fraud/identity theft, three shopliftings, two each of DUI and narcotics violations, and one robbery, assault/harassment/stalking, burglary/attempted burglary, protection from abuse violation, and vandalism/criminal mischief.