February Council Meeting

February 13, 2012. Links to the Agenda

Police
Lt. Pavoni commended for service by Borough of Narberth as well as Montgomery County.

Library
LiBrewery is March 9, 6-9pm. A beer tasting featuring local craft beers, light food and music at the Merion Tribute House. Free transport will be provided from the Narberth Station.

Highway
Motion passed to authorize Borough Manager to solicit sealed proposals for the installation of storm sewer pipe on N. Wynnewood Avenue.

February Caucus Meeting

February 8, 2012. Links to the Agenda

Vacancy

Andrea Deutsch appointed to fill vacancy on Borough Council by unanimous vote.

Rockland Avenue Bridge

Council passed a resolution to federalize the demolition of the bridge, which will reduce the Borough of Narberth's share of the cost from 20% to 5%.

Special Council Meeting

January 30, 2012. Links to the Agenda and Minutes

Vacancy
Candidates interviewed for open Council seat are as follows: Ken Jacobs, Andrea Deutsch, Richard W. Diaz and Michael Gaudini

Planning Commission/Building & Zoning Committee

January 16, 2012. Links to the Goals and Timeline (from the MCPC).

Narberth Borough Comprehensive Zoning Project
All members of the Planning Commission and the Building & Zoning Committee introduced themselves.
Sean Metrick (Senior Planner, Montgomery County Planning Commission) introduced himself and presented the goals of, and a timeline for, the project.

The project should require 12 months to complete.

A working group will meet monthly at Planning Commission meetings (first Monday of every month at 7:30pm) to guide development of the new code.

The February meeting (February 6 at 7:30pm) will focus on the geography of uses in Narberth. Mr. Metrick is working on constructing a large map of Narberth to be posted in Borough Hall.

January Council Meeting

January 9, 2012. Links to the Agenda and Minutes.

Taxes
No tax increase. Budget amended, and milage rate set at 8.775, same as 2011. Total budget is $4,355,583.

Public Safety
Two new officers will be hired in 2012 in the months to come.

Bridge
Ad-Hoc Bridge Committee will meet at 7:30 PM on January 18, 2012. Representatives from the engineers and the architects will attend.

Resignation of Surge Ghosh
Resignation was accepted. Notice will be given in the Main Line Times to submit letters of interest/resumes to the Borough Manager by January 27. Interviews will be January 30 and 31 if needed, and appointment is planned for Council Caucus meeting on February 8, 2012.

January Caucus Meeting

January 4, 2012. Links to the Agenda and Minutes.

Resignation of Surge Ghosh
Upon voting to accept resignation, Council will have 30 days to appoint a replacement.

Highway Committee
Ongoing sewer work on N. Wynnewood Rd, road to be overlayed when complete.

Property Committee
Table and chairs for Station Circle have been ordered; existing backless benches to be moved next to station.

Form Zoning
Planning Commission meeting scheduled for January 16th (MLK Day). Planner from MontCo attending.

NarberthCalendar.com
Michael Alexander begins authoring the site and calendar.

Resignation from Council

January 2, 2011. 

Resignation

Surge Ghosh resigns from Council, and ends authoring NarberthCalendar.com
Full text of resignation letter below:

January 2, 2012

Mr. Tom Grady, Mayor and Members of the Narberth Borough Council

100 Conway Ave

Narberth, PA 19072

Dear Colleagues,

I have been proud to serve the Borough of Narberth for the last two years as a Councilman, and so I am sorry to have to write this letter to resign from this position.

I am proud of my accomplishments during these two years which include:

o   Providing visibility to the public with all council meeting agendas, minutes and quick summaries posted regularly on the web at NarberthCalendar.com.

o   Influencing meeting scheduling, moving all committee meetings to regular monthly meeting slots, and posting the schedule to NarberthCalendar.com to encourage attendance by the public.

o   Bringing in professional property management to stabilize the borough’s commercial property, the former school building at 201 Sabine Ave. 

o   Negotiating the lease to retain the largest tenant, MELC.

o   Correcting the Borough’s annual overpayment of over $150,000 which avoids a real estate tax increase of 5%.

Work on the Council has taken its toll on me, my family and my full-time job, which has forced me to rebalance.  I feel that the Organization Meeting is the right time for me to resign, to allow the Council the most flexibility as it chooses the next term’s committee assignments.

I would like to thank all of you for the work you do for the Borough.

Sincerely,

Surge Ghosh

2012 Organization Meeting

January 2nd, 2012. Links to the Agenda and the Minutes.

Elections:
New Councilmembers Michael Alexander and Bob Weisbord
New President of Council:  Michael 'Sam' Quinn
New Vice-President of Council:  Aaron Muderick

Assignments:
Listed Below as Committee:  Chair, Associate Chair, Member
Building &; Zoning:  Weisbord, Boise, Alexander
Finance:  Ghosh, Muderick, Boise
Health & Welfare:  Alexander, Ghosh, Wegbreit
Highway:  Wegbreit, Alexander, Muderick
Public Safety:  Muderick, Wegbreit, Weisbord
Property:  Boise, Weisbord, Ghosh
Ad-Hoc Bridge:  Boise, Wegbreit, Weisbord
Ad-Hoc Economic Development:  Wegbreit, Alexander, Muderick

December 'Recessed' Council Meeting

December 28, 2011. Links to the Agenda and the Minutes.

Tax Increase
2012 budget requires a tax increase of 3.3%
Even after 201 Sabine Ave returns $225k in income, $45k over budget
One time payment for Lt. Pavoni's retirement represents almost all of the increase.

Retirements
Council President Mary Jo Daly and council member Nancy Lotz retire.

Board Assignments
All incumbents re-assigned for further terms on borough boards and commissions.

December Council Meeting

December 12, 2011. Links to the Agenda and the Minutes.

Labor Contract
Non-uniformed four-year contract approved including improvements in health care costs.

Audit
Audit agreement for 2011 approved with no changes from last year.

Form Zoning
Approved services agreement from Montgomery County Planning Commission

December Caucus Meeting

December 9, 2011. Links to the Agenda and the Minutes.

Finance
Annual cash funded through T.A.N. from Citizens Bank

Form Zoning
Selecting Montgomery County Planning Commission for planning advisory service for 3 years

November Council Meeting

November 14, 2011. Links to the Agenda and the Minutes.

Finance
Budget proposal currently projects no real estate tax increase

Rockland Ave Bridge
Pennoni Engineers present plan for bridge removal

November Caucus Meeting

November 9, 2011. Links to the Agenda and the Minutes.

Finance
New debt expected for on-going street resurfacing

Apartments Parking
Gallman Group presents parking expansion plan for Montogomery Court Apartments on Sabine

October Council Meeting

October 10, 2011. Links to the Agenda and the Minutes.

Road Resurfacing
N. Wynnewood will be resurfaced following water main replacement, funded through a 5 year debt note.

Form Zoning
Request for clarification of form zoning scope of work from County Planning Commission.

Executive Session
Regarding both Merloc and Cornell litigation

Public Comments
Letter concerning the trash pickup schedule

October Caucus Meeting

October 5, 2011. Links to the Agenda and the Minutes.

Police
23 applicants tested for open police position

Board Openings
Several roles are up for appointments to boards.

Economic Development
275 attended the Oktoberfest festival

Industrial Development Authority
N.I.D.A. will fund $9.5M to another municipality, which will limit its available funds.

Public Comments
Two residents ask Council about plans to hire zoning planners for form zoning work.