Kraybill, Guttha Named to MCCC Board of Trustees

David Kraybill

The Montgomery County Commissioners recently appointed Dr. Raj Guttha of Lansdale and David W. Kraybill of Pottstown to the Montgomery County Community College Board of Trustees.

“On behalf of the College, I welcome these talented leaders to the Board of Trustees,” said MCCC President Dr. Kevin Pollock. “Dr. Guttha and Mr. Kraybill bring strong expertise and experience in their fields which will strengthen the College and help us achieve new levels of success for our students.”

Guttha, a senior risk, compliance, finance, information technology and change management executive, is managing partner of Guttha Global Consulting Group of New York, N.Y. He has proven success in establishing global enterprise risk, governance, compliance and internal audit functions in financial services companies.

He has held senior level positions at several companies including Z&A InfoTek, Inc. in Parsippany, N.J.; General Electric Capital Corporation in Norwalk and Danbury, Conn.; McGraw-Hill Financial in New York, N.Y.; Citibank in New York, N.Y.; and J.P. Morgan Asset Management in Columbus, Ohio, among others.

Guttha also served as an associate professor of Finance at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, and as an assistant professor of Finance at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania. He holds a doctorate in Economics/Econometrics from Nagaruna University in India, a master’s degree in Econometrics and Finance from Temple University, and master’s and bachelor’s degrees in Economics and Mathematics from Nagaruna University.  

Kraybill is president of the Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation which seeks to encourage children and families to adopt healthy habits through health promotion and education. In his 13 years as president, he has focused the Foundation on four areas including nutrition and physical activity in schools; access to primary and behavioral health care services; non-profit infrastructure and capacity building; and recreation and community economic development.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Kraybill served as director of development for The Commonwealth College of Pennsylvania State University, interim director of University Development for Pennsylvania State University, and president and executive director of the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Carnegie Mellon University, a certificate in Fundraising Management from the University of Indiana and a certificate from the Penn State Management Institute.

Guttha’s appointment to the Board of Trustees runs through December 2018, and Kraybill’s appointment is through December 2020.

For more than 50 years, Montgomery County Community College has grown with the community to meet the evolving educational needs of Montgomery County. The College’s comprehensive curriculum includes more than 100 associate degree and certificate programs, as well as customized workforce training and certifications. Students enjoy the flexibility of learning at the College’s campuses in Blue Bell and Pottstown, at the Culinary Arts Institute in Lansdale, and online through a robust Virtual Campus. 

As an Achieving the Dream Leader College, the institution is positioned at the vanguard of national efforts to increase completion, improve learning outcomes, and remove barriers to access for students. The College is also recognized regionally and nationally for its sustainability leadership, work with military veterans, community service and service learning opportunities, and use of classroom technology. 

For more information, visit http://www.mc3.edu. 

Pottstown Climate March Planned for April 29

Township Seeks Community Day Volunteers

If you blinked during last night's West Pottsgrove Commissioners meeting, you might have missed it.

However, one message came through loud and clear.

The commissioners definitely want to get more community involvement in -- what else? -- Community Day.

The proposed date for the event is Oct. 14, or Oct. 15, depending on when the community band is available.

The place is the park at the township building.

Now what it needs is the people, the ideas and the will to make it happen.

If that sounds like something you would like to be part of, the next Community Day Committee meeting is May 2 at 7 p.m. at the township building.

Subsequent meetings are June 6, June 20, July 18, Aug. 8, Aug. 22 and Sept. 12.

If you would like to get involved or would like more information, call Township Manager Craig Lloyd at. 610-323-7717. 

And here are the Tweets, such as they are.

More Security, No Water/Sewer Rate Hike ... Yet

The Pottstown Borough Authority board put off discussion of a possible mid-year hike in water rates Tuesday night.

When the 2017 $6.56 million water and $9.39 million sewer budgets were adopted by the authority last October, they were adopted with the understanding that a mid-year rate hike would come in July.

At the time, hikes of 10 percent for water and 7 percent for sewer rates were expected to work out to an 8 percent hike for the average customer.

If enacted in full, the average quarterly water/sewer bill, for 7,500 gallons of water used, would increase from $165 to $178, Utilities Administrator Robert Plenderleith predicted last year.

But Plenderleith was not at Tuesday's meeting and although the matter was listed on the agenda, it was removed for discussion once the meeting began.

What the authority board did decide was to award a bid for new security measures at both the water and sewer treatment plans for $920,000 to the Silas Bolef company of Norristown.

The bid, which was the lowest, was 5 percent higher than estimates.

The company will install electronic gates that must be opened with a key card, as well as cameras and new communications wiring for new phone systems at both plants.

The access cards will allow for septic companies to unload their trucks at the plant 24 hours a day, which means more revenue for the wastewater treatment plan operation, said engineer Tom Weld.

In other significant news, the authority also made a final recommendation to borough council to update the plumbing requirements in the borough to more closely reflect the modern standards used in surrounding townships.

Championed by Authority Vice Chairman Aram Ecker, the changes are meant to make Pottstown "more business friendly," said member David Renn.

For other items from the meeting, enjoy the cornucopia of Tweets below.

Animal Control Law Adopted in Upper Pottsgrove

An ordinance under discussion since last October that penalizes animal owners for losing control of their animals was adopted unanimously by the township commissioners Monday night.

The specifics of the ordinance, which was advertised previously, were unavailable Monday night other than the responses offered by Commissioner France Krazalkovich in responding to objections by resident Erin Dickey.

Dickey, who has previously been cited by the township for problems with barking dogs, said she has chickens and roosters and worries the ordinance will restrict her ability to raise chickens.

Krazalkoich responded that the ordinance does not limit the number of animals they may have, or require they be kept penned on private property, merely that their presence not disturb others.

We'll have more on this in The Mercury once I get my hands on a copy of the ordinance, which Township Manager Carol Lewis promised to e-mail to me.

In the meantime, here are the Tweets.

McCoy-Swinehart is DAR Good Citizen of the Year

Katie McCoy-Swinehart and Daughters of the American Revolution Regent Kristine Parkes

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by the Pottstown School District

Pottstown High School Senior,Katie McCoy-Swinehart has been recognized by the local chapter of the Daughters Of The American Revolution as their Good Citizen Of The Year.

She is a member of the track and cross country teams. 

Katie is also a representative to student government and a member of the National Honor Society. S

High School Guidance Counselor Amanda Scholwinski described her as a kind young lady who is extremely reliable and dependable and has strong family ties and values. 

DAR Regent, Kristine Parkes said "It is reassuring to know that we have young people of high character like Katie to take their place as our future leaders". 

Race Against Racism in Riverfront Park

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by YWCA Tri-County Area

Lace up your sneakers for the inaugural Race Against Racism, a 5K color run and walk to raise awareness and support for racial justice programming and events by the YWCA Tri-County Area, on Saturday, April 22, at Riverfront Park in Pottstown.

Early bird registration for this fun-filled event has been extended through April 21. 

Registration fees are: $15 for students K-12, $30 for adults, and $60 for families (up to five people from the same household).

Discounts for groups of five or more are: $25 per person for adults, and $12 per person for students K-12.

Registration is available online at https://yw3carunagainstracism.eventbrite.com.

All participants will receive a T-shirt, sunglasses, a color packet, and finisher’s

medal.

Registration the morning of the race will be $15 for students, $35 for adults and $70 for families.

Runners begin the paved, mostly flat 5K (3.1 miles) course at 8:30 a.m.; walkers begin at 9 a.m.

Packet pickup begins at 7:30 a.m. at Pottstown’s Riverfront Park Trailhead, adjacent to Schuylkill River Heritage Area offices, 140 College Drive, Pottstown.

Race Against Racism is a family-friendly event with a fun color-powder twist that celebrates health, happiness, and inclusion. 

The event is held as a part of YWCA USA’s national Stand Against Racism, a signature campaign to build community among those who work for racial justice and to raise awareness about the negative impact of institutional and structural racism in our communities.

YWCA Tri-County Area (YW3CA) is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. 

YW3CA is a leader in women and girls’ advocacy, and works to eliminate racism and empower women through quality affordable childcare, adult literacy, youth development, and a host of programs to support the health and vitality of women, girls, and families.