Toroney Says Goodbye, Thanks 'Most Valued Pottstownians,' Takes Veiled Shot at Ex-Councilman

Monday night was a night for closure in Pottstown politics.

The $59 million budget was adopted, a budget that does not raise taxes.

The 10.311 mill tax rate was adopted.

Police were promoted; the police chief, police captain and borough manager were all given raises.

And Steve Toroney, outgoing Pottstown Borough Council President, finally had his final say.

Here is the first 21 minutes, before my phone filled up, but I got most of it:




The quick review is Toroney thanked those he appreciated, left out those he chose not to thank, and saved particular "thanks" for bloggers, and other social media types who called for him to be fired.

He singled out a particular former councilman who resigned just months into a second term and is known for saying "fight when you're right" for special "thanks."

However, even after the meeting, Toroney declined to specify who he meant, perhaps cognizant of the threat, or rather "promise" he made in his speech; that once his is no longer a public official, all those "Fire Toroney" signs around Pottstown could be the subject of harassment charges.

His speech aside, there were other newsworthy events -- like a $3,600 raise for Borough Manager Mark Flanders and a presentation about a farmer's market planned to open in Pottstown this spring.

Yup, it was a busy meeting, and it all awaits you amid the Tweets, links and other YouTube videos that await those bold enough to wade into the Storify down below.

Steve Toroney Begins the Long Goodbye

Photos by Evan Brandt
Pottstown Mayor Sharon Thomas congratulates Council President
Stephen Toroney on his 17 years of service on council Wednesday.

December is more than just the season for holidays, presents and Christmas carols.

December is also when people say good-bye, particularly elected officials and public employees who are retiring at the end of the year.

And so it was Wednesday night, when borough council presented a proclamation thanking water plant assistant manager Clifford Craft for his 39 years of service to the borough.

(Video of the presentation to Craft is embedded in the Tweets below.)

Then it was Tax Collector Barbara Toroney's turn, who got a thank you (delivered by her husband) for 10 years of service to the borough, a proclamation that ended with a kiss (also delivered by her husband.)

"It's not often you get to kiss your tax collector," Toroney joked.

Here's video of that presentation:



Then it was Toroney's turn, as Mayor Sharon Thomas read a proclamation thanking him for his 17 years of service on Pottstown Borough Council.



As he has been saying for several months, Toroney promised some interesting comments on his part at his last meeting of the year, quoting radio icon Paul Harvey by saying he will present "the rest of the story."

But it was more than just goodbyes Wednesday night.

The latest proposed configuration of buildings for the corner of
South Hanover Street and Industrial Highway.

Council was also informed of the latest version of plans for the commercial portion of the former Mrs. Smith's Pies site along South Hanover Street.

It now consists of three buildings, made necessary by the large and very necessary sewer pipe which cuts across the property and down Industrial Highway on its final leg of the journey to the wastewater treatment plant.

Council will vote Monday on whether to support the variance before the zoning hearing board to allow the project to move forward after 10 years of waiting.

There was also some discussion of the closing of The Very Best hot dog shop, and Mayor Sharon Thomas had a few things to say about that.

Here's video of her comments:



And there was other stuff too, and you can find out all about that in the Tweets from the meeting pasted below ...