West Pottsgrove Moving to Sell Township Pool

The West Pottsgrove Township Commissioners are moving forward with plans to sell the former Colonial Pool on Von Steuben Drive. It has not been open to the public for the last three years.

The West Pottsgrove Township Pool may not be a pool much longer.

Or, if it remains a pool, it won't be owned by the township.

The Township Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 Wednesday night on a motion to get the former Colonial Pool appraised and put on the market.

If it is not sold six months after the appraisal is received, the motion calls for the township to fill in the pool and turn the property into a park.

Voting in favor of the motion were Commissioner Mark Green, who made the motion, and Chairman Steve Miller and Vice Chairman Thomas Palladino.

Commissioners Charles Valentine and Pete LaRosa, the pool's most steadfast champion, voted against the motion.

The vote comes in the wake of a motion made last month by Green to have the property turned into a park. He subsequently said he was approached by some residents who suggested the property be sold instead, so he brought the change to the commissioners as an amendment to his original motion.

Valentine said he was recently at a dinner celebrating the anniversary of the Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation and a former official from Pottstown mentioned it was a shame West Pottsgrove's pool is closing, particularly given that Pottstown lost its pool years ago.

"Maybe there's some way we could do this regionally," said Valentine. Earlier in the year, he had suggested the township conduct a feasibility study on other ways to operate the pool for the public, but he could not muster the votes to move forward with that plan.

LaRosa, who secured the last company to agree to operate the pool -- and which shut it down mid-season in July, 2016 -- said he may have another company interested in buying the pool.

He said American Pool, the largest pool operator in the country, is part of the family of companies he works for and he recently met the CEO who said American Pool might be interested in the township pool.

"No, then a few months, or a year or two later, they leave and then we're right back where we

started," said Green. "If they want to buy it, fine, otherwise we put it up for sale."

Valentine warned that if the property is purchased by a non-profit entity, the township would get the one-time sale price, but would then lose any tax revenue that the property might have generated with a private owner.

Township Manager Craig Lloyd also pointed out that because it is public property, it must be put out to bid and cannot be sold as part of a private transaction.

Green said if the appraisal for the pool property comes back at less than $100,000, it might not even be worth selling and it would be better to just move ahead with the park plan.

Lloyd, who said the most recent inspection showed the pool to be in good shape, said he would arrange an appraisal and report back to the board as quickly as possible.

After the meeting, LaRosa told a reporter "the pool is not dead."

Operated since 1968 as a private, nonprofit community pool, the Colonial fell behind on its tax payments and finally fell victim to a combination of age, a slow economy and more homes with their own pools in their backyards.

The township paid $71,000 in back taxes and unpaid bills to take over the pool in 2010.

The township also put as least $250,000 into refurbishing the pool facility by the time it re-opened in August, 2011.

In January, Miller said he wanted a resolution for the pool, which has not been open to the public in three years, completed this year, one way or the other.

And with that, here are the Tweets from the meetingP:


Town Pool Up for Sale

Clock is Ticking on West Pottsgrove Pool Resolution

The West Pottsgrove Community Pool has not been open for the last three summers.

The clock is ticking on the fate of West Pottsgrove's beleaguered township pool.

Two weeks ago, township commissioners said they are looking for a final resolution to the township pool, formerly the Colonial Pool.

A committee has been formed and input from township residents is being sought. However, Township Manager Craig Lloyd said Wednesday night to date, no public input on the matter has been received from the township.

In the meantime, Commissioner Charles Valentine said he met with Craig Colistra, program manager for the Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation.

Valentine said he was told that the foundation cannot take over operation of the pool.

However, the township can apply for a grant for a feasibility study about pool options, or grants to pay for swim lessons, something that might help attract a potential operator.

Commissioner Mark Green, who sits on the committee with Valentine and Commissioner Pete LaRosa, the pool's most consistent champion, didn't see much benefit to that.

"We want someone to lease it or get rid of it," said Green. "Three years is long enough."

Valentine pointed out that a feasibility study might help the township find someone to take over the pool.

Operated since 1968 as a private, nonprofit community pool, the Colonial fell behind on its tax payments and finally fell victim to a combination of age, a slow economy and more homes with their own pools in their backyards.

The township paid $71,000 in back taxes and unpaid bills to take over the pool in 2010.

The township also put as least $250,000 into refurbishing the pool facility by the time it re-opened in August, 2011.

Here are the Tweets from the meeting:

Clock Ticking on Township Pool Options

Park Funding, Free Water Ice and A Bridge Closing

West Pottsgrove became the fourth of eight towns to enjoy the presentation from the Pottstown Regional Recreation Committee Wednesday.

Regional Recreation Director Michael Lane and  Craig Colistra, program officer with the Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation, outline the position's accomplishments over the last five years.

Chief among those was obtaining $1.6 million in grants out of $1.9 million sought. West Pottsgrove's share of that grant money is about $140,000, much of it spent in Murgia Park, all for an investment of about $25,000 over five years.

Craig Colistra, standing, program officer with the Pottstown
Area 

health and Wellness Foundation and Regional Recreation
Director 

Michael Lane, seated, addressed the
West Pottsgrove Commissioners 

Wednesday night about
renewing the regional recreation director position.

Lane, who was also recently certified as a playground inspector, surveyed the township's three playgrounds for free and recently submitted suggestions for upgrades and safety improvements, some of which the public works department has already begun work upon, said Township Manager Craig Lloyd.

A project of six of the eight towns that comprise the Pottstown Metropolitan Area Regional Planning Committee, the regional recreation effort here has been declared by the state to be the "most collaborative" it has helped fund in Pennsylvania.

but with that state funding going away in August, 2019, and the health and wellness foundation committing to picking up 50 percent of the cost, the township's share may go up to about $8,000 a year unless East Coventry and New Hanover also decide to join up.

Grosstown Road bridge construction in November, 2017.

Lane said last night that East Coventry seem interested and New Hanover will see their presentation at tonight's supervisor's meeting.

Police chief Matt Stofflet also announced that the police will make their second round of offering free water ice to township residents on the Kona Water Ice truck on the evening of Tuesday, Aug. 7, so keep an eye out for the truck.

(Read about the first round by clicking here.)

Also, Lloyd announced that the recently opened Grosstown Road bridge over Mantawny Creek will
be closed from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Aug. 13 to Aug. 24 to put the finishing touches on the bridge, including paving, pavement marking and guardrails.

The new Grosstown Road bridge after it was opened to traffic.

The bridge opened to traffic in December.

The meeting also ran on a bit longer than normal as the commissioners went into closed-door executive session to discuss personnel.

When they came out, they voted unanimously to accept the resignation of police secretary Ruth Smith, as well as to hire an additional part-time officer. They also voted to advertise both positions.

And now, without further ado, here are the Tweets from the meeting.

Parks, Free Water ice and Bridge Closings

West Pottsgrove Board Votes for Fair Districts

Photo by Evan Brandt

Chuck and Ruth Yeiser made a presentation to the West Pottsgrove Commissioners Wednesday night on behalf of Fair Districts PAon the need for a Constitutional amendment to take the drawing of Congressional and state House and Senate district lines out of the hands of the politicians who benefit from their gerrymandering and put it into the hands of a non-partisan citizens commission. 

When the founders wrote the U.S. Constitution, they envisioned voters picking their elected representatives, not the other way around.

But as the recent lawsuit over the drawing of Congressional district lines in Pennsylvania, and the subsequent re-drawing of the map by the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court have show, it's a problem.

And while that court decision, and its political ramifications, have grabbed headlines for the past two

months, it does not solve the problem, said Chuck Yeiser, who spokle to the West Pottsgrove Township Commissioners Wednesday on behalf of the organization Fair Districts PA.

When the 2020 Census rolls around, the process will remain the same, except instead of the Republicans controlling the process and drawing districts that help keep Republicans in office, it will be the Democrats turn, thanks to the new majority on the Supreme Court, Yeiser said.

What would be better, he said, noting that former President Ronald Reagan agrees with him, would be a system by which the districts are drawn by those who do not have a stake in the outcome -- a non-partisan citizens commission that is representative of the state, rather than the five middle-aged white guys who did it last time.

This map shows how Democrat-leaning areas of West Pottsgrove and

Pottstown have been divided among three separate state House
districts, 

thus "diluting your voices with more rural areas."

Yeiser explained to the commissioners that West Pottsgrove and the neighboring Pottstown
community had been "cracked" by gerrymandering in order to split and diminish their influence.

(Historical trivia: "Gerrymandering" comes from the 1800s when Massachusetts Gov. Elbridge Gerry, a signatory to the Constitution, allowed a district to his benefit that many said looked like a salamander -- thus Gerry-mander. And now back to our regularly scheduled program.)

As if our elected ethically-challenged leaders in Harrisburg were not already tempted enough to design districts that best fit their needs -- now easier than ever with hair-splitting computer efficiency -- there is a lot of big money involved, Yeiser explained.

Both Republicans and Democrats have formed political action committees raising obscene amounts of cash to try to get control of the process in Pennsylvania for two reasons; one, to try to get (or keep) control of Congress and two, because its so damn easy in Pennsylvania.

Yeiser said the Center for Public Integrity gives Pennsylvania an F when it comes to campaign finance law. "If you want to spend money to influence an election, Pennsylvania is the place to do it," Yeiser said.

This is how gerrymandering districts can produce winners for one party, even when they are in the minority.

"Many of the things we care about cannot be accomplished without a functioning democracy," said Yeiser. "Until we fix a gridlocked system, we cannot make progress on things that matter."

To make matters more difficult, it takes bills passed in two consecutive sessions of the Legislature, and a state-wide vote, to change the state Constitution. And while a bill that would do what Fair Districts has proposed, and has a majority of co-sponsors in the House has sat in the State Government Committee without a hearing for months, it was recently acted upon -- badly.

That's when the chairman, Darryl Metcalfe, a Republican from the western part of the state, not only moved it, but gutted it, giving the legislature even more power to draw district lines because, you know, that worked out so well the last time.

Yeiser said State Rep. Marcy Toepel, R-147th Dist., who represents West Pottsgrove, had wanted hearings on the bill and although she has not said she opposes it, she has also not co-sponsored it.

They were scheduled to meet with Toepel and state Sen. Robert Mensch, R-24th Dist., who also represents West Pottsgrove, today to discuss the problem. Yeiser said it would be helpful to attend that meeting with a resolution from West Pottsgrove, supporting the citizens commission amendment to show both officials their constituents support this bill.

They got what they asked for. With Commissioner Mark Green absent, the board voted 3-1 to adopt the resolution, joining more than 200 others across the state.

Commissioners Chairman Steve Miller cast the dissenting vote, "based just on your presentation," but said he might support it later.

Here are the Tweets from the meeting:

West Pottsgrove Commissioner Gentile Resigns

Photos by Evan Brandt

West Pottsgrove Commissioners Vice Chairman Thomas Palladino, left, presents a plaque to Commissioner Dominic Gentile, whose resignation was announced during Wednesday's meeting.

The resignation of West Pottsgrove Township Commissioner Dominic Gentile was announced during Wednesday night's extremely brief workshop meeting.

The meeting lasted only eight minutes, and was absent two commissioners and the township manager, but it was long enough for Vice Chairman Thomas Palladino to read Gentile's letter of resignation.

You can hear it here:


If you're not much for video, in his letter, Gentile wrote that "at this time it appears to be necessary to reside near family. This will take us to Florida."

He thanked those in the township for all he has learned, and wrote "my wishes for the township are for both prosperity and harmony."

"I shall also miss the very pleasant place where I live," he concluded.

Gentile's resignation does not become effective until Nov. 30.

Gentile enjoyed his cake.

That means the commissioners have 30 days from then to appoint a replacement.

There are still two years left on Gentile's term, so whomever is appointed will fill the remainder of that term.

Palladino said the township is asking those interested in being appointed to replace Gentile to submit their names in writing, preferably accompanied by a letter outlining the applicants skill set and why they would make a good township commissioner, to the township building at 980 Grosstown Road.

Gentile's cake highlighted his love of fishing.

After the meeting, which lasted a whole eight minutes long, was completed, those in attendance feted Gentile with a cake with a fisherman on it, and two kinds of ice cream.

This reporter, who is (vainly) trying to watch his weight as the holidays approach, held firm in declining the sweets....

Here are the few Tweets from the eight-minute meeting ...

Community Day, Route 422 Plans Coming Together

Photo by Evan Brandt

When the Oct. 14, 2017 date for West Pottsgrove Community Day gets closer, expect to see these reminders posted in prominent locations around town.

The commissioners workshop meeting last night lasted only about 30 minutes, but produce three things of interest to township residents, as well as drivers of Route 422.

First, as you probably already read in The Mercury, the next phase of rthe Route 422 rehabilitation begins this month and will, among other things, result in the speed limit from Stowe to River Bridge Road being reduced, and for the closure of the Stowe offramps at Grosstown Road at different points, sometimes for as long as 170 days.

Much depends on the weather, said Township Manager Craig Lloyd and Police Chief Matthew Stofflet.

Second, if you were confused by your trash bill, don't be. Although the new Waste Management bills break out the cost of recycling, West Pottsgrove residents always paid for recycling, the old bills just didn't show it, said Lloyd.

Lastly, the attractions for the upcoming Community Day in October have been more clearly spelled out, as you can see in the Tweets below.

Giant Zombie Liquor Licenses in West Pottsgrove

You may soon be able to buy beer and wine at the Giant Supermarket in Upland Square.

Last night the West Pottsgrove Township Commissioners were informed that the application has been made and that a public hearing will be held at the start of the April 5 commissioner's meeting.

Township Solicitor Joseph Bresnan Giant "has been very aggressive" in pursuing liquor licenses since it was legalized last year.

Last month, Giant received permission to sell beer and wine at a store in Phoenixville.

He said the company plans to have a restaurant inside the supermarket that will serve beer, and to sell beer and wine for take-out.

"Basically, they're trying to copy Wegman's," he said of the large supermarket in Upper Providence off Route 29.

Because the state has control over liquor licenses and parcels them out, they often can only be transferred from one entity to another, although ones that fall dormant are called "zombie licenses."

It is not clear which kind Giant is pursuing for Upland Square, but I will try to find out.

Also of interest last night was some clarity on the situation with the West End Fire Co.

Fire Company President Lori Eckman, who is also a lieutenant in the fire police, said the bar room at the firehouse closed last August because it was no longer profitable.

The fire company's operating budget is about $62,000 a year and that money will now have to be collected through fundraisers, said Township Manager Craig Lloyd.

There are between 30 and 35 active members currently and the finances of the company are currently being sorted out and consolidated.

Lloyd said several years ago, the township helped with the purchase of a new fire truck, and so scaled back on its annual contribution to the fire company.

Lloyd says the township also helps by paying for the fire company's worker compensation and liability insurance.

West Pottsgrove has no designated fire tax and so the amount and level with which the township gets involved in the fire company's finances is at the discretion of the township commissioners each year, Lloyd said.

More recently, it paid for the purchase of about $12,000 worth of hose and is involved in the purchase of new air-pacs which will ultimately cost as much as $125,000.

The township has offered to make the first year's payments, although that amount is not yet settled because the length of the payment plan has not been decided and the payments are related to the length of the plan.

That is why "discuss fire company payments" continues to appear on the commissioners agenda in the past few months.

The commissioners agree to consult with the fire company leadership about which payments they would prefer to take on before making a decision.

Of Authorities and Baseball Fields in West Pottsgrove

So when you forget what day of the week it is, it can impede on your ability to show up at the right place at the right time/

And so it was this Wednesday night, which, for reasons that cannot be explained, I thought was Thursday night.

Corrected about my location in the time/space continuum, I hustled over to West Pottsgrove to arrive in the middle of a discussion about the formation of a water/sewer authority there.

Probably the most prickly issue revolved around the use of the township baseball field behind the township building on Grosstown Road.

In addition to the usual, and once exclusive use, by the Pottsgrove Little League, a former Little League coach named Eric Miller has formed a travel team called the West End Predators that also wants to use the field.

Miller has done extensive work on the field to address drainage problems he sees there, while Tye Kivela, president of the Little League, seemed dubious about the need for the work.

Township commissioners seemed determined not to favor Miller because of the work he was doing to their field, but at the same time did not want to pick a favorite and urged both organizations to reach an understanding.

They did agree on a schedule, which the commissioners ultimately adopted, but Kivela continued to advocate for the Predators finding another location to play most of their games.

Here are the Tweets from the meeting that I could send out to the outside world:

No Tax Hike in West Pottsgrove, Sewer Hike Possible

One thing that has become painfully clear about covering West Pottsgrove Commissioner meetings is that my data service does not like the location.

As such, it is often difficult and, Wednesday night, impossible, to live Tweet the meetings.

So, if you can bear it, you will just have to read your way through a much more conventional report on the meeting.
But enough about me and my troubles, let's get to the news, and the news is .... no tax hike to 2016, but there may be a $36 sewer fee hike.

Township Manager Ed Whetstone delivered both the township budget and sewer budget reports Wednesday night, and while the general fund budget elicited little comment from the commissioners, the announcement of a $9 per quarter hike in the fee charged to pay capital costs for work at the Pottstown Wastewater Treatment Plant did draw a reaction from Commissioner Thomas Palladino.

Palladino made a point of noting that the increased sewer fee "is not written in stone," but Whetstone urged the commissioners to adopt it.

"We didn't adopt it last year and if we keep avoiding it, it is just going to put us into a deeper hole," he said.

The general fund budget figures call for spending $2,974,918, which is $81,000 less than the 2015 budget, Whetstone said.

The budget will be balanced by using $1,561,998 of the township's surplus fund, built up over the years of by tipping fees charged during the operation of the Pottstown Landfill.

Whetstone said that fund will stand at about $18 million at the end of 2015.

The sewer fund calls for spending $1,329,885 in 2016, which includes paying $120,000 to the borough for repairs and upgrades at the sewer treatment plant, money that will be funded, in part, by the $36 increase.

It also calls for spending $125,000 to upgrade two township pump stations, about $70,000 of which will be spent at the station on Old Reading Pike.

Another $241,380 is budgeted to pay for sending the township's sewage to the Pottstown plant for treatment.

Old Reading Pike Bridge

The first thing with which the commissioners grappled Wednesday night was the news that there is no intention to replace the Old Reading Pike Bridge over the Norfolk Southern tracks that connections West High Street to Grosstown Road.

Whetstone told the commissioners that the county, the railroad and the Public Utilities had reached this conclusion, in part, because all those road systems can still be accessed from Grosstown Road.

Although the commissioners expressed dismay at the news, none of them wanted to get involved because "the last time we faced this issue, we wound up owning a new bridge," as Palladino put it.

"Most people have adjusted to the change since that bridge closed," Whetstone said in characterizing the reasoning of the officials from the county , the railroad and the PUC.

"I say, let the county, the railroad and the PUC fight over it," Palladino said.

Railroad Stop

Whetstone also informed the commissioners that the township's plans for a bridge over Manatawny Creek to connect Ralph Murgia Park to the proposed stop on the Colebrookdale Railroad will require a change.

The railroad has changed its mind about where the stop will be, he said.

Instead, the railroad plan to consider a stop closer to Pottstown, near to the Sly Fox Brewery on Circle of Progress, and to its maintenance facility near the old Davis Brothers scrapyard.

The township already has a $7,500 grant to pay for a new bridge, but at the old location, said Whetstone.

There is also another $166,000 in grants the township is pursuing.

The commissioners said they may want both bridges, one that crosses the outfall from Dandy Dam, separating two portions of Murgia Park, as well as a bridge across Manatawny Creek to connect with the railroad.

Road Work

Whetstone also reported that School Lane and an adjacent alley, between Rice and Lemon streets, will be paved with the help of a grant of between $75,000 and $90,000.

Smoke Testing

Whetstone reported that the township also performed some smoke testing of the township sewer system, last week to identify places where there may be gaps in the system.

"I don't have the full report yet, but there were some areas of concern," Whetstone said.

"Palladino and Commissioners Chairman Steve Miller both noted that samoke was everywhere around the township.

"We put some in at the top of Roberts Drive and it was coming out on Berks Street," said Palladino.

"You could see it coming out of people chimneys," said Miller. "Some of the sidewalks were even smoking."

Baseball Fields

The commissioners also heard from represenatives of Pottsgrove Little League, who expressed concerns about plans for a travel team using the township field and how it might affect their use of it.

The commissioners said no changes can be made to the field without their permission, and they would prefer to see peaceful co-existence between the two groups.

Road Work, Park Contest and a 'Respectful' Refusal

Photo by Evan Brandt

This sign at the park and ballfield at the township building explains 

how people can help the township win $10,000 to make improvements.

Wednesday night's meeting of the board of commissioners was quick but fruitful.

As the headline suggests, several items related to driving were dealt with and the Pottstown Area Heath and Wellness Foundation's parks contest was outlined as well.

To the roads -- the commissioners voted to remove the High Street traffic light at Flagg Lane.

Necessary when workers were pouring out of the Flagg Brass plant at the end of their shift, the light now serves no real purpose.

Township Manager Ed Whetstone said it took PennDOT months to produce a 64-page report to approve the removal of the signal.

Township Solicitor Lee Mescolotto joked that "it only took a five-page report to put in in the first place."

Whetstone also reported that turning lanes will be added to High Street at the Grosstown Road intersection, the site of many recent accidents, by the end of October. Also, the flashing lights at West Pottsgrove Elementary School have been installed and will be active shortly, and plans are underway to to work on the Grosstown Road bridge over the Manatawny next year.

Whetstone also reported that the Gambone organization has plans to develop the 20 acres opposite Upland Square, including a hotel, big box store, restaurant and gas station.

Commissioner Charles Valentine outlined the Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation parks contest works and urged residents to visit the park near the township building and vote using their smart phones to have a chance at the $10,000 first prize, to be used to improve the park.

And finally, Whetstone read a letter from Pottstown Borough Council President Stephen Toroney 'respectfully' refusing the request from the Lower, Upper and West Pottsgrove commissioners seeking one seat on the Pottstown Borough Authority.

"This is not the end of this," Whetstone said.

Without further ado, here are the Tweets from the meeting. As always, connectivity was a problem, so there might not be as many as you're used to .... but perhaps that's a blessing.

What's In the Water in West Pottsgrove?

So the West Pottsgrove Pool is closed again.

"What's that?" you ask. "But I thought they just voted to open it."

They did, after they voted to close it. Then they voted to open it.

But now, with the last vote, they closed it.

It's closed because of a 2-2 vote on the contract for the company they approved last time with a 2-1 vote.

Yeah, you read that right.

Oh yeah, and Commissioners President Pete LaRosa resigned.

Really.

But wait! not from the board, he said in a later call; only as president.

Sorry for the misunderstanding.

Here's video of his statement, you can decide for yourself what conclusion you would reach.




West Pottsgrove used to be such a sleepy little town.

Here are the Tweets from last night's meeting

To Pool or Not to Pool, That Was the Question

About 30 people showed up to participate in Thursday night's discussion about opening the township pool.

Township commissioners voted 2-1 Thursday night to open the township pool on June 13.

About 30 people attended the meeting and some spoke in favor of opening the pool and others said the township could not afford it.

It is the second time the commissioners have voted on the matter, but this time the result was the opposite of the first vote, when a 2-1 vote was to close the pool.

And like the first time, on March 16, two commissioners were absent.

Commissioner Rock D’Emilio was not at either meeting and commissioners Charles Valentine and Thomas Palladino were at both meetings.

The variance between the two meetings is Commissioner Steve Miller, who voted to close the pool last month; and Commissioners President Pete LaRosa, who missed the March 16 meeting to watch over a dying relative, but who voted in favor of opening the pool Thursday night.

In fact, the vote Thursday night was a result of LaRosa’s advocacy for opening the pool and he

scheduled the special meeting to re-consider the matter.

The matter revolved entirely around money.

Palladino said he was a cheerleader for purchasing the pool in 2010. “I thought it was a great idea,” he said.

But since then, the pool has lost money every year. “It’s an economic nightmare.”

Since it was purchased, the township has spent $914,932.98 on the pool, Palladino said.

Proponents of the pool, did not dispute the amount spent.

“There’s nothing we can do about that now,” said LaRosa.

Rather, they argued that the contract they approved last night would help to turn the corner on the pool’s finances.

The contract with Bennington Pool Services will cost taxpayers $32,759, although company resident Matt McMaster told the board that his company would pay for chemicals and pay to open and close the pool, which is a cost of about $10,000.

The snack bar will be run, and the profit earned kept, by the Pottsgrove Little League under the plan.

Bennington will provide lifeguards and marketing through social media and the township will spend $4,900 to have a township employee watch the gate, under the plan approved.

“The best thing we ever did was buy the pool,” said LaRosa. “The worst thing we ever did was try to run the pool.”

But as far as Michelle Kazmierczak is concerned, the worst thing the commissioners may have done is reconsider the decision to close the pool.

Kazmierczak was among the most vocal opponents of re-opening the pool.

“We’re not even close to breaking even on the pool,” she said. “Is it fiscally responsible to keep doing this? It doesn’t make any sense.”

Lorraine Antonio said she is a lifelong township resident and said she enjoyed the pool when it was the privately run Colonial Pool Club.

“But I can’t afford the taxes now,” she said. “We have to watch what we’re doing here or this pool will bankrupt the township.”

Scott Allen from East Coventry, said he used the pool and found it “very clean and modern looking. I was impressed. I was thinking of joining this year.”

Stowe resident Colleen Sullivan said the pool is “a great place for families and kids.”

Looking at some of the older residents who said they enjoyed the pool but can no longer afford tax increase, Sullivan said “the families who live here now want to make the same kind of memories you made with your children.”

The problem, said Palladino, is that West Pottsgrove’s population is “70 percent senior citizens” and that demographic is not enough to support the pool.

Which is why, LaRosa said, the pool needs to be marketed to those outside town.

McMaster said that could be done by offering extras, such as yoga, “mommie and me” swim classes and coffee and cards events geared toward seniors.

“I want to do whatever I can to make this work over the long-term,” McMaster said.

(My Twitter feed, always slow in this township building, gave up the ghost about halfway through the meeting, so here are the Tweets that made it into the Twitterverse before I had to go old school and pull out a pen.)

A Quickie

Last night's Township Commissioners' meeting was swift and uneventful.

It didn't last more than 20 minutes despite the fact that both President Rock D'Emilio and Vice President Pete LaRosa were absent.

The budget was adopted, it does not raise taxes or sewer rates, and every one was on their way.

Here are the Tweets, few though they may be.

No Tax Hike, No Sewer Rate Hike in West Pottsgrove

Fuzzy Photo by Evan Brandt

Board President Rock D'Emilio was absent, so the meeting was run by Vice President Pete LaRosa, seen here in white shirt, ran the meeting.

Add West Pottsgrove to the list of townships that are producing budgets that do not raise taxes or, in this case, sewer fees.

In December, the commissioners are likely to adopt a $3,062,788 general fund budget and a $1,114,375 sewer budget that will neither raise property taxes, thus keeping the 2.5 mills tax rate; nor the sewer rate.

One of the big cost items that the commissioners are trying to get ahead of is "inflow and infiltration," which is the penetration of the sanitary sewer system by stormwater or groundwater.

The other point of intense discussion had to do with the cost associated with helping to pay the township's share of capital projects at the Pottstown Wastewater Treatment Plant which, not so coincidentally, is tied to stormwater infiltration and inflow.

Here are the Tweets from Wednesday night's work session.