Council Speeds Through Costly Agenda in 25 Minutes

There is often an element of surprise at any public meeting.

Sure the agenda looks boring, but you never know when something newsworthy might happen.

Or not.

Monday night was an "or not" night.

There were a number of important issues on which votes were taken, but they were all unanimous and all what everything thought they would be.

Any number of headlines from Wednesday night's work session could have sparked some kind of public discussion.

But they didn't.

For example, how about the $1.1 million pension hike that will make avoiding any kind of tax hike in the coming budget next to impossible?

Nope.

Maybe the need to seek a half-million grant to shore up the stormwater arches slowly crumbling beneath the buildings and streets of the town?

Nada.

Spending $64,925 on a second consultant in 10 years to try to straighten out Pottstown's financial underpinings?

No comment.

And so it went.

The only moment of interest came when resident Jane Hospador complained about the 3 percent permit fee charged for her to improve her property and put new siding on her house. She said Council Vice President Carol Kulp expressed shock at the fees, she said. Council President Dan Weand said the borough would provide a break-down of what the fees cover.

Council did vote, unanimously of course, to hire two new police officers to replace two who are expected to retire shortly. In all, Chief Michael Markovich said last week, he expects to lose six officers by the end of 2019, so expect more hiring.

In other police-related matters, council unanimously made a fifth addendum to the contract of Police Captain Robert Thomas.

There had been a provision that said if he moved, he had to move within 10 miles of the borough, but last night's vote removed even that provision, said Borough Manager Justin Keller, who also benefited from the removal of a clause requiring him to live in the borough.

Here are the Tweets from the meeting, what few there are:

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