More Merger Mania

Mercury Photo shamelessly filched from John Strickler

Unhappy Phillies firefighters pack Monday night's borough council meeting.

I could tell you that lots of things happened at last night's borough council meeting, and it would be true.

For example, council made quick work of deciding against withdrawing its opposition to the proposal to open a boarding house for vets in the rectory and convent of the former St. Peter's Catholic Church on South Street.

It should be noted, however, that even if the Higher Ground Church International does not get its variances, it can still house six people in each building. The variance is simply asking for permission to exceed that limit because there is more space, and also to allow some of the rooms there to be 20 square feet smaller than required in the ordinance.

But let's face it, the big news was the ever-more-dire brinksmanship between the borough and the Philadelphia Steam Fire Company No. 1, known to you and I as the Phillies.

Here is the video of what Council President Stephen Toroney read at last night's meeting:


Borough council did not blink, and took the next step forward, authorizing Borough Solicitor Charles D. Garner Jr. to prepare changes to the ordinance and fire services agreement that would allow for consolidation -- with or without the Phillies.

Without the Phillies, however, the borough will lose more than 50 percent of their firefighters as that is the company with the most volunteers.

Deadline day is March 31. That's when either the Phillies join the consolidated department, or the borough removes authorization for them to respond to fires in Pottstown.

Toroney says the other three companies have assured the borough that fire safety will not be compromised with only half its department responding, which leads one to wonder:
1) Why they needed so many volunteers in the first place, if they can see no loss in service with half as many?:
2) And how do the remaining companies intend to boost volunteerism after allowing the only company increasing its volunteer base to walk away?

But hey, I'm just a journalist. What do I know? I just ask questions.

Click here to read the story in today's paper from last night's meeting.

Here are the Tweets:

No Urge to Merge

Photo by Evan Brandt

Many members of the Phillies Fire Co. turned out for

Wednesday night's borough council meeting.

Pottstown Borough Council made its way through a fairly hefty agenda Wednesday night with relative speed.

The first big item on the agenda were a presentation from Higher Ground Church International regarding their application to open a boarding house for veterans in the rectory and convent of the former St. Peter's Church.

But his presentation was similar to the neighborhood meeting held last night in the rectory and, as faithful readers of this blog, you already know most of what is relevant because you read about it in yesterday's post.

If not, you may have read about it in today's Mercury.

The other big item may not have been on your radar screen is the pending consolidation of the fire companies and the Phillies refusal to take part.

As a result, as of March 31, the Phillies, with about 50 percent of all the borough's volunteer fire fighters, will not be permitted to fight fires in Pottstown.

Look for your fire insurance costs to increase.

We covered the story live, so you may have seen it in today's Mercury.

But if not, I have embedded a video here of some of the comments made by local attorney Doug Breidenbach who spoke on behalf of the Phillies, who showed up silently in force in the audience Wednesday night.



In brief, he told council that the reasons provided by the borough for consolidation are not adequate and that although it may be necessary in the future, it isn't now.

Not only are there currently enough volunteers, but keeping the current system as long as possible is staving off the potential necessity of a paid fair company and every year the current system remains saves taxpayers money.

Neither Borough Manager Mark Flanders not anyone on council responded to his remarks.

Anyway, here are the Tweets.

Getting to Know the Neighbors

Photo by Evan Brandt

The former St. Peter's Church, has been purchased by a 

Conshohocken church named Higher Ground International.

The pastor and members of Higher Ground Church International, which has purchased the former St. Peter's Church and school on South Street, met with neighbors Tuesday night to assuage fears that the Conshohocken-based church plans to open a homeless shelter or boarding house.

Well actually, they do want to open a boarding house, two in fact; one in the former convent and one in the former rectory.

But rather than house homeless or random people off the street, the plan is to have one-year leases and specialize in housing veterans, Pastor Steve Martin told the dozen or so neighbors who accepted the church's invitation circulated Sunday in the neighborhood.

A Frequently-Asked-Questions sheet answered many of the neighborhoods questions before they were asked, but the group kept Martin busy answering questions for about 90 minutes nevertheless.

Most of the answers to those questions can be found in the Tweets below.