Groff Thanked for 28 Years With Phillies Fire Co.

Photo by Evan Brandt

Joe Groff, right, is congratulated by Pottstown Borough Council President Dan Weand Wednesday night upon his retirement as chief of the Phillies Fire Company. Looking on are Fire Chief Frank Hand, left, and Borough Manager Justin Keller. Groff has volunteered with the fire company for 28 years.

Nothing stood out as blockbuster news at last night's Pottstown Borough Council meeting -- unless, of course, your name is Joe Groff.

Groff, who this month marks 28 years volunteering with the Phillies Fire Company, retired as the company's fire chief in December. Last night, he was recognized by a borough council resolution and hearty hand shake from Council President Dan Weand.

Here's video of the resolution being read:




Groff will be replaced in the chief's position by Chad Quinter, but will continue to volunteer with the Phillies as the safety officer.

The rest of the meeting was a little of this, a little of that.

Lydia Messinger, the executive director of Boyertown Multi-Service was on-hand to report on the agency's re-opening of the Ricketts Community Center last month.,

Jocelyn Charles, new Ricketts director.

She said visitors jumped from about 20 the first day to 68 by the end of the week. The center has been repainted, new safety equipment installed and a dance floor installed in the back room.

Summer programming is now being planned and the center is looking for volunteers to help run
programs, Messinger said.

The Pottstown Ministerium will host an open house/meet and greet on Thursday, Feb. 13, from 2 to 6 p.m. at the center and all are welcome. 

But of course readers of The Mercury already know that as we reported it Tuesday, along with the news that a new director has been hired for the center.

Borough Manager Justin Keller announced that a new finance director has been hired to replace Janice Lee, who is retiring. But I'm afraid I didn't quite catch the name, so you'll have to wait on that information until I get it right.

Of perhaps more interest, at least to residents of Johnson Street, was Keller's update on complaints about a homeowner with seven dogs, and the conditions in which they're living and how those conditions impact neighbors.

Keller said inspections by the SPCA found the dogs healthy and conditions for their care adequate, however Keller said the homeowner has also agreed to allow the borough to make spot inspections without warning.

Further, he said the local district justice has agreed that the homeowner will no longer receive warnings from the borough, but be cited immediately any time there is a problem. "We've been before the judge six times with this property," said Keller.

Keller also said that developers have expressed an interest in the "Hess lot," site of a former gas station, at the corner of South Hanover Street and College Drive. 

Long vacant, the site sits at the "southern gateway" to the borough. Keller said rather than simply put the property, which the borough owns, up for bid, that it instad may be conveyed to the Pottstown Area Industrial Development agency, which can in turn turn the property over to a developer who has proposed a use that fits with the borough's vision for that gateway.

Also on the development front, a couple who has successfully rehabilitated at least two residential properties in town has asked council to waive the need for a conditional use hearing to convert a vacant warehouse at the corner of North York and Walnut streets into four market-rate apartments.

A vote on this and other items could come as soon as Monday's council meeting.

Council will wait until March to vote on a proposed franchise agreement with Comcast to provide cable TV service in the borough. As currently proposed, the deal with be 10 years long.

Council will also consider a number of changes to borough ordinances designed to make things easier on homeowners. They include making it easier to own an inflatable "storable" pool; for homeowners to do their own plumbing repairs; and to eliminate parking requirements in the zoning code for existing buildings in the downtown area.

The Colebrookdale Railroad will apply for a $200,000 Montco 2040 grant, on behalf of the borough, to construct pedestrian improvements for crossing King Street between Pottsgrove Manor and the new rail station being built in Memorial Park.

The railroad will provide the 20 percent match, but the project is contingent on approval from PennDOT, since King Street is also state Route 663.

And with that, click here to see all the Tweets from last night's meeting, misspellings and all.

National Night Out Set for Aug. 1 at Pocket Park

The event will again be held at the neighborhood park Washington and Chestnut streets.

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by Genesis Housing Corp.

Genesis Housing Corporation and the Victory Christian Life Center are pleased to announce that the annual National Night Out Community Block Party will be held on the first Tuesday in August, Tuesday, Aug. 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Chestnut Street Park located on Washington and Chestnut Streets, in Pottstown.

The event will promote neighborhood spirit, community partnership, law enforcement and residents for a safer Pottstown at a free community block party filled with family fun, music, games, info and food. Come out and meet your neighbors at the Chestnut Street Park. (Rain or Shine). 

The event kicks off with DJ dance music and great community information. There will be free food – hot dogs, hamburgers, nacho chips, water ice, soft drinks and more. The Phillies Fire Company is bringing a fire truck and will be providing a water spray demo.

Be a part of Pottstown’s National Night Out to learn about businesses and non-profit agencies in the area. This year’s participating groups include Art Fusion, BB&T, Genesis Housing, Grace Lutheran Church, Habitat Montco, Harris Family, Hobart’s Run, Pottstown Human Relations, Maternal and Child Health of Chester County, Maternity Care Coalition: Early Head Start, Matt Green - Glocker Realty, Mosaic Community Land Trust, Pottstown Cluster, Victory Christian Life Center, Women’s Center and YWCA Tri-County.

The National Night Out Community Block Party is funded, in part, by BB&T Bank and the Pottstown Neighborhood Partnership. 

More information is available by calling Victory Christian Life Center at 484-941-0693 or Genesis Housing Corporation at 610-275-4357.

Since 1994, Genesis Housing Corporation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has served Montgomery County as a community housing development organization (CHDO) and is dedicated to the development of affordable housing, neighborhood revitalization and the education of consumers on housing and financial issues.

For more information about Genesis Housing Corporation, our programs and housing counseling classes, please visit our website at www.genesishousing.org, email at info@genesishousing.org, visit us on Facebook or call 610-275-4357.

Police Promotion, Lifesaving Awards Kick Off 2017

Photos by Evan Brandt

Pottstown Police Officer Zachary Robinson, second from left, and Cpl. Steve Morrisey, are flanked by Pottstown Police Captain Robert Thomas and Chief Rick Drumheller, as well as Police Chaplain Everett Debnam, right, after receiving commendations for reviving a North Hanover Street man on Nov. 12.

Although there was a lot on the agenda of Wednesday night's borough council meeting, it was nice to start the year off with two positive police stories.

The first we will relate here is the tale that began on Nov. 12 when officer Zachary  Robinson arrived at 331 N. Hanover St. to find George Weller collapsed half in and half out of the door of apartment 29.

Weller was blue, not breathing and had no pulse.

Robinson immediately began providing oxygen and chest compression, but because of where the victim was located, had to stand over him, straddling him in the doorway.

When Corporal Steve Morrisey arrived, and saw Robinson was tiring, he stepped in and relieved him until medical help arrived. They were later informed Weller had regained a pulse, due in part to their efforts.

Police Chief Rick Drumheller said both officers' uniforms will now bear a badge indicating they have saved a life, although Morrisey's will have a star in the center because it is the second time he has performed that service.

Police Officer Todd Istenes, on the other hand, was on hand Wednesday to receive a different change to his uniform -- some stripes on his sleeve -- specifically, to be promoted to corporal.

Newly minted Pottstown Police Corporal Todd Istenes, in blue shirt,
is 

flanked by Capt. Robert Thomas, Chief Rick Drumheller
and Chaplain 

Everett Debnam after being promoted Wednesday.

"When you're the chief of police, you're afforded the luxury of watching your officers grow up," Drumheller said as Istenes stood next to him.

"I've watched Todd's career from the very beginning. I've watched his dreams and desires, his goals and his meticulous work," said Drumheller.

As the newest member of the command staff, "I have to tell you, your world will change," Drumheller told Istenes. "There will those who respect you, those who put themselves out, and there will be those who test you. Do well, just maintain what you've been doing your whole career, and you'll do a fine job."  

Of course than just these two things happened last night.

There was a presentation on land banking, a blight-fighting tool that borough council seems newly interested in taking up. Look for a story on that in The Mercury in the coming days.

Also, PDIDA Executive Director Sheila Dugan has asked not only for the size of the PDIDA board of directors to be reduced from nine to seven, but also reviewed the first year of the downtown farm market, and plans for the coming year.

That too will be the subject of a coming Mercury article.

And there are 14 appointments to be made at Monday's meeting, but the most interesting one looks like it will be for the open seat on the Pottstown Borough Authority.

Last month, the authority board wrestled with the procedure, and appropriateness, of seeking the re-appointment of Jeff Chomnuk. He schooled them a bit on their previous endorsements.

And now it seems that Council Vice President Sheryl Miller, who ousted Chomnuk from the Third Ward seat on council, is now seeking to be appointed to his seat on the authority.

That's going to be interesting.

In the meantime, here are the Tweets and videos from last night's meeting:

Rescuers Honored During Fire Prevention Month

Photos by Evan Brandt

From left, Norco Fire Chief Joel McMillan, Capt. Matthew Burfete, Battalion Commander Mark Gibson, driver Russell Layre and Battalion Chief Chad Quinter, were recognized Wednesday night for the rescue of a PennDOT bridge inspector who was trapped in mud under the South Hanover Street bridge over the Schuylkill River in June.

October is, among other things, fire prevention month, so it was appropriate for Pottstown to honor some of their own for firefighting and rescue efforts in the past year.

Ironically, the first award went to someone who is not a firefighter.

As recounted by Pottstown Fire Chief Richard Lengel, in the late evening of May 20, a fire was discovered in the attic and roof of a group home for physically handicapped residents in the 1000 block of Logan Street.

Billy Wayne Hill was the supervising caretaker and was recognized for his successful evacuation of all residents and staff before firefighters event arrived.

"As a result, we did not have to expend any resources on search and rescue and we were able to attack the fire immediately," said Lengel.

Next to be recognized were four Pottstown firefighters, a North Coventry fire chief and a paramedic for the June 9 rescue of a PennDOT bridge inspector who became trapped in the mud along the Schuylkill River at the South Hanover Street bridge.

Lengel explained that the situation was more dire than it might seem, both because like quicksand, the more you struggle, the most you can sucked in to the mud. Rescuers also stand a risk of being caught.

And there is even a risk of hypothermia "even in the middle of summer time," Lengel said.

Paramedic Richard Sweeney was in the hospital and could not attend the ceremony, Lengel said. His award is pictured above.

Lengel then offered up some intimidating statistics about the danger of fires, including a disturbing rise in the number of arsons.

Here is some video of his comments, along with video of Mayor Sharon Thomas reading proclamations thanking all four fire companies -- Empire, Goodwill, North End and Phillies -- for their efforts all year long.


Thomas added to Lengel's warnings that there is a danger of fire when charging cell phones in bed and that, like smoking in bed, should be avoided.

"We applaud your diligence, professionalism and courage in assuming your posts and responding to local and regional fire emergencies," Thomas read from the proclamation.

From left, Pottstown Chief Richard Lengel, Empire Chief Brian
Sierocinski, North End Chief Dave Ondik, Goodwill Chief Kevin
Yerger and Phillies Chief Joe Groff.

The mayor also talked about the importance of being aware of domestic violence, and ways to prevent and deal with it, October also being Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

This was followed by a presentation on re-financing the more than $3 million remaining on the bank loan taken out to pay for the new public works facility, and converting it to a bond to save between $175,000 and $200,000.

That money would welcome in helping to close the looming $300,000 gap between projected revenues and expenses in the draft 2017 budget. But you can read all about that on the front page of The Mercury today.

Finally, Assistant Borough Manager Justin Keller updated council on the fact that nine firms have applied for the job of writing a new master plan for Pollock Park on Pottstown's south side.

And if that dandy little summary wasn't enough for you, here are the Tweets and live video. It will be like you were really there ....

11 Goups Join Habitat for Humanity to Rock the Block on Friday, April 15 From 9 to 2

Photo by Evan Brandt

This home in the 400 block of Walnut Street will be among several which will be the focus of the Rock the Block effort on April 15.

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by Habitat for Humanity

Eleven community organizations will join forces to begin the makeover of a Pottstown neighborhood in a show of unity that is exciting Borough officials and residents.

On April Friday, 15 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., more than 150 volunteers will pitch in to clean, paint, repair and beautify the exteriors on the 300 and 400 blocks of Beech, Chestnut, and Walnut Streets. 

It’s called Rock the Block, an initiative of Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County, and it’s the kick off of a Neighborhood Revitalization Program modeled after Habitat’s successful work in Norristown.

“Habitat recognizes the ongoing struggle in Pottstown. By building a coalition of community groups, we can develop a plan and programs together to lift the community up for years to come. Rock the Block® is just the start, and it will be a fantastic day that proves what Pottstown can accomplish when people work collaboratively,” said Marianne Lynch, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County.

For more than six hours, volunteer teams will complete deck and stair repairs, landscaping, spruce up efforts, and more in conjunction with Pottstown CARES community cleanup day, a partnership of the Hill School, the Borough, the Pottstown School District and Montgomery County Community College. 

Rock the Block enlists the Pottstown CARES organizations along with Genesis Housing Corporation, Glocker and Company Realtors, New Eden Community Development Corporation, Mosaic Community Land Trust, Phillies Fire Company, Pottstown Fire Department and Victory Christian Life Center.

“This is the first time that I’ve seen so many different community groups joining forces to improve the community,” said Sheryl Miller, Pottstown Borough Council Vice President. “Having Habitat, a nationally-recognized organization, come in and provide support is an important signal. Pottstown is a great town with lots of potential. We need to lift ourselves up from within, just like the families that Habitat supports. Their Neighborhood Revitalization program can make this happen.” 

Neighborhood Revitalization programs spur the community

Neighborhood Revitalization works at the grassroots level — with people in the community determining the goals. It responds to community aspirations by taking a holistic look at needs, and empowering residents and community partners to help neighborhoods grow and thrive. Collaboration with residents, government officials, the faith community, community non-profits, and others is key to its success.

It starts by repairing the physical, helping mend critical exterior and interior issues with homes through the Critical Home Repair program or by addressing similar challenges of a smaller scale with A Brush with Kindness Home Preservation program.

“We’ve been working in Norristown’s Cherry Street neighborhood for two years. There, we’re addressing concerns such as blight, repairing and preserving homes, creating a neighborhood association, tackling crime, helping children have a safe place to go after school, and more. We’re very excited to bring this approach to Pottstown and begin to address the Borough’s ongoing struggles,” explained Lynch.

In Norristown, Habitat volunteers have rehabilitated 22 homes, helped Habitat complete 13 critical home repairs, painted 72 stoops, and repaired and maintain Cherry Street Park.

Planning in Pottstown

After forming the collaboration for Rock the Block, Habitat hosted a community meeting in February where residents identified neighborhood priorities and concerns such as safety, crime, and beautification. What’s next?

Habitat will be surveying Pottstown to inventory conditions while finishing the rehabilitation of 430 Walnut Street—a Habitat home. It is also planning ten critical home repairs, twenty Brushes with Kindness – and acquiring another property to refresh in the zone.

About Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County

Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County’s mission is to eliminate substandard housing. In partnership with caring individuals and organizations, Habitat constructs simple, decent affordable homes and empowers hardworking, low-income families to become homeowners by providing no-interest mortgages. Habitat also completes critical home repairs, provides financial literacy and life skills classes, and is revitalizing neighborhoods.

For more information, call 610-278-7710, email ebowers@habitatmontco.org, or visit www.habitatmontco.org.

New Faces at Borough Police and Tax Collector Posts

Mercury photos by Evan Brandt

Newly sworn in Pottstown Police officer Ryan Guth, right, has his badge pinned on by his sister Cara at Monday night's Pottstown Council meeting while Police Chief Rick Drumheller enjoys the spectacle.

There are some new faces in Pottstown borough as a result of actions taken at Monday night's council meeting.

First up is a new police officer, Ryan Guth, who was sworn in Monday night by Mayor Sharon Thomas.

Here's video of that:

Roy Reifsnyder Sr.

And then, Pottstown council -- for the second consecutive time -- acted to replace an elected tax collector who had to resign because they could not meet the requirements of the state.

Last time, it was the person who lost the election, Barbara Toroney. This time, its a new face that is probably very familiar to many, Roy Reifsnyder Sr., a lifetime resident known to many for his decades of involvement with the Pottstown Little League.

But Reifsnyder is also a recently retired accountant and comptroller for a large company and he stepped in -- at council president Dan Weand's request -- when the person who won the election, Coleen Belovich, resigned before she took office.

She could not meet the requirements, more specifically, the bonding requirements, of the office.

Reifsnyder will hold the office for two years and then must step down or run for reelection to the remaining two years of the term.

Here is some video of Reisfsnyder being sworn in:



Also applying for the post was Claude Erb, who goes by Curt.

Although he was not chosen, Council Vice President Sheryl Miller said she had several ideas about other ways he could volunteer to help the borough.

Several other interesting things happened which you can find out about by reading the Tweets and links down below.

'F" is for Firehouse

Submitted Photo

Nathan Dujinski used his summer reading prize from the Pottstown Regional Public Library to take a tour of the Phillies fire house. recently.

Nathan and Marcus Dujinski with their tour guide,

Phillies firefighter Rick Unruh.

The summer reading program at the Pottstown Regional Public Library helped some readers get a tour of the Phillies fire house.

Recently, Nathan Dujinski, the original winner, brought along his brothers Marcus and Ronnie for the tour.

"They were learning about the letter F and decided to use their fire house tour prize," said Leslie Stillings, the library's children's service director.

"Rick Unruh was the best tour guide and all the children loved it," she said.

Marable St.? Fire Services? Residential Tax Breaks?

Photo by Evan Brandt

Photo of a Photo: Mercury Photographer Kevin Hoffman arranges borough council and staff for the photo that will be buried in the new time capsule to be opened in 50 years and buried about where the officials are standing.

Wednesday was a long one as borough council meetings go.

Starting at 6:30 p.m. with two conditional use hearings and now winding up until 9:30.

There were lots of things discussed, but the major ones in no particular order were:

• What to do about expiring fire services agreements; 
• Whether a cell tower should be allowed at the wastewater treatment plant; 
• Whether to re-name Cross Street for Newstell Marable;
• Whether to renew the lease with Fly-Elite to operate Pottstown airport;
• Whether to move forward with a new LERTA district;
• Whether to finance new emergency radios from the county and own them or allow fire companies to buy them from the borough;
• And a few others.

You can read all about them in the Tweets below and in upcoming stories in The Mercury, your local newspaper for more than 75 years.

New Chapter in Fire Merger, New Fire Truck

Photo by Evan Brandt

It was a nice twilight walk back from Pottstown Borough Council Monday.

So once again, the Storify program I use to collect all these Tweets and links fails the primary test of usefulness when it will not allow a link from a YouTube video to be posted within its borders.

I have asked a question publicly on Twitter, but here in the world of deadlines, I doubt it will come soon enough.

Instead, I am left with little choice but to embed the video here in the blog for you to view, if you are interested in the mayor's thoughts on the fire merger talks, here instead of in the context of when it occurred.



So it goes.

The headlines are council unanimously to cease its arrangement with David Woglom, their consultant in the fire merger talks, and agreed to but a new $1.1 million fire truck without raising taxes.

Otherwise, pretty quick meeting.

Here are the Tweets

Officer of the Year, Fire Merger Fall-out, New Life for Mrs. Smith's Pies Site, Rental Issues Update

Photo by Evan Brandt

Pottstown Mayor Sharon Thomas, right, reads the proclamation naming Det. Heather Long Pottstown's Office of the Year, while Police Capt. Robert Thomas, left, and Chief Richard Drumheller listen.

So sometimes, you know, technology just fails you.

Despite waning battery life, it was not my mobile devices which made life difficult last night, it was the after-the-fact compilations.

I don't know if it was Storify or YouTube that had a stick up its ass, but I could not get the video links of Heather Long's swearing in to show up on the Storify of last night's council meeting.

And I had such good seats too.

Anyway, because I will never let a good video go to waste, I am embedding them here in a different, hopefully more cooperative program (Not much more).

Here is video of Police Chief Richard Drumheller praising Heather Long's dedication:



And here is more video, this time of Pottstown Mayor Sharon Thomas, reading the proclamation for Long's honor:



And I'd like to say more about last night's meeting, because it was kind of interesting, but you'll have to get it from the Tweets below because at this point, I need a cocktail ... or 10.

Nobody Wins

Monday night's special council meeting requested by the North End Fire Company resulted in several things.

1) Borough council finally got a better taste of what they started when they kicked the merger ball down the hill four years ago.

2) All four fire companies were finally able to speak their minds more freely.

3) Everyone finally acknowledged publicly what everyone has been saying privately: the stumbling block throughout this painful, poorly enacted process all along has been the enmity between the Phillies and Goodwill fire companies.

As became clear in North End Chief Tom Braber's presentation, there has been a rivalry between the two from the very first day.

In the 1800s, some fire equipment had been purchased from Philadelphia and had the name emblazoned on the side.

When the volunteers decided to form the borough's first fire company, two groups argued about the name, and those opposed to "Philadelphia Steam Fire Company" left to form their own fire company.

Yup, Goodwill.

So in many ways, this is just another chapter in a very old story.

"Someday someone will have to explain to me how you can work together so well at a fire scene and then have so much animosity among you once you get back to your firehouses," Borough Council President Stephen Toroney said with a shake of his head.

Up until now, as best I can make out, the consolidation would have been a "win" for Goodwill in the sense that its chief, Kevin Yerger, headed up the committee and would have headed up the new board that was to oversee the new fire company.

The Phillies would have lost their firehouse, their beloved bar room and all their money.

For the Phillies, the best strategy was to win by not losing.

Having rejected the idea of the single fire company for a variety of legitimate (and some less legitimate) reasons I won't go into here, the Phillies instead joined forces with North End to make an alternative proposal -- one fire company, two divisions and everyone keeps their firehouse.

Needless to say, this idea was immediately rejected by Yerger. Which leaves everything just where it was before, some fire companies in agreement, some not and nothing changes.

Assistant North End Chief Dave Saylor took a shot at calling this chasm a "friendly rivalry" that was part of the tradition of firefighting.

In that he is not wrong.

As anyone who has ever seen "Gangs of New York" knows, fire companies in the 1800s were associated with gangs back before and during the Civil War and, as rivals, would actually get into huge brawls at fire scenes over the right to fight the fire -- as the building burned in the background.

The brawl outside the burning building in "Gangs of New York."

This is not a Hollywood creation, as was made clear to me in the History of New York City course I took in college.

It was also touched upon in the most excellent book, "The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt" by Ednumd Morris, which chronicled Roosevelt's efforts to clean corruption out of the New York City Police Department. (The city had two, also rivals.)

Thankfully for Pottstown, as Saylor correctly noted and the evidence has shown repeatedly, when it comes to job one, the Phillies and Goodwill put their rivalry aside when it comes time to fight fires.

So where are we?

What wasn't truly broken, won't be fixed, but what has been accomplished, other than deepening the divide between the two?

Not much.

As I discovered while researching the matter for our coverage, the most important aspect of any successful fire company consolidation is obtaining "buy-in" from those involved as possible. That didn't happen, and, let's face it, might have been impossible to obtain.

Further, the steps outlined in the 2009 fire study Chief Richard Lengel paid for out of his own pocket,

which would have encouraged buy-in and mandated actual financial studies with actual numbers, were not followed.

(Note to Steve Toroney, if you're going to trot out a fire study as the rationale for pushing consolidation, it might be a good idea to actually follow what the study says as it pertains to process.)

But all this aside, the basic issues remain:

• Is the current system sustainable into the next few decades? 
• As Braber noted, fire calls are up 12.5 percent in just the last three years; building and home materials are infinitely more flammable, making response times more crucial.
• Although recruiting of volunteers remains a struggle for many, the more worrisome aspect is how difficult it is to marshal enough of them to fight daytime fires.

And although he may have been overly callous when he suggested that making the fire truck drivers borough employees would allow the borough to fire them, Councilman Dan Weand was right about one thing last night.

When your house is one fire, you don't care too much who puts it out.

This raises the question of priorities which, as always, depends on whose priorities you're talking about.

So North End President Bill Moser made North End's three primary goals clear: Improve safety; preserve drivers' jobs; maintain history and tradition of fire company.

All fine goals.

But as Saylor put it in trying to convince council to take a more forceful role, "you're the leaders of the town."

And the firefighters (and perhaps a few members of council) must realize that council's responsibility

is not necessarily exactly aligned with the fire companies.

Within whatever power they choose to exercise, council must answer three questions when it comes to making a change in Pottstown's fire protection:

1. Will this make it safer? And if so, present or pursue evidence that shows how;
2. Will this be cheaper, or at least more economical? And do actual studies with actual numbers to prove it will be -- not just theory.
3. Will this make it more or less sustainable? 

Some of those goals overlap, but preserving the history and tradition of the fire companies is a concern relevant to council's responsibilities only in as much as it keeps the fire companies active and willing to continue running into burning buildings.

To council's credit, they tried to let the fire companies work that part out among themselves, but 200 year-old rivalries are hard to bury and it would have taken a whole lot more leadership and effective planning than was shown to keep that hatchet buried.

Hopefully, this rivalry will not bury future, more deliberate attempts to preserve and improve fire fighting in town in a way that not only answers those vital questions, but addresses the concerns of those doing the actual firefighting.

In the meantime, here are the Tweets from last night's special meeting

Council to Review Fire Company Merger

Once again, Monday's Pottstown Borough Council meeting proved that a meeting does not have to be long to contain news.

Probably the most significant news to occur last night had to do with the borough contentious plan to merge all four volunteer fire companies into a single volunteer department, a most that, until now, the Philadelphia Steam Engine Company, had been the only company to resist.

However, Monday night, Dave Saylor, the Deputy Chief of the North End Fire Company, told council that its time council met face to face with the fire companies.

Some of the firefighters at Monday night's meeting.

He said there are "other options" other than the one being proposed by the borough, which may be "appealing."

Saylor also noted that North End and the Phillies are "interested in making the best decisions for the community."

Then, at the end of the meeting, Councilwoman Sheryl Miller, saying she wanted to hear for herself what the fire companies had to say, made a motion to hold that meeting as Saylor had requested. It was seconded by Councilman Joe Kirkland.

Council President Stephen Toroney, Vice President Travis Gery and Councilman Dan Weand cast the "nay" votes.

Gery took the time to explain that he did not think a "special meeting" is needed as the firefighters can come to any council meeting and say what they have to say -- something they been doing for several months now.

Toroney said the borough's representative, David Woglom, will be at the meeting as well and Mayor Sharon Thomas said the talks should focus on "equity and cost savings."

Borough Manager Mark Flanders was charged with setting up the date.

Here are the Tweets, links and videos from the meeting.

Borough Authority Charging (Only) Phillies Fire Co. for Water Use at Firehouse

So alcohol has once again become a public policy issue, this time, as it relates to water bills.

It seems that back in June, and again in July, Pottstown Borough Authority Manager Mark Flanders sent in an e-mail to the borough authority members recommending a policy change.

For decades, the Pottstown Borough Authority has not charged fire companies for their use of water at the firehouses.

But in July, enough authority members indicated via e-mail that they agreed with Flanders, that the water ratepayers should not be giving free water to an organization that sells alcohol, which the Phillies and the West End Fire Company in Stowe do in the social rooms at their firehouses.

So Flanders gave the Phillies and West End a choice, divide their water service and pay for the bar room water use, but not the fire house use, or pay for all their water use.

Flanders told the authority board members Tuesday night that North End and Goodwill responded to a letter he sent out, saying they did not have bar room operations and thus, would continue to receive free water.

He said the Philadelphia Steam Fire Company, better known as the Phillies, did not respond.

But the board heard from them Monday night, when Phillies Fire Company President Charles Pierce asked that the bill of $482 for the first quarter of the year be forgiven.

The board was undecided and, well, read the Tweets and be enlightened.....

Fire Merger Deadline Unanimously Extended

Monday night's meeting saw another chapter in the fire company merger saga with the focus of public comments now turned toward borough council.

Two speakers, former Borough Council President David Garner and Charles Hermansky Sr., talked about what they called the flawed process by which the merger is being approached.

"I've heard the 2009 merger study touted as the reason for this merger," said Garner. "Did any of you actually read the study?" he asked.

He pointed out that the study calls for several steps to be taken for the merger to be pursued, none of which are evident in the current process.

Garner said council should be driving the process, not "those with a vested interest in controlling things."

Similarly, Hermansky said he has noted a noticeable lack of detail and analysis coming from the borough side of the equation.

"A position paper is not enough," Hermansky said.

Council also approved, unanimously, the plan for rental inspections to occur every two years.

Councilwoman Sheryl Miller, who said she was shocked to find out how many unregistered rentals there are in Pottstown, said the lengthy lead-in time will give the borough's Licensing & Inspections department  time to make headway on that issue.

On a lighter note, Mayor Sharon Valentine Thomas and Councilwoman Carol Kulp chided The Mercury for not presenting enough positive news about the borough.

In the mayor's case, she said "Grease," Pottstown High School's first musical in six years, was a "landmark" event which was an opportunity to present a positive image of Pottstown, was missed by The Mercury.

"Instead, we got a big headline questioning Pottstwn's safety," she said in apparent reference to The Mercury's "Criminal Elements" series which began Sunday.

We're presuming that the fact that as mayor, Valentine is responsible for oversight of the police department, and the fact that her son Seth had a major part in the play, which she failed to mention to the crowd, are irrelevant to her bringing the subject up.

(She is right, as she indicated to a Digital Notebook staffer after Saturday's performance, Seth was among the very best in the show. Sadly, video of numbers from the show, surreptitiously shot by said staffer, could not be posted here as intended due to stern warnings in the program about the illegality of that sort of thing. Also, in the interest of fairness, the mayor had heard that some publicity for "Grease" did appear "on social media, but not in print.")

Not one to lose out on an opportunity to settle an old score, Kulp said that when her son's wrestling team went to the state championships, "we had to beg The Mercury" to cover it.)

That was 25 years ago, she conceded. "It's a shame nothing has changed since then," Kulp said.

Anyway, here are the Tweets from the meeting.

(We apologize in advance for any perceived absence of positivity.)

Fire Company Merger Defended

Photo by Evan Brandt

It was another packed house at last night's Pottstown Borough Council meeting.

The bulk of Wednesday night's borough council meeting was again devoted to the proposed merger of Pottstown's four companies which one of those companies, the Phillies, are contesting.

Perhaps the most significant new piece of information to come out of the meeting is that John Muir, the attorney aiding the consolidation committee, confirmed what The Mercury reported two weeks ago, that they will not be ready to begin operations on April 1.

Photo by Evan Brandt
James Thees, left, was sworn in as the borough's newest
fire policeman after Wednesday's meeting,
with Jim Smale and Ginny Takach presiding.

Another interesting tidbit was the question raised by Doug Breidenbach, the attorney hired by the Phillies, who wanted to know why North End Fire Company is expected to surrender its Prospect Street real estate to the new merged company, but Goodwill is not.

No answer was provided.

Other items of interest are a proposal to change the proposed rental ordinance amendment to do rental inspections every two years instead of every year.

Also, Montgomery County wanted to know if a new Keim Street Bridge is built, does the borough want to take over the old one to be used as a pedestrian bridge.

After some laughter and a few jokes, the short answer was "no."

To read about all this and more, as it happened, read the Tweets below. Remember to click the blue bar at the bottom to make sure you see it all.

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.

Council News and Notes

Photo by Evan Brandt

The site of the future borough garage at 10 Rice St.

Blogger's Note: Lots of things happen at borough council meetings, not all of them are big and we don't always have room for all of them in The Mercury -- hence the function of this blog.

Here are a couple of items of interest from Wednesday night's work session.

New Borough Garage

The borough is getting closer to having a new municipal garage, a long-overdue effort.

The location is at 10 Rice St., just inside the borough border on the west end of town and it is an empty lot.

Borough Manager Mark Flanders said the lot is 2.1 acres and will pay $186,000 for the lot.

On Friday, the borough issues "request for qualification" documents which will be used to develop a short-list of architects for the building.

"Request for proposal" documents will then be issued to the short list and a council committee will chose the architect.

The project is being funded through a capital projects loan the borough took, which also paid off the bond that paid for borough hall and allows the borough to pay a lower interest rate on servicing the debt.

The project is long over-due. Some of us may recall that in 2006, part of the facade of the current garage facing Beech Street, across from the Ricketts Community Center, fell down.

New Fire Truck

In addition to serving borough building debt at a lower rate, the borough's plan to buy a new fire truck will also have taxpayers paying a lower rate.

Flanders told council Wednesday that the plan to buy a new KME "quint" ladder truck may also save some money.

Finance Director Janice Lee said the financing method chosen will have an interest rate of 2.29 percent over the next 10 years. 

Pottstown purchased this "Quint" ladder truck for

Empire Hook & Ladder Co. about five years ago.

It will also allow the existing loan for the last fire truck the borough purchased five years ago, on which taxpayers are paying 4.17 percent, to pay paid off out of the existing loan. 

The new truck is estimated to cost $669,100 and by paying 90 percent of the cost up front, the borough will receive a $23,000 discount, Lee said.

As a result, the borough's debt payments will be $2,000 less than currently and will allow for these capital projects and purchases to move forward, Flanders said.

"This is a recognized need of the borough," said Councilman Dan Weand.

Fire Chief Richard Lengel said the maintenance by fire companies allows trucks to be used for about 30 years.

He said the truck being replaced is similar to the truck run by Empire Hook and Ladder, which is currently housed at Goodwill Fire Company on High Street, since the two companies merged.

The plan is for the new truck to replace the ladder truck now at the Phillies fire house on Chestnut Street.

Road Sign Roulette

Many people may not know this, but High Street was the original Route 422.

As often happens when by-passes are built, traffic moves faster, but also moves around the businesses that once lined the main drag, hoping to capture the interest, and consumer dollar, of passing motorists.

Sometimes, some of that potential business can be recaptured with a sign on the

road that designates the old route as the "business route."

And that is exactly what state Rep. Mark Painter, D-146th Dist., hopes to do.

Borough Manager Mark Flanders told council Wednesday night that Painter has proposed "labeling the stretch of High Street as 'Business Route 422' from the Sanatoga interchange to Stowe. It can be done at minimal cost and it would be paid by PennDOT," Flanders said.

"I think this is a great idea," said Councilman Joe Kirkland. "People will often take the detour just to see what's there."

Flanders also noted that no where on southbound Route 100 does it indicate which exit to take to reach downtown Pottstown.

"We're working on it," he told council.

What You See on TV

Photo by Evan Brandt

Gus Tellis at work, recording Wednesday night's borough 

council workshop session.

Those of you addicted to watching borough council meetings on PCTV will be relieved to know that council is preparing to extend for three years its contract with the new operators of the service -- Tellisvision.

Run by former PCTV employee Gus Tellis, Council President Stephen Toroney said "there is an air of excitement under Mr. Tellis that has not bee a part of PCTV in a long time."

The stability of a three-year extension would help make the company more solvent.

Finance Committee Chairman Dan Weand said the committee is "impressed with the operation so far" and has recommended the contract extension.

Pre-School Expansion

Grace Lutheran Church

Council may likely vote Monday to approve a conditional use permit which would allow the expansion of the pre-school housed at Grace Lutheran Church on North Charlotte Street.

In existence for 44 years, director Stephanie Houck said the idea is to expand from a half-day program that runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; to a full-day that runs from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

"Nothing will change, there will just be more time in the building," she said.

The expansion, which is dependent on the center getting licensed to operate as a full-day service, will allow about 50 children to be educated there.

She predicted the traffic in and out of the center would actually be less, because parents would drop-off and pick-up their children at different times.

The school does plan to add a new playground to the grounds.

A New Look

Photo by Evan Brandt

And now for perhaps the most ground-breaking item on our round-up.

Borough Manager Mark Flanders, who recently returned from a southern vacation we are told, looks a little more relaxed these days.

Perhaps that's because he seems to have expanded his trademark mustache and left part of his "vacation beard" in place.

As a fellow supporter of facial hair, the Digital Notebook staff wishes him an itch-free experience.

(We can't help but notice the preponderance of gray in that new beard, but then, who are we to talk....)

A Little Neighborhood Excitement and a Note of Thanks

POTTSTOWN -- A fire truck is backing down my street as I write this.

It's about 5:30 p.m. on a Saturday and representatives of Pottstown's fire companies are headed back to their respective stations having answered the call of a potential house fire.

Thankfully, it turns out it was actually a malfunctioning dryer, a fairly common occurrence that can, left unattended, nonetheless end badly.

But fires like that don't stand much chance here in Pottstown. With four companies, manned by a mix of paid drivers and volunteers, such fires are routinely  knocked down so fast, The Mercury's ever-enthusiastic photographers often arrive only to find there are no flames to photograph.

But we don't begrudge them their effectiveness.

Sure, photos of homes on fire are dramatic and, let's face it, they sell newspapers. But in the end, it's better that Goodwill, the Phillies, Empire and North End are so johnny-on-the-spot. Such speed saves lives, homes and one's sense of security.

It's a comforting thing to know how fast help can be had when trouble comes.

And as I ambled down my street, camera in hand, to take the photos you see here, I realized I know many of the people gathered there in bulky jackets, awkward helmets and equipment that looks part medieval, part Star Trek

There's Zack Moore, a quiet young man whose family shares my alley and who likes country music and working on his two vehicles.

But luckily for my neighborhood, he also likes running with one of the fire companies so he was among the first to arrive, gear on hand, ready to do what he could.

He started with the youth corps and, if we're lucky, he'll stick with it, devoting hours and hours to training for which he will never get paid. All to have the privilege of running into a burning building.

Then I saw Goodwill's Terry Bechtel, a friendly fellow who took a moment to say hello and shake my hand having determined there was not much risk to the house. Nearby, my chagrined neighbor was saying "I told them not to being all their equipment..."

But that's what they've been trained to do, and that's why they are so effective and why, in case you didn't know it, your fire insurance costs less than in other places -- because of the response time of the Pottstown Fire Department.

And it occurred to me how much we owe these people.

Here they are, out on a dark night, (while a Penn State football game was being played no less) ready to do what's necessary at a moment's notice.

So thank you.

Luckily, this time, it was a minor incident, the kind that I know will not make the pages of my paper, where space is precious and we must daily make the cold calculation of what is important enough to warrant using some of it.

But because it wasn't important enough to be news does not mean its not important.

And sometimes, I think, you need to have a fire truck tear down your street the wrong way to remind you how much you are indebted to such volunteers, even if you'll never read about what they were doing there in the local paper.