Settlement terms set for sale

End of the month slated for sale of building connected to Broad Theater in Souderton

The purchase agreement has been finalized for the sale of the building next to the Broad Theater, Borough Manager Mike Coll said at the Feb. 5 Souderton Borough Council meeting.

“Settlement will be held on Feb. 27,” he said.

A resolution authorizing Coll and council President Brian Goshow to execute the documents in connection with the sale was approved at the Feb. 5 meeting.

In November, council approved the winning $250,000 bid from Davood and Davide Sowhangar, owners of Broad Street Pizza, to purchase the building. The purchasers also have to pay back taxes on the property.

Souderton Borough became the owner last year after previous owners Broad Entertainment LP defaulted on an economic development loan through the borough and the property went to sheriff sale, at which point there were no bidders.

The Sowhangars plan to move their business to the building, along with having other commercial uses rent parts of the building, they have previously said.

The borough is currently working on specifications to put the theater building out for bids from prospective buyers.

The Feb. 5 meeting also included approval of four expenses totaling about $100,000. The four were included in the 2018 budget, Coll said. The approvals included: • Purchase of a camera and pipe locator system from L/B Water Service, Inc. at a cost of $9,530.08. The equipment is used to investigate and help better address maintenance issues in sewer lines, Coll said.

• Having Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters, of Hatfield, repair and refurbish swimming pool features at a cost of $21,236.

The water features are about six years old, Coll said.

“They’re starting to show some

wear,” he said. “The painting has been fading.”

• Purchase of a new Miracle Pool Slide from Lyons Recreation, Stratford, N.J., under a state cost contract, for an installed price of $24,595.

The current slide is probably close to 20 years old, Coll said.

“The decking is in really rough condition and it has some issues with getting water supply up to the slides,” he said.

The new slide will be the same model as the previous one, which is still in production, he said.

The pool work will be completed in time for this year’s pool opening, he said.

• Purchase of a new 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe Police vehicle from Fred Beans Chevrolet, Doylestown, under the state cost contract, for $45,237.86.

The purchase of the new police car was initially budgeted for last year but then moved to this year’s budget, Coll said. The purchase of the 2017 leftover 2017 model is at the 2017 price, he said. Police Chief James Leary said the car will be ready to go when it is received. The department will add a computer and radio, he said.

The Feb. 5 meeting also included:

• Appointment of Daniel Houser as vacancy board chairman for a oneyear term running through Dec. 31.

The vacancy board is only used if there is a vacant position in the borough government and borough council does not reach an agreement on the person to fill the vacancy, Coll said.

• Reappointment of Donald Arrowsmith to another three-year term, ending Dec. 31, 2020, as Souderton’s representative to the Indian Valley Public Library Board of Directors.