150th anniversary committee seeks donors

Budget, historic house, emergency plan also discussed by board

NORTH WALES >> Residents and business owners in and around North Wales will soon be getting formal word to help pitch in for a town celebration.

Planning for the town’s 150th anniversary is picking up speed, and borough officials are looking for them to help any way they can.

“The 150th committee has sent out their solicitation letters and sponsorship letters. They’re hitting over 1,800 local homes and businesses in the area,” said Borough Manager Christine Hart.

Planning began over the summer for a series of events planned throughout next year to mark a century-and-a-half since the town was formally incorporated in 1869, and a steering committee has publicized a tentative list of planned events. Hart told council Oct. 23 that the committee is now meeting weekly and working to produce a commemorative booklet documenting the town’s history, with sponsorships available for anyone interested.

“They’re getting everything in full swing, and they’re looking for businesses to sponsor and advertise, as well as residents,” she said.

So far the 150th committee has released a tentative schedule of events in 2019, including a dinner ball on Feb. 16, a vendor bingo fundraiser on March 17, a flapjack fundraiser at the Applebee’s restaurant in Montgomery Township on April 27, and a fireworks show at Weingartner Park on May 18. Other scheduled events include a yard sale at North Wales Elementary on June 1, a ringing of all town church bells at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 20, and a 150th anniversary parade on Sept. 14.

A full listing of upcoming events is available on the 150th committee’s website www.NorthWales150.org, and Hart said anyone interested in helping out can contact borough staff or committee members.

Budget talks continue: Council received a brief update on the preliminary borough budget for 2019 during their Oct. 23 meeting, and Hart said more details will be announced during their next meeting on Nov. 13.

“I’ll be doing my presentation, and a preliminary overview in more detail, but wanted to ask if they had any red flags or anything they wanted to add or take away. And they said ‘No, we’re good,’” Hart said.

In December 2017 council approved a roughly $2 million borough budget with taxes held at 5.001 mills, and Hart has said the 2019 budget will likely incorporate projects recommended in the borough’s newly updated comprehensive plan.

Church Street house gets OK: Council also approved a certificate of appropriateness for several repairs to a house at 215 Church Street.

The house is located within the borough’s historic district, and the application was vetted by the borough’s Historic Architecture Review Board on Oct. 17 ahead of the Oct. 23 council meeting. The plans for the project state that it includes repairs to the house’s windows and porch using materials as close as possible to the original, and details are included in the board’s meeting materials packet for Oct. 23.

Emergency plan updated: Council also heard an update from Emergency Management Coordinator Bill Kaelin on the town’s emergency management plan.

“He reviewed that we have an emergency operations plan on file, and Bill went through how we work with mutual aid (companies), and how everything is worked out,” Hart said.

Council initially had on their agenda a motion to approve an updated version of the plan, but after discussions decided a formal vote was not needed, according to the manager.

“The only revision was to change the elected officials, and the solicitor said that didn’t constitute an update — not one that needed to be voted on,” Hart said.

North Wales Borough Council next meets at 7 p.m. on Nov. 13 at the borough municipal building, 300 School St.