Residents named to boards and commissions
Several new volunteers, and some familiar faces, have stepped up to serve on various boards and commissions in the borough.
Council unanimously approved a long list of 2020 appointments Tuesday night and announced several more spots still seeking applicants.
“All of the people who were appointed this evening — we appreciate your work for the borough,” said council President Jim Sando.
Appointed unanimously were the following volunteers to the boards and terms as follows:
Civil Service Commission — Herbert Schlegel, for six years, through Dec. 31, 2025.
Historical Architecture Review Board — Ray Tschoepe, for five years, through 2024.
Historic Commission — Mike Szilagyi, for five years, through 2024.
Nor-Gwyn Pool Commission — Andy Dzeidic, for five years, through 2024.
North Wales Water Authority — Donna Mengel, for five years, through 2024.
Parks and Recreation Board — Lisa Byrne, for five years, through 2024.
Pension Committee — Jim Sando, for one year, through 2020.
Pension Committee — Lisa Hollister and Lynne Custer, both for one year, through 2020.
Planning Commission — Greg D’Angelo, for four years, through 2023.
Shade Tree Commission — Lisa Byrne, for five years, through 2024.
Zoning Hearing Board — Gregory Lord, for five years, through 2024.
Several positions still remain vacant, as follows:
Parks and Recreation Board — three seats open, for one year through 2020; for three years through 2022 and for four years through 2023.
Historical Architectural Review Board — One seat open for a real estate broker, for four years, through 2023.
Zoning Hearing Board — one seat open, for four years, through 2023.
“If you know anyone who you think might be interested in any of those, please have them contact Christine (Hart, borough manager) and we will revisit that at a future meeting,” Sando said.
Those interested can send letters of interest with a resume to Hart at 300 School St., North Wales PA 19454. The only requirements for any of the positions are that the member be a borough resident, except for the real estate broker position for HARB.
Donation to memorial approved: Council also voted unanimously to approve a $100 donation to the Montgomery County Police Officers Memorial.
“We received a letter, as many municipalities do, asking if we could contribute to the police officers’ memorial fund,” Hart said.
“The leaders gather each year at the center of Norristown, the courthouse, and they’re asking for a nominal donation from each municipality,” she said.
That ceremony is held on the first Friday of May in each year at the monument, and the donations will be used to maintain a memorial for 28 law enforcement officers recognized for giving their lives in the line of duty, according to a letter from Montgomery County Police Officers Memorial Committee President Joseph Regan.
“Regardless of whether your community is currently represented by one of these heroes, we all know it could happen anytime, anywhere. We need your help to maintain this sacred place, so the families know that they are not forgotten, and for all of us to reflect on the sacrifices of the men and women who protect and serve,” said Regan.
Historic home upgrades get OK: Council also unanimously approved two requests for certificates of appropriateness as recommended by the HARB board.
A request from the owners of the 200 block of Walnut Street, formerly known as Jenny’s Hair Salon but recently vacant, has been purchased by a new owner seeking to add new asphalt shingle roofing, a new door and new signage, according to Hart. Amato asked why the documentation referred to that as a “noncontributing” building, and Hart said that designation is applied to those that have no major historic value or have been stripped of their historical integrity but still fall within the town’s historic district.
A different request, from the owners of a house on the 200 block of Shearer Street, asks for a new asphalt shingle roof due to “extensive leaking” from the older one. Both were approved unanimously by borough council.
Arts Alliance planning programs: Several art classes and programs are now scheduled to be hosted by the North Penn Arts Alliance at the North Wales Arts and Cultural Center, within the borough-owned classroom and offices at 125 N. Main St.
Instructor Jill Fielding will host a fused glass workshop from noon to 2 p.m. Feb. 8, for ages 15 to adult, for $55 per person plus an $18 supply fee payable to the instructor. On Feb. 20, Fielding will host a glass sun catcher workshop from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., also for $55 per person plus an $18 supply fee.
Instructor Barbara Moss Buscher will host a pen and ink workshop for kids ages 12 and over Feb. 4 and 11 from 4 to 5:30 p.m., for $50 per person and a watercolor for beginner and intermediate class on Tuesdays from Feb. 25 through April 14 from 1 to 3 p.m. for a $130 per person fee.
“Tricks of the Trade: advanced watercolor workshop” will be offered by instructor Kass Morin Freeman on March 7 and 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at a cost of $80 per person.
Other offerings include “Make Art Mondays” on the third Monday of each month; a free speaker series on the first Wednesday of each month; “Paint & Sip Parties” on April 2 and June 11, both from 6 to 9 p.m.
For more information on the programs and offerings, call 215-393-9110, visit www.NorthPennArts.org or email info@ northpennarts.org.