Council asked to reconsider moving park

Four Perkasie residents, ages 12 and under, shared their support and suggestions about moving or not moving the skate park at Perkasie Borough Council’s Sept 4 meeting.

The first to speak up at the end the meeting was Liam Schultz. He asked the council members if it was “mandatory” to move the skate park’s equipment, as voted by council last month. Schultz’s concern was that perhaps the borough could use the money to repair the ramps, instead of spending it to move them.

Council members responded in spite of themselves — a memo was distributed at the back of the room stating council members would not respond to public comment.

Council made it clear that it was still in talks with the insurance company about whether or not they should or are required to move the ramps. They suggested the boys talk with Josh Aniskevich, parks and recreation director, to provide their feedback.

The boys made it clear they use the ramps often and suggested perhaps instead of moving the ramps, council could instead extend the paved part that would help avoid collision, which was the insurance company’s concern in the first place.

“These are all very valid points,” Jim Purcell, council vice president, said.

In other business, council member Barbara Frantz commented that council member Justin Stottlar had sent an email that had council members responded would have been a violation of the Sunshine Act. Frantz wanted to make it clear that she did not respond.

She suggested the email was about possible litigation, which should be discussed in an executive session. A few other council members spoke up saying they also didn’t respond.

In response, Stottlar expressed some confusion as to which email Frantz was referring.

At first he thought she meant his email about whether or not council thought it might be a good idea to reinstate a D.A.R.E. program in the schools. The pilot schools would be Guth and Sellersville elementaries and maybe St. Agnes-Sacred Heart Catholic School.

Mayor John Hollenbach said he liked the idea, but in order to provide the service to all of the Pennridge School District, other police departments would also need to be involved.

Stottlar said to send an officer to training, the borough would need to spend around $1,000 to pay for lodging, food and the training that is held in either September or April. Then when the programs are enacted in the schools, it would cost the borough $1.29 a workbook.