Parks board resignation sparks call for citizen involvement

NORTH WALES >> North Wales borough council is once again looking for residents willing to step up.

Council voted unanimously on July 13 to accept the resignation of a parks and recreation board member, while calling on any and all residents to get involved with various boards and commissions.

Council unanimously accepted the resignation of resident Shannon Cline from the borough’s parks and recreation board, a step borough Manager Christine Hart said was requested by “a very busy mother.”

“Between COVID and schooling, she found that parks and rec board is a little too much of an obligation, so she’s asked for council to accept her resignation,” said Hart.

In addition to that vacancy on the parks and recreation board through the end of 2021, several spots are still open elsewhere. Borough council is currently seeking residents to fill one position on the town’s historic commission, for a term running through 2025; two on the historical architectural review board, running through 2023 and one of which must be a licensed real estate broker; and one on the uniform construction code board of appeals, for a term running through 2021.

In the first in-person meeting of council since early 2020, resident Jim Schiele raised a point about those volunteer posts, and seats on council up for election in the fall.

“I don’t see those folks here, and that’s sad, very sad,” he said.

“Some of these folks running have not been on any committees or boards or anything. Do they think they’re just going to show up at the 11th hour, and be tuned in to what’s going on?” he said.

Schiele said he’s followed borough meetings on Zoom over the past 16 months and tried to keep track of those who attend via attendance lists there, and has seen a handful of familiar names each time but few new ones.

Councilwoman Wendy McClure replied to Schiele by noting that she won’t be running for reelection in the fall, but took a similar path to council.

“I feel that part of my responsibility is to try to bring in new blood. But you have known me as I started my building blocks, way back when with the 125th anniversary committee,” McClure said.

That celebration was held in 1994, and McClure said she went from that volunteer group to several other boards and commissions before running for council — and there are plenty of openings now for a similar path.

Fireworks spark debate

Mayor Greg D’Angelo said the recent death of a firefighter, and a local company’s assistance, led him to reflect on another hot topic: fireworks.

“The North Penn Fire Company was one of the many fire companies that stepped in, and filled in, for that company while they had their funeral service,” he said.

On July 7 numerous area fire companies took part in a funeral procession for late Penn Wynne Overbrook Fire Company firefighter Sean DeMuynck, who died earlier that week while responding to a house fire in Wynnewood.

“They’re still investigating the cause. There is talk that it might have been fireworks that hit the house, and if that’s the case, it just goes to show you the danger of fireworks in a residential area,” D’Angelo said.

“We have no place in the borough where people should be shooting off fireworks, and yet we have it happen all the time,” he said.

State laws require any fireworks be set off at least 150 feet from any building, conditions nearly impossible to meet in town, the mayor added. Councilman Mark Tarlecki asked if police can cite or charge those setting off fireworks, particularly those that make large explosions and noises.

Police Chief Mike Eves said the state distance limit “pretty much zeroes out the borough,” but certain types of fireworks are also still illegal.

“Usually what happens with these fireworks is they go up, they’re set off, we get a radio call, there’s a couple minute delay, but by the time we get there, they’re gone,” he said.

“We had a couple of calls during the 4th of July celebrations. As I can recall, nobody was on location by the time we got there. If we got there, and they were in violation, we could write them up,” Eves said.

Donation to police accepted

Council also voted unanimously on July 13 to accept a donation of $500 from a borough resident for the town’s police department.

Hart told council the donation came with a letter “indicating that he’d like to thank the officers of North Wales Borough for all their hard work,” and added that the donor appreciated assistance from the department, and their kind treatment of him.

“He was certainly appreciative, and gave us a cash envelope of $500, and said to use it for the police,” Hart said. Council President Jim Sando joked, “I hope that’s the only time we’ve accepted a cash envelope,” and Eves replied, “it’s generally frowned upon in law enforcement.”

Federal funding coming into focus

Hart also reported to council that the borough has been notified of a first round of funding through the federal American Rescue Plan, and will receive roughly $170,000 to offset COVID-related expenses.

“We have set up a specific chart of accounts for that — the federal government is requiring us to do that, and to track it accordingly,” she said.

Early indications are that the funding will be allocated to the town in two payments, one this year and one next, and staff expect to take part in info sessions in the coming weeks to discuss details, before any public action.

“Some of these folks running have not been on any committees or boards or anything. Do they think they’re just going to show up at the 11th hour, and be tuned in to what’s going on?”

— resident Jim Schiele

Business alliance back?

Hart told council that several local business owners have expressed interest in reviving the North Wales Borough Business Alliance, which has largely gone dormant since the onset of COVID-19.

“The borough will be facilitating a Zoom conference for interested business owners,” she said.

Roughly 20 storefront and virtual business owners had expressed interest, according to the manager, and that meeting was set for the third week in July; anyone interested in learning more can email info@ NorthWalesBorough.org for more information.

North Wales Borough Council next meets at 7 p.m. tonight, July 27, and August 10, both at the borough municipal building, 300 School Street. For more information visit www.NorthWalesBorough.org.