A sign indicating how to sign up for the “Savvy Citizen” app stands outside North Wales Borough Hall on Tuesday, July 25 2023. Photo by Dan Sokil | The Reporter.
December survey data could help town revisit 2018 comp plan
Talks could pick up soon on some of the trickiest topics in town.
February could mark the start of talks on the ‘Parking lot,’ a list of topics that could see a deep dive by council and the public.
“The only active thing I have on the parking lot is the single trash hauler. We have other things that we were debating whether they should be on,” said borough Manager Christine Hart.
In early 2024 council reshuffled and consolidated several volunteer committees to reflect work and projects recently done, and created a new ‘Parking lot’ list of topics meant for in-depth discussion in the future. At that time, council members said that one of their number, or staff or a resident, could develop a framework for talks spelling out the problem they’re trying to solve, any benefits by doing so, and any resident feedback for or against a request or topic.
Trash hauling was a contentious topic for much of the 2010s in nearby Lansdale Borough, where council members lead a push in 2015-17 to examine the topic. Council ultimately decided to make no changes until briefly revisiting the topic in 2023.
That trash hauler conversation is just one of the topics North Wales could place on its parking lot, councilwoman Wendy McClure said in late January, and those talks could include responses to a resident survey in late 2024 asking for feedback on an update to the ‘North Wales 2040’ comprehensive plan adopted in 2018.
“Maybe the facts that were already presented, about the survey and single hauler — we could talk about that, to see if the community is interested,” McClure said.
Hart added that she and staff have already had preliminary talks with the town’s liaison to the Montgomery County Planning Commission on the survey data they’ve received so far, and possible questions they could ask in an extension of that survey, to gather more input on specific topics.
“We are hopefully having a grand opening soon of our arts center. Is that something we want to bring up, and maybe have a table there? Those are all things we talked about,” Hart said.
Input about a single trash hauler “was on the survey, and I believe it ranked up there” near the top of the list of feedback submitted by those who responded, the manager said.
Volunteers appointed, more sought
Council also voted unanimously to appoint or reappoint a long list of volunteers to vacant spots on various boards and commissions:
“I so appreciate people taking the time to research these openings, and decide they want to really step up and help their community,” said McClure.
“I know it’s a big commitment for a lot of folks, but it’s so important. I always call them building blocks, so you can get experience learning about how things work,” she said. Hart added that she and staff would update and publicize the list of remaining vacancies; anyone interested can contact the manager with a letter of interest and resume at chart@northwalesborough.org.
Public Works grant accepted
Council voted unanimously to accept a state Local Share Account grant for just over $360,000 in funds meant to purchase new public works vehicles.
“We applied for new dump trucks, and public works equipment. We actually asked for $750,000; we were awarded a little over $300,000, but also had a street sweeper on the wish list that we will have to forego,” Hart said.
After a unanimous vote to accept, the manager said she’d submit the necessary documentation to the state to process the funds, then proceed with the purchases of two dump trucks, a pickup truck, and/or smaller equipment based on availability.
The Pennsylvania Avenue entrance to the North Wales Area Library is seen in 2022.Library grant request OK’d
Council approved a letter in support of the North Wales Area Library’s grant request seeking a state Libraries Transform Communities engagement grant.
“It’s simply a letter of support, we are not the applicants for the grant,” said Hart.
Hart and library board member Joclyn Tenney added that the grant is meant to fund acquisition of digitization equipment to document and store historical materials and oral records, and let library users trace, document and digitally store their family histories.
“It will consume the oral information being taken throughout an interview, and record that, and transcribe it, and they will be able to digitize it. So if somebody wanted to know about one of our famous families, and had interviewed one, there would be an archive record,” Hart said.
In addition to backing the grant request, council also approved a waiver of a permit fee for a banner advertising the library’s annual ‘Taste of Montgomery’ event, scheduled for April 10 at St. Rose of Lima church.
Other upcoming events at the library include a valentine-themed Trivia Night at 6 p.m. on Feb. 14, and a Friends of the North Wales Area Library monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 19.
For more information on those and other upcoming events, visit northwaleslibrary.org or search for “North Wales Area Library” on Facebook.
North Wales borough council next meets at 7 p.m. on Feb. 11 at the borough municipal building, 300 School Street; for more information visit www.NorthWalesBorough.org.
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