'It Feels Like A Firing Squad,' Hatboro Councilwoman Says About Meetings

HATBORO, PA — There have often been times over the past few years when attending a Hatboro Borough Council meeting felt like the crowd had brought pitchforks.

The townsfolk would get into heated arguments with developers over the apartment complex proposals and business members would mix it up in which council members would shout at them during the public council meetings.

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Eric McCuen, one of the newest council members, is soft spoken and never gets rattled when the meetings begin to heat up.

She even stated in the September meeting that she would try to accommodate residents who were seeking for the borough to go back to two monthly meetings.

McCuen stated that despite having a full-time job during the day and lots of activities in the evenings, she would be willing to make it work.

The council later voted to stick to one meeting a month, citing cost factors and staffing issues.

But going to two meetings a month might be troubling for McCuen and the seven-member board, she said.

"We come into this room, and it feels like a firing squad," she said.

"You're not asking us questions. You're not emailing us or calling us. Most of us know you as neighbors as well. You can call me, text me, and ask me questions. We'd all be happy to answer questions at any given time," McCuen added. "But in these meetings, it turns into accusations."

McCuen — who replaced Council President George Bollendorf in April — said there needs to be more meeting structure over how the council conducts the borough's business, and "the comments that are coming at us" that are not on the agenda.