MCCC, Air Base Get Considerations at Commissioners Meeting

At the Montgomery County Commissioners’ meeting Wednesday, the commissioners voted to approve their contribution of $21,021, 891 to Montgomery County Community College’s budget.

Commissioners unanimously approved the budget. The county will provide $17,702,534 for operating costs, $959,236 for Capital Plant costs and $2,360,121 for debt services.

The board also brought up the issue of the Willow Grove air base and updated its stance.

Chairman James Matthews said the commissioners are planning to join with Bucks County Airport Authority in drafting a proposal for the Willow Grove Naval Air Station.

“The thought of tearing the base down...doesn’t make sense to me,” Matthews said. He added that the commissioners are not planning on holding more public meetings on the matter as they have “exhausted” that.

During the time for general public comment, Upper Merion Board of Supervisors Chairman Edward McBride and Upper Merion residents brought up a complaint to the commissioners about a resident in the township who has a large pile of clean fill for his business.

McBride and residents said the pile has grown so that it is an eyesore and potential safety hazard for the community. One resident remarked that she had once looked down on the pile from her home and now looks up at it. Matthews added that he can see the pile from his office window.

“It’s just not fair to the neighbors,” Matthews said. He added that the commissioners will follow up on the issue.

The commissioners also approved an agreement to update current public safety radios.

In order to meet Federal Communications Commission guidelines, the commissioners approved an agreement with Motorola, Inc. to purchase public safety telecommunications equipment in order to reconfigure current radios.

At the meeting, the commissioners also approved grants for the Nurse-Family
Partnership Program, for the Montgomery County Health Department for emergency preparedness, for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to purchase safety and medical equipment and to provide funds for strike teams for training, personnel and equipment.