Tuesday’s Phoenixville Borough Council Meeting in a Nutshell

A long agenda and lots of recent happenings meant a lengthy meeting for Phoenixville Borough Council Tuesday night.

Down to seven members due to Vice President Michael Handwerk’s , council chalked up a single tie vote and tackled a slew of important topics. Here’s the cheat sheet. Stay tuned to Phoenixville Patch for more on these issues this week.

What Happened: Council voted 5-1 to approve a new fee schedule, which included dropping parking prices in borough-owned lots from $1 an hour to $0.25 per half hour. The change won’t happen immediately, but will likely be seen within seven to 10 days of Tuesday’s vote.

What it Means to Residents: If you’ve avoided parking in the downtown lots due to the cost, this may lure you back. For business owners, it could potentially mean more foot traffic. Details, like credit card fees at kiosks, still have to be worked out.

Background: A new parking committee to tackle the contentious issue. The committee met for the first time Feb. 3 and recommended the drop in price.

What Happened: In a 4-3 vote, council defeated a motion to institute a $5 per person tax. The per capita tax was noted in the borough’s 2011 budget but had never been formally approved.

What it Means to Residents: As this would have affected every resident, including renters, residents will have $5 extra in their pockets in 2011.

Background: The tax was originally proposed and listed in the budget as $10 per person. However, the tax code states which is already collecting a per capita tax. That knocked it down to $5 per person. At $10 per person, the tax would have raised approximately $65,000 in 2011.

What Happened: Fire Chief Jim Gable updated council on the requested consolidation of the three borough fire departments. He reported that Friendship Fire Company, on the north side of the town, has pulled itself from the county fire response system.

What it Means to Residents: Council President Richard Kirkner, who represents the north ward, assured residents they wouldn’t see fire service hindered by the move.

Background: The three fire departments in Phoenixville were directed to consolidate. They’re working on a plan and execution of that now.

What Happened: Council examined the issue of council pay. Council voted 3-3 (newly appointed as vice president of council, Kendrick Buckwalter abstained due to a past lawsuit) with a tie broken by Mayor Leo Scoda, to have the solicitor draft an ordinance for vote at the March 8 meeting. At council’s direction, the ordinance would reinstate council pay at $150 per month for each council member seated after Jan. 1, 2012.

What it Means to Residents: The total cost would be $14,400 for the year, coming out of four different funds. Because of term times and the stipulation that pay would be for council members seated after 2011, the full cost wouldn’t be reached until 2014.

Background: In the past, council members were paid $200 per month. That was eliminated after a lawsuit called out the practice of current council members approving their own pay.

What Happened: Council approved preliminary land development plans for 36 subsidized housing townhome units at Fairview Village.

What it Means to Residents: Fans of the organic garden, located on this property, should know that the garden will remain on the site. The Fairview Village land is owned by the Chester County Housing Authority.

Background: The planning commission saw this plan Jan. 13 and .

What Happened: Council accepted former Vice President Handwerk’s resignation from his post. A special meeting will be held to fill this vacancy and possibly cover other business Feb. 22.

What it Means to Residents: So far, the borough received two applications for the empty seat. If you live in the middle ward and are interested, contact borough hall at 610-933-8801. Interviews will be conducted Feb. 22, and a new council member will be chosen that night.

Background: Handwerk tendered resignation Jan. 26. By law, council must appoint a replacement within 30 days. However, the next regular meeting was scheduled for March 8, as council recently went to . Therefore, a special meeting is needed to fill the seat.

Keep a close eye on Phoenixville Patch for more on all of these developments, along with full stories on the meeting’s happenings. 

Correction: The new parking amount was originally reported above as $0.25 per hour. It's actually $0.25 per half hour.