Lower Gwynedd Township Upcoming Meetings & Events:
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Happy 4th of July! Be Safe! |
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Board of Supervisors Approves Clean Energy Resolution
The BOS approved a Clean Energy Resolution at their meeting held June 28th, 2022. Lower Gwynedd joins 45 other municipalities in Pennsylvania taking a leadership role in setting goals for the transition to clean energy in local communities. The approved resolution outlines the goals of converting to 100% clean electricity by 2035, 100% clean energy for heating, transportation, landscaping and public works equipment by 2050, and transitioning the vehicle fleet to vehicles fueled by clean energy sources by 2030. The resolution targets other milestones as well and sets forth the goal of strategically decreasing energy consumption by implementing energy efficiency improvements in private, institutional, commercial, and public buildings. The resolution calls for the creation of a task force and the formulation of an energy transition plan. Supervisor, Tessie McNeely, commented that "the goal of the EAC is to be leaders in our community and provide suggestions on how people in the community can reach these aspirational goals".
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Oxford Park Concerts:
Meghan Carey- 7/6 at 7pm
Eric Mintel- 7/13 at 7pm
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The Kiwanis Club of Ambler will hold their annual 4th of July carnival and fireworks display June 28th through July 2nd with the fireworks scheduled for Friday, July 1st, 2022. For more information contact the Kiwanis Club of Ambler.
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The EAC will hold a battery recycling drop-off event at the Township Building parking lot on Saturday, July 9th from 9am-11am. The event is open to residents only. Please refer to the website for details about how batteries are to be prepared prior to drop-off.
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Republic Services will operate under a holiday schedule for the week of July 4th-July 8th. There will be no collection on Independence Day, Monday, July 4th, 2022. Trash collection will occur on Tuesday, July 5th and Friday, July 8th. If your normal recycling day is Monday, then your collection will be Tuesday. If your normal recycling day is Thursday, then your collection will be Friday.
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PennDOT has launched a public survey that is part of the requirements tied to the Federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to distribute $171.5 million in federal funds for electric vehicle infrastructure in Pennsylvania. As electric vehicles become more common, the State is planning for the future infrastructure needs that include electric vehicle charging stations along alternative fuel corridors. Lower Gwynedd installed electric vehicle charging stations at the Township Building and at Veterans Memorial Park with grant funding provided through the Driving PA Forward program in 2020. If you have an electric vehicle--or have considered purchasing one but are concerned about whether you will have access to charging stations across the state- here's your chance to weigh in on the matter. Residents are encouraged to provide feedback to PennDot via the survey available here or submit feedback by emailing ra-pdevcorridors@pa.gov.
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Calling all interested crafters, join us for the upcoming Fall Fest! Come display your wares and spotlight your talents at this community-friendly event, simply complete your application today! Applications can be mailed to Lower Gwynedd Township, P.O. Box 625, Spring House Pa 19477, they can also be emailed to sfeight@lowergwynedd.org. For more information visit the Fall Fest page of our website by clicking here.
Lower Gwynedd Fall Fest will be Saturday September 17, 2022 from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. The event will be held on Houston Road, sections of the roadway will be closed starting at 7:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. A 5K race will kick off the festivities, followed by an area packed with local vendors, crafters, food trucks, kids amusements and music.
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New Park Board Member Appointed
Congratulations to the newly appointed Parks & Recreation Board (PRB) member, Morgan High. Morgan was appointed by the BOS following the recommendation of the subcommittee. Supervisor Janine Martin stated that she is "excited to recommend Morgan High, she has a lot of energy, event planning experience...and is the perfect candidate." Welcome Morgan!
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The Lower Gwynedd Township Board of Supervisors are looking for volunteers to serve on a Human Relations Commission (HRC). The HRC is a new 5-member commission established by the recent adoption of the Anti-Discrimination Ordinance. The HRC shall have jurisdiction over unlawful discriminatory acts committed within the Township. Members of the Commission shall, as soon after their appointment as practical, attend such training and education seminars or sessions as deemed necessary to acquaint themselves with the functioning of the Commission. If you're a resident and willing to serve, submit your application today!
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By now you've encountered a number of road closures or detours due to ongoing road projects throughout Lower Gwynedd Township. Currently, roadway construction on the west bound side of School House Lane is underway in connection with the ongoing Route 202 widening project. The School House Road work is a 24 hour/ 7 days a week detoured closure and is scheduled to last until July 11th. Route 202 is open in both directions during this time period. Plymouth Road remains closed at the bridge, between Grasshopper Lane and Gypsy Hill Road. Montgomery County anticipates completion sometime in October of 2022. In addition, the Township's annual road program began this week. Mill and overlay work is being completed on the roadways listed below. The ultra-thin friction course will be completed later this summer. Those roadways can be found here.
- Cathcart Road-From Township Line Road to Grasshopper Road
- Swedesford Road- From Railroad Bridge to Dekalb Pike (Rte. 202)
- Township Line Road- From Penllyn Pike to Penllyn Woods Park Entrance
- Meetinghouse Road- From 1201 Meetinghouse Road to Turnbury Road
- Beth Drive- Upper Cul-de-Sac
- Curb Ramp at Mt. Pleasant Avenue and Knight Road Intersection
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Join us for Plastic Free July!
Think about it. Why would you make something that you’re going to use for a few minutes out of a material that’s basically going to last forever, and you’re just going to throw it away. What’s up with that? ~Jeb Berrier, Bag It movie
Plastic Free July provides resources and ideas to help you (and millions of others around the world) reduce single-use plastic waste every day at home, work, school, and even at your local café. Visit Plastic Free July to learn how this movement has inspired 100+ million participants in 190 countries. You making a small change will collectively make a massive difference to our communities. You can choose to refuse single-use plastics in July (and beyond!). Best of all, being part of Plastic Free July will help you to find great alternatives that can become new habits forever.
Mark your calendar for these upcoming EAC events:
Saturday, July 9th, 9-11am – Battery recycling collection, LG Township Building. Please check the webpage for details on what batteries are collected and how certain ones need to be prepared before dropping them off: EAC Webpage
Monday, July 11th, 8:30 am - Bird Town Bird Walk
Treweryn Farm Trail, 1312 Sumneytown Pike, Meet in the parking lot
Guided bird walks are free as part of Lower Gwynedd's Bird Town program. Walks limited to 15 participants. No dogs or strollers please.
Please RSVP to lgteac+birdtown@gmail.com. If you would like to receive an email when future dates are announced you can also send a message to this address to be added to our email.
Saturday, October 1st - Lower Gwynedd Township 1st Annual Native Tree Giveaway. More details on how to participate will be coming soon.
Saturday, October 22, 9:30am – 12:30pm, Storm Drain Marker event. Check the Fall Newsletter and future emails for more details.
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Boards & Committee Updates |
The BOS held their regular meeting on Tuesday, June 28th, 2022. At this meeting the BOS approved Ordinance #530 revising the Police Hiring Procedures by removing the terminology "final and binding" from three sections of the ordinance. This language specifically relates to the investigative rights of the Township when hiring a police officer from a different department who has received disciplinary actions. Under Act 57, investigations of disciplinary actions that are final and binding can be performed. This revision will permit the investigation of all disciplinary actions regardless if they are final and binding. In other business, the BOS approved the hiring of a new Public Works Foreman, they appointed Morgan High to the vacant position on the Parks & Recreation Board, approved a proposal from All Covered to provide computer/IT services to the Township, awarded the bid for the roof replacement at the Ingersoll House and Barn, authorized the advertisement of an ordinance outlining the function of the Historic Commission, and approved the purchase of eight new water fountains to be located in various Township parks.
The BOS authorized the submission of a grant application to the PennDot ARLE Program for the modernization of the traffic signal located at Trewellyn Avenue and Penllyn Blue Bell Pike. They also approved a resolution authorizing the Township to be the sponsorship applicant of a PA DCED Multi-Modal Grant application on behalf of Gwynedd Friends Meeting so that they can obtain funding to install a bus shelter and corresponding walking path along Sumneytown Pike. The BOS also approved a stormwater management agreement with Montgomery County for the stormwater management facilities located along Sumneytown Pike in conjunction with the intersection widening project at Bethlehem Pike, Norristown Road, Sumneytown Pike and Penllyn Pike.
In other business, the BOS approved the advertisement of an ordinance adding specific vehicle turn restrictions on Brookside Avenue, they authorized the EAC to purchase updated bird town signs and storm drain stenciling materials, and they approved the recommendation for the location of the solar charging station and solar work station picnic table in Oxford and Ingersoll Parks, respectively. The BOS also adopted resolution #2022-17, a clean energy resolution. This resolution is detailed in the general news section of this newsletter. The BOS will hold their next meeting on Tuesday, July 26th at 7pm.
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The EAC held their regular meeting on June 8, 2022. The EAC discussed updates pertaining to a clean energy resolution. They were working with the Township Solicitor to finalize the language of the resolution. At a special meeting held June 14, 2022, the EAC approved the wording of the resolution and it was listed on the June BOS agenda. The PRB approved the proposal from Sunbolt Products to install solar work stations as demonstration projects at Oxford and Ingersoll parks. This request was also approved by the BOS at their June meeting. The EAC is planning a special meeting with the BOS to discuss goals and initiatives, the date of this meeting has not yet been determined. In other business, the EAC will request authorization to update the bird town signage within the Township as the signs have changed. They will also be adding two new signs. Other discussion topics included participation in Fall Fest, scheduling additional 309 ramp cleanup events, and expanding sub-committee membership.
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The June meeting of the ZHB was held on Thursday, June 9th, 2022. The next hearing is scheduled for July 14, 2022.
876 Penn Oak Road: AA-1 Residential District; Applicant seeks variances for relief from a side yard setback, rear yard setback, and impervious coverage ratio to facilitate the construction of a one-story addition and two-story garage addition to an existing single-family dwelling. (Approved with conditions on size of garage)
912 N. Bethlehem Pike: D-1 Business Zoning District; Applicant seeks a special exception to permit a personal training, small-group fitness instruction use. (Approved)
July Hearings- July 14, 2022:
812 N. Bethlehem Pike: D-1 Business Zoning District: Applicant seeks a variance to allow outdoor storage associated with office and warehouse use on the subject property.
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The PRB held their regular meeting on Tuesday, June 21st, 2022. The PRB continue to review a proposed ordinance for large group event permits and are working on a contract with the Lower Gwynedd Little League. In May, they had approved the request to remove the river rock in Oxford park and replace the area with asphalt bordered by the pavers that were removed from Pen-Ambler Park. Township staff will work on completing that project. The PRB also made a request to the BOS to replace 8 water fountains in the community parks including Pen-Ambler, Penllyn, Penllyn Woods, and Oxford. The PRB kicked off its summer concert series this week! The concerts are held at Oxford Park from 7pm-8pm. Meghan Carey is scheduled to play Wednesday, July 6th and Eric Mintel is scheduled for July 13th. Summer camp has been canceled this year due to low enrollment and staffing issues.
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The Lower Gwynedd Township Public Works Department has immediate openings for two Public Works Laborer positions. These full-time positions are responsible for maintenance and repair of roadways, trails, parks, rights of way, storm and sanitary sewer and Township owned and maintained properties, as well as, snow removal. The desired applicants are preferred to have basic knowledge of the day-to-day operations of a municipal Public Works Department along with prior construction, maintenance or trade experience. Valid driver’s license is required and successful applicants are required to obtain a Class A commercial driver license with Tanker Endorsement within 6 months of hire. Starting salary is dependent on qualifications. Excellent benefits package . Please submit all applications with resumes to Fred Zollers, Public Works Director, P.O. Box 625, Spring House, PA 19477 or e-mail fzollers@lowergwynedd.org no later than Friday, July 29th, 2022.
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Lower Gwynedd Township
1130 North Bethlehem Pike
Spring House, PA 19477
Phone: (215) 646-5302
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Keep an eye out for our August issue! |
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