Springfield Ward 3 Newsletter

THE ORELAND NEWSLETTER - MARCH 2022

News & Updates for Oreland & Ward 3

Brought to you by:

Jim Lee

Ward 3 Commissioner

215-346-6073

JLee@springfieldmontco.org

Feel free to contact me with any issues, questions, or suggestions for newsletter content and sharing events.

Please share this newsletter to encourage your neighbors to sign up as well. If you know someone without computer access let me know - we'll get them a paper version each time too!

Included in this issue:

Solar Panels!
COVID-19 Information
Board of Commissioners Update
Township Resources and Announcements
Township & Local Event Calendar
Oreland Fact of the Month
Additional Community Events and Resources In and Around Springfield

SOLAR PANELS IN SPRINGFIELD

More and more Springfield residents are getting solar panels. Interested to know if your roof might be a good candidate? The Springfield Environmental Advisory Commission (EAC) offers ways that you might learn more:

You can get a rough idea here of whether your roof is a good candidate for solar.

Here's the EAC's video that will familiarize you with the basics. (Please note: the federal tax credits vary from year to year, so you should always check to make sure you know how much the IRS is allowing in the year in which you install your panels.)

Get help from volunteers at Solarize Montco.

Send your questions to our EAC at solarspringfield@gmail.com.

Springfield Township participates in a national solar open house every October, providing the opportunity to meet with a number of solar owners locally and ask any questions. Send an email to solarspringfield@gmail.com for info on this year's tour.

Important note: Don't assume you're out of the running if you have a shady roof! One of our Flourtown residents has solar panels ground-mounted in her backyard. The panels track the sun bi-directionally every day. Click here for a 36-second time-lapse video of the panels in motion on a sunny August day.

The Philadelphia Inquirer on Sunday 3/6 had a good article in the business section about getting rooftop panels installed. Check the linked article below, and if you can't access email me for a PDF copy.

COVID-19

Montgomery County is in the process of updating its published Covid guidelines, including masking, to align with CDC guidance. This is promising news for sure, but be aware January & February still saw high rates of death concentrated in areas of low vaccination across the country. Here are additional resources that can be visited for the latest updates and guidelines, including vaccine resources on the PA page.

PA Dept of Health - COVID 19 Updates

Springfield Township - COVID 19

CDC Website - COVID 19

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS UPDATE

Here are some of the issues the Board took action on in February:

Green Space Subcommittee. A big benefit that has come out of the debate on the land use and development of the institutional tract on Haws Lane has been the increased widespread focus and concern for how we think about and plan for opportunities to preserve and create green spaces in the township. At our February workshop the commissioners discussed the idea of creating a new subcommittee to prioritize this important and ongoing issue. In late February I met with Commissioners Standish and Ratsavong to brainstorm ideas and structure around those efforts. Our initial areas of focus include: 1. Identifying specific opportunities to preserve and restore existing green spaces; 2. Comprehensive planning & policy strategy in regards to green space; 3. Financing options and structures to consider; 4. Exploring ways to improve or enhance existing land use guidance and zoning. More to come, and look for the Board and subcommittee to call on the public to contribute their feedback, expertise, and participation in shaping this policy.

Clean Energy Transportation Plan. The Board adopted the Springfield Township Energy Transition Plan, part of which outlines a path to 100% zero emission vehicles for the Township's fleets by 2050. This effort & plan presented by our Environmental Advisory Commission is a continuation of the Board's 2019 adoption of this goal. Joy Bergey, Desiree Rammon, and the rest of the EAC members have been a force for good in creating the Clean Energy Transportation Plan in order to guide the Township's implementation.

Montco 2040 Grants. The Board voted to move forward with 2 applications to the Montco 2040 Implementation Grant Program that are targeted to help fund 2 planned projects: 1. Redevelopment of 1725 Walnut Ave (Tankcar Site in Oreland); and 2. Cisco Park Improvement Project. We anticipate the notification of an award decision in or around June of this year.

Enfield Elementary School Zone. The Board approved the contract award to complete the installation of the school zone warning signals on Paper Mill Rd and Montgomery Ave at the new Enfield Elementary. The project should be fully completed within a few months.

Planning Commission Members. The Board approved the reappointment of Amanda Helwig and Joseph Devine to new, four-year terms of service.

Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee Member. The Board approved the appointment of Neil DiFranco to fill an unexpired term of service as the School Board representative on the committee.

Links to meeting agendas and attendance instructions can always be found on the township website (see link in resources section below).

TOWNSHIP RESOURCES & ANNOUNCEMENTS

NEW TAX COLLECTOR

All Springfield Township property owners should have received their first tax bill from Springfield Township's new Tax Collector, Joelle Kleinman. Joelle was elected by the community this past November to replace long-standing tax collector Bonny Davis.

Mrs. Kleinman is now responsible for the billing and collection of real estate taxes for Springfield Township, Montgomery County, and the Springfield Township School District. Please also note that Mrs. Kleinman has selected to utilize a Philadelphia/Chestnut Hill PO Box for her return address. This does not mean tax money will be going to the City of Philadelphia, it is simply the closest post office to her residence.

Visit the Tax Collector's Website HERE.

Please call (215-233-1084) or email Joelle Kleinman to schedule an appointment or if you need special accommodations.

Summer Recreation

Guide 2022

Montco Household

Hazardous Waste 2022 Events

TOWNSHIP PROJECTS PAGE

Make a visit to the township's “Projects” page on the website where you can see the latest updates on major public projects in the township.

Not Everything Can Be Recycled:

A comprehensive list of items and materials NOT collected by our residential recycling program.

Residential Curbside Leaf

Waste Collection Info

GO DIGITAL WITH LIBRARY

E-RESOURCES

Did you know that you can use your library card to access a number of digital resources from the comfort of your home? Whether you want to stay informed, learn a new skill, or dive into research, there are numerous digital opportunities for you to enjoy with the Free Library

READY FOR 100 is now "RENEWABLE SPRINGFIELD"

Learn more about Springfield's leadership in local municipalities taking action on the health of the environment and our commitment to 100% Renewable Energy.