Commissioner Roseanne Milazzo

Your West Norriton Board of Commissioners is fighting for you.

In May of this year, residents were informed of a proposed rate increase by PA American Water (PAWC). At our May 5^th Work Session, I brought this up for discussion with the Board of Commissioners. My fellow Commissioners all agreed that another rate increase in just two years is too much to ask of our residents. The Board instructed our staff to draft a letter to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) opposing the rate increase. We chose to file a formal complaint against this increase. The court proceeding is scheduled for late September. I agreed to coordinate with our attorneys on this matter for the Board.
Meanwhile, the PUC conducted hearings in August so the public could express opinions regarding this proposed hike. On August 18, I presented testimony regarding our opposition. I encourage you to read the transcript of my full remarks. Here is a summary of my four main points:

It is immoral to ask for a rate increase in the middle of the Covid-19 Pandemic.
PAWC can afford to forgo a rate increase since its executives, employees, and shareholders have all received exceptionally high earnings.
Water is already too expensive for West Norriton residents.
- We pay the 6^th highest water rates in the nation.
- Rates for water have already increased 76% in the last ten years from an average bill of $32.70 in 2010 to a current average of $57.85. The proposed increase would make that 113%, or $69.73.
- Private water systems like PAWC charge an average of 84% more than do public water systems in the commonwealth.
- Water is necessary for life. It is unconscionable to raise rates even higher.
Although the law allows the company to spread its cost of operations for wastewater facilities to its water companies, doing so places an unfair burden on West Norriton because we already pay the cost of operating our own sewer system.

At the end of my remarks, I asked that the PUC deny any increase in water rates. Yes, PAWC has done much work in our township, but it is their duty to bring their system up to standard and maintain a water system that provides clean, quality, affordable drinking water to our residents.

There were eighht separate public hearings on this matter. All were held via the Internet. I attended all of them and listened as an individual after individual spoke about the hardship this increase would place on their already strained budgets.

There are consumer groups and state consumer advocates who are also complainants in this case, but West Norriton is the only township that has stepped up to fight for our residents. It is important that we fight for what is fair for our residents. I will update you on any changes or results as they occur. Let’s hope that the PUC will listen to the many people who need clean, affordable water.

Commissioner Martin Miller

Commissioner’s Quarterly Donation

Our township’s Board of Commissioners are honored to serve the residents, but we think we can do more. We are paid a very modest salary but we decided to contribute a portion of each of our salaries to worthy local causes on a quarterly basis.

We began in February by donating $500 ($100 per commissioner per quarter) to the Youth and Government Club at the Norristown Area High School. This money went toward offsetting costs associated with students traveling to, and staying in, Harrisburg to learn more about how our state government works.

Our second $500 donation, done in the summer, went to the Montgomery County OIC. This organization has been especially invaluable throughout the pandemic by ensuring area residents did not go hungry. They continue their work by providing a safe, secure environment for students to get online to allow virtual learning, and they are participating in contract tracing for those affected by the coronavirus.

Our third donation of $500 will go to Jefferson Fire Company. The pandemic has severely limited their ability to fundraise, which is the main way they secure money for their organization. Our Board is grateful for their volunteerism in protecting our community.

If you have ideas about recipients for future donations, please send them to JBobst@wntwp.com.

2020 Road Paving Program

The West Norriton Township 2020 Street Paving program began in July and will be completed by mid-October. This year’s Street Paving Program saw a total of 34 township roads be milled and overlaid through four separate paving contracts. These improvements were funded by the Township’s yearly allocation from the state’s Liquid Fuels Program and bond proceeds from the 2020 Capital Borrowing.

The township roads completed this year are:
Sheridan Lane, W. James St, Hancock Ave, Lincoln Terrace, Buchanan St, W Oak St, N. Montgomery Ave & Pine St (W. James to Sterigere), Colonial Ave, Deacon Dr, Prelate Cir, Bishop Dr, Norrington Dr, Hillendale Dr, Greentree La, Cathedral La, Windmill Cir, Snowflake Cir, Winterfall Ave, Carousel Cir, Statesman Rd, Sentry La, Cranberry Dr, Countryside La, Rafter Rd, Craftsman Rd, Treetop La, Sandalwood La, Fieldcrest Ave, Dragon Cir, Cobblestone Cir, Rockwood Dr, Juniata Rd and Brandon Rd.

Additionally, Pennsylvania American Water resurfaced the 1800 block of Sterigere St. and Spera Lane as part of water main upgrades in the township.

Deputy Chief Morris, Retired Chief of Police Mabry and Chief of Police Kelly

Righ to Left: Deputy Chief of Police Stephen Morris, (Retired) Chief of Police Dale Mabry, and Chief of Police Michael Kelly

Retirements and Promotions

This summer saw a changing of the guard in the West Norriton Township Police Department. Chief A. Dale Mabry retired after 41 years of service, the last eight years serving as Chief of Police. Chief Mabry had a long and distinguished career. while serving as the former coordinator for the Valley Forge Area DUI Enforcement Team and former Supervisor of the Traffic Safety Unit. He also served as Team Leader, Assistant Team Leader and original member of the West Norriton Emergency Response Team. He also served as Team Commander of the Central Montgomery County Emergency Response Team (CMCSWAT). Chief Mabry was hired as a Patrol Officer on June 4, 1979, and was promoted to Sergeant in January 1987, and to Lieutenant in April 2002. After being named Deputy Chief of Police in 2006 he was promoted to Chief on January 1, 2013.

With Chief Mabry’s retirement, former Deputy Chief Michael Kelly was promoted to Chief of Police effective July 1. Chief Kelly has been employed with the West Norriton Township Police Department since August 1984. Chief Kelly served as Deputy Chief since May 2013 and has received numerous Chief’s Commendations, Commendations of Merit and Distinguished Unit Commendations. In September 2009 Chief Kelly graduated from the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

To complete the leadership team of the Police Department, Sergeant Stephen Morris was promoted to Deputy Chief of Police effective July 1. Deputy Chief Morris has been a West Norriton Police Officer since July 10, 2000 and was promoted to Corporal in May 2005, Detective in May 2007 and Sergeant in October 2013.

We wish Chief Mabry a very happy and well-deserved retirement and extend our congratulations to Chief Kelly and Deputy Chief Morris as they lead our Police Department for many years to come.

Pillars of the Community

Do you know someone in the township who has done something exceptional? We want to recognize our neighbors! We are surrounded by exceptional people, but we don’t necessarily know about their exploits.

This includes, but is not limited to:

• Volunteering
• Exceptional military or first responder service
• Working with children (fostering/adoption, teaching/tutoring, etc.)
• Excellence in research (medical, etc.)

If you can think of a township resident who fits this description, nominate them for the Pillars of the Community award. The recipients will be decided by a committee of township residents.

The honorees will be recognized with a trophy, at a ceremony at a Commissioner’s meeting. The honorees’ names will be present for all to see in perpetuity in the township meeting room.

If you are interested in nominating someone for this award, please use the online application.

Sale of the Norristown Municipal Waste Authority System

The Municipality of Norristown has begun the process to sell its sanitary system, including the wastewater treatment plant, to Aqua America for $82 million. West Norriton Township sends our sanitary sewer to the Norristown Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant on E. Washington Street in Norristown and currently have a treatment agreement in place for our sanitary sewer flows.

While the Board of Commissioners closely monitors the sale proceedings, the residents of West Norriton should see little impact from the sale. The West Norriton sanitary sewer system is not part of this sale and the operations and setting of sewer rates still falls under the control of the elected Board of Commissioners. Aqua America will assume our current treatment agreement and any proposed changed to the current agreement will need to be negotiated by both parties.

Please visit our township website and Facebook page for updates. We will post as more information becomes available.

Applying for Boards and Commissions

West Norriton Township is a first-class Township governed by a Board of Commissioners. We are consistently working to improve the way the public relates to the Board of Commissioners and how the Commissioners reach out to and encourage citizen involvement. The Code and State legislation allow the board to engage residents through the creation of authorities, boards and commissions. Although some of these entities are mandatory, such as a zoning hearing board if your township has enacted a zoning ordinance, many others are permissive. The concept of authorities, boards and commissions not only allows the governing body to draw on citizens with particular expertise, but also provides a channel for citizens to become more directly involved in their government.

West Norriton Township’s boards, commissions, committees and task forces provide an invaluable service to the Township. These advisory boards originate from different sources. Some are established by ordinance while others are established by resolution or motion of the Commissioners. The Board of Commissioners decides on whether an advisory board should be established, other than those required by State law.

To apply for an open township advisory board position, please visit www.westnorritontwp.org click on the Government tab and apply.

Villanova RISE Forum

The Resilient Innovation through Sustainable Engineering (RISE) Forum is the corporate consortium of Villanova University’s graduate program in Sustainable Engineering.

RISE is the only local leadership forum dedicated to advancing the field of corporate sustainability through the discipline of engineering. Their mission is to accelerate the identification and application of data-driven solutions that will help its members increase the sustainability of their respective organizations. The goal is to help executives apply the principles of sustainable engineering to secure a competitive advantage in the marketplace by reducing costs, managing risk, fueling growth and enhancing reputation.

RISE is both action-oriented—teaching companies how to apply innovative solutions—and rigorous—quantifying the risks and opportunities associated with a given solution.
West Norriton Township and the West Norriton Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) are partnering with the RISE Forum to help identify long-term, cost-saving measures to reduce our environmental impact while providing cost-effective operations for our residents.

Fall 2020 Newsletter