STOWE, PENNSYLVANIA

A NEW MANAGER’S REPORT Craig Lloyd - Township Manager

As many of you know our Township Manager Ed

Whetstone will be retiring in a few weeks. On March 3rd the Board of Commissioners ap-pointed me as Ed’s replacement. First, as a Township resident I would personally like to thank Ed for his 12 years of service. In addition, I truly appreciate the guidance he has provided to me in my Township Emergency Management roles ,as well as making the transition into the Township Manager role a smooth one. I look forward to serving in this role and am equally honored and excited to serve the Town-ship for which I have been a resident of for almost 20 years. While our Township is smaller in both area and population than some of our

neighboring municipalities, we do have

quite a bit going on. It is impossible for us to cover everything going on in our news-letters. Therefore, I would like to remind everyone that our Board of Commissioners meet the first Wednesday of the month for their general Board Meeting and the 3rd Wednesday of the month for their Work-shop Meeting. Both of these meetings are open to the public. If anyone has any questions and concerns regarding the Township please do not hesi-tate to contact me at the Township Building 610-323-7717.

MANAGER’S REPORT Important Dates

May 4 – Board Meeting May 5 – Town Watch May 14 – Shredding Event May 18 – Workshop Meeting May 19 – Planning Commission Mtg.

May 28 – 3rd Annual Fishing Rodeo May 30 – Memorial Day-Closed June 1 – Board Meeting June 2 – Town Watch June 11 – Community Day July 4 – July 4th-Closed July 6 – Board Meeting July 7 – Town Watch July 21 – Planning Commission Mtg. Aug 3 – Board Meeting Aug 4 – Town Watch Sept 5 – Labor Day-Closed Sept 7 – Board Meeting Sept 7-10 – West End Fire Company Carnival Sept 8 – Town Watch Sept 15 – Planning Commission Mtg. Sept 21 – Workshop Meeting *All Township meetings begin at 7pm.

Contact Information

Township Office 610-323-7717 Police 610-323-2090 Tax Collector 484-300-4910 Township Engineer 610-323-4040

Ed Whetstone - Township Manager

As our Township Manager Roger was responsible for guiding this Township for 21 years and forging the pact with the landfill so the residents could enjoy a better quality of life. In closing I would like to thank everyone who has helped me and made this a great enjoyable journey. I will never forget my friends in West Pottsgrove and am only a call away if anyone needs me. I would be re-miss if I didn’t thank our Township Staff for all the great years. It is an amaz-ing thing at the end of the day to see all that gets done in the township with two people in the office and three men on the road crew, I salute you all for an excellent job.

many projects completed; new roads, sanitary sewer work, improvements at our park and many small scale projects to make the Quality Of Life bet-ter for all. The majority of these projects were completed with grant funding which total around $3,000,000. None of this could have been accom-plished without the support of the Commissioners and the fantastic team of consultants and engineers I had to work with. During my time in West Potts-grove I have made countless friends in the community. I had the opportunity to work with so many good people that it is hard to name them all. Sadly one of my dear friends, Roger Villano, who guided me for many years will not see this as he passed on April 3, 2016.

As many of you may have heard this will be my last newsletter as I will be retiring. I want to thank the Board of

Commissioners that hired me for the position of Township Manager and gave me the outstanding opportunity to represent the Township. I watched with every passing election changes in the Board and noted that all Commission-ers are serving to make the community a better place to be. Since August of 2004 I’ve seen changes in the way we have to conduct business due to state & federal regulations and the closing of the landfill in 2005. We have endured through the downturn in the economy with a prudent finan-cial plan and with very little revenues. There has been

Tax Reminder: Per Capita Tax that comes out in July is for anyone 18 or older who is not a full-time student or in the military and

lives in the township.

Any questions regarding tax issues should be referred to:

Jeff Kazmierczak

jmk5402@hotmail.com 484-300-4910

WEST POTTSGROVE PAGE 2

MS4 STORMWATER PROGRAM

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL UPDATE

Untreated or uncontrol led storm-water runoff is the number one cause of impairment in our local water-ways. Polluted runoff is often transported through municipal stormwater systems where it is eventually discharged into streams untreated. The Environmental Pro-tection Agency (EPA) has established a municipal stormwater management pro-gram known as the MS4 Program that is intended to improve our Nation's waters by reducing the quantities of pollutants that stormwater picks up and carries into the storm sewer systems during a storm event. As part of the MS4 Program, your municipality holds a permit to discharge their stormwater into local waterways. This permit requires the mu-

nicipality to design a stormwater man-agement program that reduces the dis-charge of pollutants to the maximum extent possible, that protects water quality and that satisfies the water quality requirements of the Clean Wa-ter Act. In Pennsylvania, the MS4 program is administered by the Department of En-vironmental Protection (DEP).

The MS4 stormwater management pro-

gram has six elements termed "minimum

control measures" which when imple-

mented should result in significant reduc-

tion in pollutants discharged into receiv-

ing waters. The six minimum control meas-

ures and the actions required by your

municipality are outlined below.

1) Public Education and Outreach 2) Public Participation/Involvement 3) Illicit Discharge Direction and Elimination 4) Construction Site Runoff Control 5) Post-Construction Runoff Control 6) Pollution Prevention In response to the six elements listed and the requirements of the MS4 program, the township continually looks to improve water quality throughout the township and pro-vide assistance to residents and businesses who would like to participate. The township has recently secured funding through a Montgomery County Low Volume Road

Grant Program to complete a stormwater management project in the Township. This project is a prime example of how the Township is committed to improving the water quality in their watershed and meet-ing the requirements of the MS4 program. The project is located in the area of School Lane where runoff discharges to the Fritz stream. This area has been a source of ongoing stormwater problems. Due to the existence of natural springs and the lack of stormwater control measures runoff cur-rently is uncontrolled and untreated prior to

entering the Fritz stream has resulted in ponding and erosive conditions. The School Lane Improvements project is expected to be completed this year and the scope of work will include the following: -Complete roadway reconstruction of School Lane from Lemon/Race to Race St. -Grading and resurfacing of the alley from its intersection with Walnut Street down to its intersection with School Lane and below -Placement of surface consisting of Modi-fied 2A stone throughout the alley -Installation of a storm collection system within School Lane and the adjoining alley to collect and convey runoff from School Lane and the connecting alley -Remove and replace the existing end wall for the pipe discharging into the Fritz

stream and streambank restoration sur-rounding the discharge pipe -Placement of erosion and sediment control measures before and during construction -Placement of necessary traffic controls during construction West Pottsgrove Township is committed to improving water quality in the water-shed via better management of stormwa-

ter. Additional resources to help prevent

stormwater pollution from reaching our watersheds are available at www.westpottsgrove.org.

THE CHIEF’S CORNER

Terri Koehler - West Pottsgrove Elementary School Principal

It has been very busy at West Pottsgrove Elementary School this school year. I want to begin by thanking West Pottsgrove Township for the ongoing support of the school. The Police Department supports the school in many ways from officers visiting the school and classrooms talking with the students and reading to students to the participation from the department for our annual Trunk or Treat. These positive inter-actions with the officers go a long way to developing positive relationships in the community. We also thank the West End Fire Department for their annual Fire Safety Assembly for the students. The chil-dren enjoy the visit from the fire depart-ment and the opportunity to check out the

trucks up close. I want to also thank the Town Watch for donating the candy canes

to the children during our annual Holiday Sing Along. This year at West Pottsgrove Elementary, the focus has been on Wellness for the staff and students. The goal is to provide the children with opportunities to exercise their bodies as well as their minds during the course of the school day. The goal is also to provide the children with opportuni-ties to participate in brain breaks through-out the day so they are not sitting for long periods of time. We have found that this has been beneficial in helping children maintain their focus during the school day. Through the support of a grant from the Pottstown Health and Wellness Foundation and monies earned through another grant

opportunity for Health and Wellness, the school has been able to purchase Wellness

equipment for classrooms, provide opportu-nities for students to sample healthy snacks and this spring we will be learning about gardening and growing vegetables. All of these things help teach the children things they can do at school and at home for a healthier lifestyle. For families with children that will be five years of age on or before August 31, kin-dergarten registration is currently open. We offer full day kindergarten for all stu-dents. If you have questions about our kindergarten program, please contact the school at 610-323-6510 and ask to speak to Terri Koehler, the principal or Renee Lloyd, school secretary. We would be happy to answer any questions you may

have. Registration for incoming kindergar-ten and or new students can be done on

Matt Stofflet - West Pottsgrove Police Chief

With spring fast approaching and the weather getting nicer out, we at the Police Dept. are looking forward to some upcom-ing events with the community. May 14th is Emergency Services Day at the West Pottsgrove Elementary School, and May 28th is the 3rd Annual Fishing Ro-

deo at the Ralph Murgia Park. We encourage all our residents to be mindful of the increased traffic of bicycles and pedestrians as our residents get out to enjoy the weather. We also encourage all residents to review the curfew policy of West Pottsgrove Twp.

Lastly, unfortunately, the calls for service in regards to thefts increase with the pe-destrian traffic, please secure all of your personal items and lock your vehicles. Come out and join us for some great events. Hopefully the sunshine finds each and every one of you after long winter!

PAGE 3 STOWE, PENNSYLVANIA

WEST POTTSGROVE TOWNSHIP RECREATION

WEST END FIRE COMPANY It's that time again to open the windows and start feeling the fresh air and sunshine. With the spring season upon us, West End Fire Company would like to remind every-body of some safety tips and upcoming events. When refueling your lawn equipment, do not fill gas tanks when the engines are hot as the gas may ignite!! When checking or cleaning your equipment remember to have

all safety devices in place and the engine off. As always, we would also like to re-mind everyone to check your smoke detec-tors and test them monthly. There are also a few events to look for-ward to this year. The 2nd annual West End Fire Co. Carnival will be held on the firehouse property September 7-10. Our annual Open House will be in October with fire truck rides, smoke maze and much

more. Also, be on the lookout for first chicken BBQ!! We would also like to thank those who came out to support our 2nd annual Easter Flower Sale, it was a huge success! Anyone who is interested in learning more about the fire company, please stop in on Thurs-day nights between 7 and 9. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Greg Bloch - Fire Chief

Charlie Valentine - Commissioner

FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK

The Township has many recreational fa-cilities for our residents to enjoy. Please take the time to visit all of our recreation areas as follows. Playgrounds-We have three playgrounds

located throughout the Township. Located on Howard Street, Vine Street and at the Township building, each play areas is open until dusk. The area at the Township build-ing has a pavilion that can be rented by residents for a $25 fee. Remember no smoking is permitted at our playgrounds or other recreational areas. Community Day-This event will again be held at the Community Pool on June 11 from noon until 5 PM. Come out to the pool and meet friends and relatives for a nice afternoon in the shaded grove. There will be food & drinks for sale at a reasonable price and fun for all. The pool is open for swimming at a discount rate and you may want to also purchase a membership at this time. Watch for the signs to flood the Township during the week. Murgia Park-This is an ideal place for a picnic, a walk or just a gathering to meet

old and new friends. There is a loop trail for walking, grills for a cookout and picnic tables. Benches have been added last year and the park has plenty of parking. In the future the trail will be expanded, a

bridge will be constructed to connect both sides of the park and another bridge will be added to cross the Manatawny. Please remember to clean up after using the park before you leave. Community Pool-The pool operated by Bennington Pool Services will be open dur-ing the summer for your swimming enjoy-ment. Swimming lessons and some special events are planned for this season. If you are looking for a place for a party you rent the pavilion at the pool and enjoy a family outing or just greet friends. Come out to the pool to relax and enjoy a good time. For more information call 484-358-5821, email info@westpottsgrovepool.com or visit Bennington pool services website. Baseball Fields-There are three fields lo-cated in the Township. One field is at the Township Building Complex and is used by the Pottsgrove Little League and Predators

Baseball Association. This field can be used for a recreational game if there are no league games or practices. West Potts-grove Elementary also has two fields for use that residents may use as long as there

no games scheduled. Basketball Courts-There is a court at the Township Complex and playing is allowed until sunset. The basketball court is not available if there is a function at the pavil-ion. There is another court at the Elemen-tary School and this area may be used until sunset. No smoking permitted at either area. Portable basketball hoops are not permitted to be place on sidewalks or in streets. Please also don’t erect a perma-nent net at the sidewalk that hangs over the street as this is not permitted. Please have fun and obey the rules, no smoking, no foul language, and no use af-ter sunset. Please do not damage equip-ment or post graffiti. Please throw all trash in the cans provided. Additional rules are posted at all areas. If you see anything that is inappropriate please call the police at 610-323-2090.

Steve Miller - Board President

Happy spring & summer to all, this is my third year as Commissioner and my first year as President. I would like to provide a few brief updates and recognition to our Emergency Responders. We purchased our street lights back from PECO effective this year and will see a significant savings in the operational cost. We are waiting to hear word on grant funding to fit out the old lights with new LED lights for a greater savings and better performance. We continue our work on I&I which is

inflow & infiltration to the sanitary sewer system. Inflow is clean water entering the system through downspouts, floor drain and sump pumps, while infiltration is water that comes in through broken pipes or cracks in home sewer laterals. We are also doing repairs to our roadway system and com-pleted a block of East Vine Street last fall. In today’s active world where trouble can occur anywhere it is good to have Police Officers, a Fire Department, Fire Police and Emergency Management active in our Township. I commend all our Police Offi-

cers and Fire Fighters, along with our Fire Police for the excellent job they do in per-forming their duties and keeping us safe. My hat goes off to Police Chief; Matt Stof-flet of the Police Department, Chief of West End Fire Department; Greg Bloch, Lori Eckman Captain of the Fire Police and Craig Lloyd our new Manager and Emer-gency Management Director for the valu-able service they perform. As always our Board meetings are the first and third Wednesday’s of the month and everyone is welcome to attend.

West Pottsgrove Township

980 Grosstown Road

Stowe, PA 19464

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID POTTSTOWN, PA PERMIT NO. 242

West Pottsgrove Township is served my Waste Management for waste and recy-cling collections. Here are a few notes on frequently addressed topics: Bulk Items: You may place bulk items out for pickup with your household waste on Wednesday. Units containing CFC or Freon must be scheduled separately. Leaf Waste Collection: During October and November ONLY, leaf waste is collected every other week. Holidays: If a holiday falls on your Wednesday pickup, your trash and recy-

cling pickup will be Thursday. Holidays include: New Year’s Day Independence Day Thanksgiving Day Memorial Day Labor Day Christmas Day Household Hazardous Wastes: Gasoline, waste oil, non-latex paints, varnish, thinners, pesticides, drain cleaner, pool chemicals, bottled gas, car or truck parts are not per-mitted with your regular household waste. For info on Hazardous Wastes please visit www.montcopa.org or call 610-278-3618.

Single Stream Recycling means ALL recy-clables are placed together in the cart for pickup! Please remember to rinse items before placing in the bin. Lids are also accepted. What Should You Recycle? Cartons: Milk and juice cartons Paper: Newspaper, magazines, phone books, junk mail, catalogs, cracker and cereal boxes, corrugated cardboard (must be flattened) Glass: Bottles and jars (brown, clear, and green)

Metals: Food and beverage cans Plastics: Any household plastic bottle or container with #1-#7 on the bottom. What is NOT Recyclable? Motor Oil Containers Plastic Grocery Bags Styrofoam or Microwave Trays Window Glass or Drinking Glasses Aluminum Foil or Foil Pans Light Bulbs Ceramics Plastic (without numbers)

WASTE AMD SINGLE STREAM RECYCLING SERVICES AT WEST POTTSGROVE

Any Questions?

Call Waste Management of Pennsylvania:

800-869-5566