Editor's Note: This story has been updated to note that Resolution 2020-06 was available for public review before it was voted on during the July 2020 board meeting.
Chalfont Borough Council members continued, at the June 13 meeting, to discuss and argue over matters related to last month’s meeting and the Northern Neshaminy Greenway Trail.
Discussion of the recent local backlash against the Northern Neshaminy Greenway Trail construction project continued to be a talking point which Borough Councilman Mitch Meyerson is focused on addressing fully.
The May council meeting saw a huge turnout of people upset with the trail’s construction, as the space for the trail was cleared without many residents’ knowledge or consent. The work included removing numerous trees, which had helped to absorb water and prevent flooding for Patriot Drive residents.
Meyerson put together a list of questions about the project that he felt the public would like answers to, such as who authorized the work and where funding for the project came from. This list was read aloud during the meeting, though little direct response was given from Meyerson’s fellow council members.
Following the meeting, council president John Engel admitted that he did not see the point of Meyerson’s question list, as he felt most of the answers were already obvious. Engel further noted that councilman Meyerson himself voted “yes” to seek a grant for the project, though he was unsure of the exact dates.
In truth, both Meyerson and Engel, as well as the entire council, had unanimously voted to apply for a grant to fund Northern Neshaminy Greenway Trail nearly three years ago, at the remotely held July 2020 council meeting.
Resolution 2020-06, as it was called on the agenda, was hardly debated at the time. Despite being available to both the public and the council prior to the July 2020 meeting, no discussions formed around the grant application itself, save for a brief explanation by Patrick DiGangi. The entire process from seeking approval to voting on the resolution took no more than four minutes. The full meeting was recorded and is available to watch on the official Chalfont Borough YouTube Channel.
In April 2021, the PA Department of Community & Economic Development approved the council’s grant application, providing the funds that allowed the Northern Neshaminy Greenway Trail Project to go into action.
Join our readers whose generous donations are making it possible for you to read our news coverage. Help keep local journalism alive and our community strong. Donate today.
