Collegeville Borough Discusses Public Works Projects

Wednesday's Collegeville Borough Council meeting was fairly brief, but several projects came up during the regular reports and business discussions during the meeting.

Councilman Rowan Keenan, while reporting for the Collegeville/Trappe Municipal Authority and the Public Works Department, said that the departments had extensively discussed new water meters for the borough.

The new meters will be able to be read from the street, which will drastically reduce the time it takes for an employee to complete the job.

When questioned by Council President Terrie Stagliano whether "all the homes in the borough would be affected," Keenan said yes, all the borough's water meters would be replaced.

"Who pays for the new meters?" asked Stagliano.

"CTMA and Public Works will split the cost," Keenan said. 

"So there will be no bill to any homeowners?" Stagliano asked.

Keenan confirmed that there would be no cost to homeowners to have the meter replaced.

Council also reviewed recent bids for three projects and awarded contracts for them.

MAK Services Inc. was awarded a contract for snow removal for 2012-2013 that includes plowing, salting and storing the borough's salt supply for the year.

Council also awarded a contract for $12,500 to Highley Services to build a kiosk at the Perkiomen Train trailhead at Third Avenue and Main Street in Collegeville. The kiosk will be brick and stone and will match the bus stops downtown. It will also have four all-weather bulletin boards where maps and other information can be posted.

There was also some discussion regarding the that damaged Borough Hall.

A 40-year-old man driving west on Main Street suffered a seizure, which then caused him to make a u-turn in his car. The car ran over several trees and damaged the building in the accident. 

The driver was taken to the hospital and later released.

Chief Bart Bucher and Borough Manager Geoff Thompson said that because the driver was a state employee in a state vehicle, the borough will have to get two estimate and process a claim through the state's insurance company.