Narberth Council elects new member, passes bridge agreement

Narberth Borough Council President Sam Quinn acknowledged it was a difficult decision council had to make at the Feb. 8 caucus meeting.

"I acknowledge you all for putting in applications," Quinn said of the four applicants. "We've had the good fortune of receiving four resumes and having four interviews."

Last week, Narberth Council held a special meeting to interview four applicants – Ken Jacobs, Andrea Deutsch, Richard Diaz and Michael Gaudini – vying for the council seat left vacant by the resignation of Surge Ghosh. According to council code, such vacancies are required to be filled within 30 days.

Quinn announced that Jacobs had pulled out of the race for personal reasons, leaving Gaudini, Diaz and Deutsch left for the open seat. Only Diaz and Deutsch were in attendance at the meeting.

"It was difficult to make a decision but I know Andrea, she's been in the borough for a long time, I know her personally and know her integrity and interest in working with the borough," Councilwoman Heidi Boise said. "She's shown she's ready carry on."

Boise and council did acknowledge Diaz, with Boise specifically saying she'd like to speak with him after the meeting to discuss other opportunities for Diaz to get involved in the borough.

Quinn called a vote for nomination, and Deutsch was unanimously approved. She was sworn in immediately afterwards.

Deutsch, who said she was inititally nervous when she walked into the meeting, felt honored. In a phone interview with Neighbors, Deutsch said she hasn't heard which committees she will serve, but added that she would find out by Monday.

"Now the fun really starts," Deutsch said. "There's a lot of work to be done"

Deutsch said she ran with incredible people, including Diaz, who she hopes will stay involved in the borough.

After Diaz spoke with Boise, he spoke to Neighbors about the caucus outcome.

"I definitely think they made a good choice," Richard Diaz said after the meeting. "Andrea has been a longtime resident and business owner, and she'll do a great job."

Diaz added that he was more than willing to get involved in the planning committee and the Narberth Civic Association.

Following Deutsch's nomination and swearing in, council discussed updates and work for the various committees, and voted to approve an agreement:

Councilman Bob Weisbord discussed the planning commission work discussed at the Feb. 6 meeting with Montgomery County Senior Design Planner Sean Metrick. Residents and the commission met with Metrick to discuss how they might change Narberth zoning documents in the future.

The meeting discussed the rewriting of the borough's zoning standards to focus on the design of buildings, public spaces, land use, parking and related aspects. Metrick produced a map based on the land use and tax parcels the public and the commission discussed. The map (pictured above) can be found on the second floor of the administration building.

Residents interested in learning more are encouraged to attend the next building and zoning committee meeting and planning commission meeting on Monday, March 5.

The economic development committee announced there would be happy hour today, Thursday Feb. 9, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 at the Great American Pub on Haverford Avenue. The happy is sponsored by the Narberth Business Association, who plan on discussing past and future events.

Councilwoman Boise discussed updates to the North Narberth Avenue and Rockland Avenue bridges. Boise said the Narberth Avenue Bridge project was well underway, with drawings nearing completion.

Boise said a delay regarding Rockland Avenue Bridge resulted in the bridge not getting demolished until July or August 2012.

The delay may not be a bad thing after all, indicative of the council's unanimous approval of a Rockland Avenue Bridge Federalization Agreement.

Prior to the agreement, Narberth would have had to fund 20 percent of the $1 million demolition cost.

Under the agreement, 80 percent of the funds come from the federal government, 15 percent from PennDOT and the remaining five percent from the borough.

"Some delays give you money," Borough Manager Bill Martin laughed.

The next Narberth Borough Council meeting is Feb. 13 at 8 p.m.