[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6573331,"mediaKeyId","3071587-36b9c5771f2433f15a8f4868811ff65a","parentId",3071587,"title","Votes at a glance: Montgomery County commissioners approve planning contracts, cell tower easement changes, bonds, reappointments and routine items","audioSeconds",1354,"startMs",5928000,"endMs",7282000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3071587-36b9c5771f2433f15a8f4868811ff65a&start=5928&end=7282","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3071587-36b9c5771f2433f15a8f4868811ff65a/thumbnail_5928000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6573331/Montgomery-County/Pennsylvania/Votes-at-a-glance-Montgomery-County-commissioners-approve-planning-contracts-cell-tower-easement-changes-bonds-reappointments-and-routine-items","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6573331-8c0646f479873ccef840cb2e2f9d055e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163962&Signature=IvvZUGlHe1LeQMid5j6Okqm-gHCsPvGCjLJGw-lGnv-t198rlchxQjK5rbWXtzP7tNjJVYdethlKJB5bjCj8upRvcOJrJn-nKsGaGC7s1uwSB6ZERlA8-1HTr9JeM3WG52C0NRhIzIWzoXPhy3p-zvU61IjgrsmADYmI3YxFryOLA46YbpIKQS9Gld3uHIXRGlNmANg57TT7DcQdCgDsU2KFLYGL3UoGrYUdfd87bSXrprQp0sE1nJx5Ljd3I~TSRn1AWzRed8lRlYCoMFPOHOgsXcpzEH3eHSl-~Hx4PUJABqjd74Dyq0i57ohV-tVQn~TWKorpyVVJQ3lIrydEBA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montgomery County, PA","date","2025-04-21T19:50:32.353Z","article","The Montgomery County Board of Commissioners voted Thursday to approve a series of resolutions, contracts and routine items. Key approved actions ranged from short-term planning contracts to a conditional approval allowing a cell tower on county-open-space land, and a TEFRA authorization for a school bond issue.

What passed
- Authorization of short-term planning assistance contracts (Wissahickon School District, Jenkintown School District and the municipality of Norristown). The planning commission will provide enrollment projection and ordinance update services; municipal and school-district cost shares were recorded in the contracts presented.
- A conditional approval permitting a single cell tower on Penland Woods in Lower Gwynedd Township, where the county had provided open-space acquisition funding in the 1990s. The resolution includes conditions requiring notice to Wissahickon Trails on future easement changes, commitment of a share of tower lease revenue to conservation work in the township, a removal clause if the tower becomes obsolete, and a requirement to pursue a “net conservation benefit” parcel to offset the change in use.
- TEFRA approval for the Montgomery County Industrial Development Authority to issue up to approximately $5,000,000 in tax-exempt revenue bonds to finance capital improvements at Friends' Central School (locations in Wynnewood); the county’s approval was required under federal TEFRA rules because the project is in Montgomery County.
- Reappointment of a member to the Agricultural Land Preservation Board.
- Approval of personnel lists, contract advertisements, awards and renewals presented as exhibits and the relocation of 11 polling places for the May 20, 2025 primary election.

Vote outcomes and procedure
Commissioners moved, seconded and voted on each item during the meeting; votes were recorded as in favor and the minutes record the motions passing. Where specific movers and seconders were stated during the meeting, those names are listed in the actions below. The county solicitor and department presenters were present for items that required legal or technical explanation.

Full list of recorded actions (selected)
- Short-term planning contracts (Wissahickon, Jenkintown, Norristown): approved (mover: Commissioner DeBello; seconder: Commissioner Winder). Contract costs and municipal/school shares were included in the agenda materials.
- Penland Woods cell tower resolution (conditional approval): approved (mover: Commissioner Weiner; seconder: Commissioner Winder). Conditions require conservation offsets, revenue use for conservation, notice to Wissahickon Trails and removal if obsolete.
- TEFRA approval for Friends' Central School bond issuance (approx. $5,000,000): approved (mover: Commissioner Keblow; seconder: Commissioner Weiner). County not financially liable; proceeds to be used for campus capital projects.
- Reappointment to Agricultural Land Preservation Board: approved (motion by Commissioner DeBello; second by Commissioner Winder).
- Personnel and salary board lists: approved (motions and seconds recorded in meeting); some commissioners asked for separate consideration of items in future agendas.
- Advertisement and awards of bids, RFPs and contract renewals (exhibits A–C): approved as presented.
- Election Board: relocation of 11 polling places for the May 20, 2025 primary election: approved (motion moved and seconded; ballots and voter notifications to be mailed). The county reported the Commonwealth Court had issued a ruling enabling final ballot preparations.

Notes and next steps
Several items recorded conditions that require further work (for example, the Penland Woods conservation offset and the cell-tower removal clause). County staff and external partners will continue to implement contract terms and follow-up actions. The commissioners scheduled future board meetings and reminded the public of the May 20 primary election date.

Ending
The board adjourned and then continued with related administrative boards (salary and election boards) as recorded in the meeting minutes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Montgomery County Board of Commissioners Meeting - April 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Board of Commissioners approved multiple resolutions and routine matters, including short-term planning contracts, a cell tower on Penland Woods with conditions, TEFRA approval for a school bond, a farm-board reappointment and multiple administrative contracts and personnel items.","taxTitle","Montgomery County, Pennsylvania","taxId",3511,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6573336,"County planning commission launches 'Fully Charged' website and proposes EV chargers at county sites",212,5114000,5326000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3071587-36b9c5771f2433f15a8f4868811ff65a&start=5114&end=5326","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3071587-36b9c5771f2433f15a8f4868811ff65a/thumbnail_5114000.jpg","/articles/6573336/Montgomery-County/Pennsylvania/County-planning-commission-launches-Fully-Charged-website-and-proposes-EV-chargers-at-county-sites","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6573336-9c6d63134e8d86dd966f4202dc74886e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163962&Signature=RpAYzUaWZ9z7KCKiBu6-SyD3gQ6k65MXhvm~hraFQidVTiSGKBwnemMhFUIhysSlIYsrBw17Z9oNFfS3O86fPuMw3~JuyxG3mBeXkeFijI5v1Xx9IXKTUy~RqCuZaEYatrILqXhb~kNqkVvh6s4dv2M68zapxkyD6n4RdF1yWBDLy91aNsrON21NR4gRwX~d-LpjousTxTn6EWDPMKnt-aOMph145mVjjbJGW-wwcnhs-0Y3f4Yp9BGLh6BMIx6iNBiGGn76vbanzJgrlwnVJ8DF7RVWG0z0clFUTM~5uzcysdNmZdiq-hWFg7OSghDoydjHS7jhNjHETqWnXaRXjw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Montgomery County planning staff on Thursday launched an interactive online tool called Fully Charged to help municipalities plan electric-vehicle charging infrastructure, and officials previewed a proposal to install 18 public chargers at five county facilities to accelerate the county’s transition to an EV fleet.

John Lascher, an environmental planning assistant manager with the county planning commission, described the new website as a planning resource for municipal staff and elected leaders rather than a consumer charging app. The tool includes educational materials about charger types, an interactive map showing existing chargers and community characteristics, model ordinance language for municipalities, and planning guidance about on‑street and off‑street charging options.

“Eighty percent of charging occurs at home,” Lascher told the commissioners, emphasizing that the tool is intended to help communities identify locations and populations that lack home-charging options and to plan publicly accessible infrastructure.

Proposed county charger installations
Commissioners also said the board would consider a proposal to install 18 electric-vehicle charging stations at five county facilities and park locations (Cherry Street and Main Street garages, select park locations including Green Lane and Lower Perkiomen Valley Park). The county said the installations—if approved—would allow county vehicles used by park rangers and other staff to transition to electric models where feasible and increase public charging availability.

Why it matters
County officials said Montgomery County leads the state in EV registrations and that EV numbers have tripled statewide since 2021. The planning commission’s resource is intended to help municipalities apply for grants, plan right-of-way and zoning changes, and draft ordinances consistently across the county.

Next steps
The Fully Charged tool is live on the county’s planning website; county staff said the model ordinance and mapping dataset can be updated as technology and local experiences evolve. Commissioners indicated they would vote separately on the installation proposal; the planning presentation itself did not record an installation vote.

Ending
County planners encouraged municipal staff and officials to try the Fully Charged website and to contact the planning commission for training and technical assistance.","Montgomery County planning staff unveiled an interactive 'Fully Charged' planning tool to guide municipal EV-charger siting and described a proposal to install 18 new charging stations at five county sites to support transition of the county fleet.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6573341,"Montgomery County officials report drop in drug-related deaths, promote April 26 drug take-back",803,2812000,3615000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3071587-36b9c5771f2433f15a8f4868811ff65a&start=2812&end=3615","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3071587-36b9c5771f2433f15a8f4868811ff65a/thumbnail_2812000.jpg","/articles/6573341/Montgomery-County/Pennsylvania/Montgomery-County-officials-report-drop-in-drug-related-deaths-promote-April-26-drug-take-back","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6573341-227b2eeb0f143de0a27ad7722921531c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163962&Signature=Ll9As9~a0M-hYxzi5pkpT4Vt~Vq1qIWKGwW~pe9PUw4l1C1rYiYpDEwtrN3jJB58IvB1lKCJs5dF9EmExFhcdzzm3dZouKZdoqFtbWbYxgLAWeViEwp1102Y3CJmumE4i2jm~f~lpaT2p2gLuZnjPo~2tfXZnp9CICDtOaifkKApWDh9mpEb1b314UtxyoKmCnD1gzOqjJ219bW6xCaRQz2UiqGWEDVGAq9qw64xAU7Fp49XBPu-5m6zlQ5DhprRGq6sUBXBBH5jaLv6vpk~7x2wPdn7vdUFX-j3YcEjjGPpqPeD~1OzFsmaQrw1mYi5uK2UxWtHJXRV3qMGAORMCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County medical and legal officials on Thursday presented data showing a recent decline in drug-related deaths in Montgomery County, and encouraged residents to dispose of unused prescription medicines at a countywide drug take-back event on April 26.

Dr. Janine Darby, who spoke on behalf of the county coroner’s office, said drug-related deaths are trending down and have reached the lowest level the office has recorded since 2011. She called each death “a life” and urged continued prevention work.

District Attorney Kevin Steele outlined local trends in substances involved in fatalities and highlighted partnerships that officials say contributed to the decline, including broader Narcan availability to first responders and recent law-enforcement investigations and prosecutions of fatal drug deliveries. “Fentanyl is the thing that’s killing the most people in our community,” Steele said, and he noted rising involvement of methamphetamine, cocaine and xylazine.

Officials also promoted the semiannual drug take-back program, scheduled for April 26, that places secure collection boxes at police departments and other locations. County officials said the program has collected and destroyed more than 31,000 pounds of medication since it began, and that take-back sites accept tablets, capsules, inhalers, vaping products, creams, ointments and nasal sprays but not liquids or needles.

Public-health steps and tools
Officials stressed that Narcan (naloxone) remains a life-saving tool for opioid overdoses. The DA’s office said Narcan is free at pharmacies and distributed widely to first responders, and speakers advised residents to keep naloxone accessible. They also described outreach and treatment linkages, including the county’s opioid task force and partnerships that connect people leaving incarceration with community behavioral health supports.

Questions and county context
Commissioners and county staff said the improvement is encouraging but cautioned that overdoses and addiction remain a community problem requiring many interventions, from law enforcement to treatment and prevention. One commissioner asked whether the county tracks nonfatal overdoses; officials said hospital-level nonfatal overdose reporting is handled in broader data systems and that their presentation focused on mortality data the coroner’s office compiles.

Ending
Officials framed the take-back day as a practical step residents can take immediately to reduce accessible medications in homes and encouraged people to use participating police departments or the courthouse drop-off if they cannot attend the April 26 event.","The county coroner and district attorney reported a decline in drug-related deaths to the lowest level since 2011 and urged residents to use Narcan and turn in unused medications at upcoming take-back sites.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6573346,"Montgomery County commissioners urge state action to avert SEPTA service cuts affecting Norristown",86,278000,364000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3071587-36b9c5771f2433f15a8f4868811ff65a&start=278&end=364","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3071587-36b9c5771f2433f15a8f4868811ff65a/thumbnail_278000.jpg","/articles/6573346/Montgomery-County/Pennsylvania/Montgomery-County-commissioners-urge-state-action-to-avert-SEPTA-service-cuts-affecting-Norristown","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6573346-b7e62360e7edb96670a1965a940b5a05/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163962&Signature=gRRjYJ-EW9bKyd0LWD~uRGK~mzZBg5a4c-JLWoLUjQdU89GVBlGDYwvW7Qtk69c9g6KRaZqi1fAyjHrZjk-mHI24qt11WvcwV0tpB4D0WrdDSZLjSoDsTgO0xasNBON24OVCCIfn-NphV0Pm-Fdeo86pgGGbv02ZrKLc-WvVjrsMbbbtpSpenG0J0i~s5pq8-oPHLz2OxoM9vOwDTcVQexIorO-mSolrh9zmkqm~REABnnzO7b4mNmfc722onEdFisaf0OwyEcRYRtXshftotK9pAA0UOyf2ViU7vHOW39YtA2VL9vdaIN7b6jHrgsM~24MNE7EwgV5fH7dtMHitAw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A county commissioner warned Thursday that proposed reductions in state funding for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) could force deep service cuts and steep fare increases that would affect Norristown commuters and the region’s economy.

The commissioner told the Board of Montgomery County Commissioners that SEPTA is facing a potential loss of $213,000,000 in state support, and said the transit agency would need to cut up to 45% of service and raise fares by about 21% if that funding is not restored. “If SEPTA doesn’t get $213,000,000 from the state government, it’s going to have to cut service up to 45% and increase fares by 21%,” the commissioner said, noting that those reductions could eliminate roughly 50 bus routes and five regional rail lines, including the Paoli/Thorndale line and the Norristown High Speed Line.

The commissioner framed the issue as a public-safety and economic concern: reduced transit service would affect access to jobs, schools and essential services and could increase car traffic on already-congested roads. “Southeastern Pennsylvania is just 5% of the land mass of the state, but we’re 45% of the economy,” the commissioner said, urging residents to join county advocacy in advance of state budget deliberations.

Why it matters: The county official described a potential “death spiral” for transit in which service cuts reduce ridership and revenue, prompting further cuts. Reduced SEPTA service in Norristown and surrounding areas could disproportionately harm people with disabilities and residents who rely on transit for work and school, the speaker said.

Supporting details and county response
The commissioner said county officials, municipal partners and transit advocates will coordinate outreach to state legislators over the coming months. He invited residents and employers to contact county offices and state senators to explain what losing rail service at Norristown or losing up to 50 bus routes would mean for daily life and the economy. He also tied the urgency to upcoming regional events, saying reduced transit capacity could affect the county’s ability to host major sporting or national events.

Quotes and attribution
- “If you’re a person with a disability and you need to ride the train or the bus, that’s critical,” the county commissioner said.
- “We couldn’t have businesses function… people trying to get to school,” the commissioner added when describing the role of transit.

Context and background
The speaker said the county has previously made investments in transit-related work and that county officials sit on regional boards overseeing transit planning. He asked residents to contact the county with stories about how SEPTA service affects their day-to-day lives.

Looking ahead
County officials said they will press state legislators to fund SEPTA as the state budget moves forward and urged residents to contact their state senators. The county did not announce any new local funding in this meeting.

Ending
County commissioners framed the possible loss of SEPTA service as an urgent, statewide budget issue that will require coordinated advocacy; officials said they will engage neighbors, businesses and elected representatives in the coming months.","County commissioners warned that proposed cuts to SEPTA funding could force up to 45% service reductions and major fare increases, and called for coordinated advocacy to protect transit-dependent residents and regional economy.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Montgomery County commissioners approve planning contracts, cell tower easement changes, bonds, reappointments and routine items

County planning commission launches 'Fully Charged' website and proposes EV chargers at county sites

Montgomery County officials report drop in drug-related deaths, promote April 26 drug take-back

Montgomery County commissioners urge state action to avert SEPTA service cuts affecting Norristown