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Resident urges action after neighborhood flooding; borough says DEP and federal contacts engaged
Summary
A longtime resident reported recurring flooding and debris dams near Old William Penn and called for creek dredging; borough staff said DEP, county and Rep. Cooper’s office have been contacted and that engineers and further study are needed before dredging or construction work can proceed.
At public comment on July 14, resident Bruce Kaufman described repeated flooding at and downstream from his Old William Penn address and showed photos and video indicating debris accumulation in a local stream. Kaufman said he built the neighborhood in 1976 and that the current debris and artificial islands were not present at construction.
Kaufman told council he has contacted municipal staff and state and federal offices, including Representative Joe Cooper’s office and the Army Corps, and that he sought help clearing debris to reduce flood risk. "We're just trying to come up with a solution of how do you clear, number one, the debris, and how do you get rid of these false silos?" Kaufman said.
Michael (Chief Administrator) replied that borough staff has begun coordinating meetings with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the county conservation district, and Representative Cooper’s office to determine whether studies, permitting, or construction projects are needed. He said a meeting with DEP and Representative Cooper’s office is planned for early August to evaluate what steps are appropriate and that short‑term in‑stream dredging would likely require DEP permits and might not be realistic without an engineering assessment. "To go in there and actually conduct a project . . . requires DEP permitting," Michael said, adding that an engineer will need to assess options and costs before the borough or other agencies proceed.
Michael said staff will explore stormwater system maintenance, evaluate underground storm pipes, and pursue funding opportunities if a project moves forward, and that immediate enforcement or removal by the borough is limited without DEP approvals. He asked residents to provide specific information (names, permit requests, or video) if they see unpermitted solicitors or other on‑site activity to help enforcement (this remark referred to solicitation enforcement discussed earlier in the meeting).
Council and staff characterized the situation as at early investigative stages; no construction or dredging work was authorized at the meeting. Staff indicated they would stay engaged with state and federal contacts and return with engineering recommendations and funding options.
