Norristown Council approves package of ordinances and resolutions on tickets, pensions, policing, cameras and equipment

Norristown borough council on Oct. 7 approved a set of ordinances and resolutions covering property maintenance ticket procedures, pension funding, community development grant planning, policing purchases and municipal equipment.

Council voted to amend Chapter 240 (the property‑maintenance quick ticket program) to replace the formal hearing requirement with an administrative review process. The change, introduced by building and code compliance staff, was described as intended to expedite enforcement and reduce the burden on legal staff. Council approved Ordinance 25‑07.

The council approved five HARB (Historic Architectural Review Board) certificates of appropriateness for exterior work at 129 East Main St.; 501/503 West Marshall St.; 514 Astor St.; 610 West Main St.; and 935 West Marshall St. Council voted to table the COA for 536 George St. until that property secures zoning approval.

On pensions, council adopted Resolution 25‑85 setting the borough’s minimum municipal obligation (MMO) for fiscal 2026. As presented by staff, the amounts were: police pension $3,345,141; paid firefighters pension $788,156; labor/industrial pension $113,211; the borough’s PMRS plan is fully funded and required no MMO; and the ICMA/management plan requires $83,508.

Planning staff presented a proposed fiscal‑year‑2026 CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) budget and asked council to authorize advertising a public hearing on Oct. 27. The proposed allocations in the presentation included $45,978 for owner‑occupied housing rehabilitation, $35,000 for housing‑rehab technical support, $30,000 for the Fair Housing Council requirement, $40,000 for the Small Business Assistance Center, $438,340 to repay a Section 108 loan, and $147,000 to cover planning staff salaries; the total proposed grant amount presented was $736,318. Council authorized the advertisement and the public comment period.

On public‑safety and police items, council approved the municipality’s application for and acceptance of the 2025 Keep It Safe mini grant (a targeted Montgomery County drug‑prevention award whose total listed maximum is $2,500), approved a three‑year subscription purchase from Lexipol LLC for policy management and training at $50,179.22, and certified the civil‑service list and approved conditional hiring offers for six entry‑level police officers (Resolution 25‑83). Council also approved Resolution 25‑84, a purchase agreement to add five security camera locations and expand wireless infrastructure along the Marshall Street corridor; staff said the $150,148 cost for camera hardware will be paid primarily from a VIP grant and an additional $3,600 for IT costs is not covered by the grant.

Public works items approved included Resolution 25‑78 authorizing the public auction of seven surplus vehicles and equipment and Resolution 25‑86 to purchase a new street sweeper; the transcript includes two different price figures for the sweeper ($2,276,129.75 and $276,129.75). Council voted to approve the purchase. Council approved each motion by roll call and the chair announced each as approved.

Why this matters: the package changes how property‑maintenance quick tickets are appealed, sets pension funding the borough must budget for, moves Norristown through steps required to apply for federal CDBG funds next year, invests in police policy‑management and training, and expands the borough’s street‑cleaning and camera infrastructure.

Council's next steps include the Oct. 27 public hearing on CDBG proposals and follow‑up ordinance and budget items later in the fiscal process.