Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Environmental Cleanup topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves indemnification for Cloverleaf cleanup, moves to use $500,000 RACP funds for Patriot's Park
Summary
Morrisville Borough Council approved an indemnification agreement tied to the Cloverleaf environmental cleanup and authorized post-award work to secure $500,000 in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program funds for Patriot's Park; the decisions followed public concern about contamination and a solicitor explanation of cost protections.
Morrisville Borough Council voted on Feb. 18 to approve an indemnification agreement with the Redevelopment Authority of Bucks County and Cloverleaf Morrisville LLC related to environmental cleanup work and to authorize Gilmore & Associates to complete post-award documentation for a $500,000 Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) award for Patriot's Park improvements.
The indemnification agreement, which council approved after discussion and public comment, was described by Solicitor Scott as a way to ensure the borough is not held responsible for unexpected remediation costs discovered during work under adjacent parking lots. "So what's going on now is the remainder of the portion is not being used as ready for the cleanup...the indemnification agreement is to protect the borough in case there's additional remediation," Scott said during the meeting.
Why it matters: the RACP money was awarded in 2020 and must be documented and pursued or the state can remove the award. Borough engineering staff said the borough has $500,000 available in the RACP line and has been seeking additional local-share funds for the full park build-out; staff told council they are preparing paperwork to preserve the current allocation.
Public concern and technical explanations punctuated the discussion. A resident identified as Don challenged the transparency of the agreement and raised safety concerns tied to the property's history, saying the site "is a former landfill...It has lead in it...Lead and children do not mix." Solicitor Scott and staff responded that site testing and the phased approach to cleanup informed the indemnification language and that contractors will bear additional remediation mobilization and permitting costs if more contamination is found beneath the parking area.
Council also authorized Gilmore & Associates to complete all post-award documentation for the borough's $500,000 RACP award for Patriot's Park improvements. Councilors were told earlier by engineering staff that the borough must move quickly to secure paperwork because the state has indicated it will revoke funds that remain undocumented or unpaid for long periods. The Gilmore authorization passed 6–1; the indemnification motion passed 6–1 following the roll-call sequence and public comments.
What comes next: staff will complete required grant documentation for the RACP award, and the borough and Redevelopment Authority will proceed with the environmental cleanup under the terms discussed. Council members noted that further testing and any additional remediation requirements will be managed under the indemnification terms and contractor allocations.
Sources: Discussion and votes recorded during the Feb. 18 Morrisville Borough Council meeting; Solicitor Scott; public commenter Don.
