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Council asks Bucks County to "discuss" taking over Morrisville Free Library; residents debate staffing and governance
Summary
Council amended and approved a motion asking Bucks County commissioners to discuss operating the Morrisville Free Library as a county branch. The meeting included extended public comment both supporting and opposing county operation and lengthy discussion of library staffing and budget. Residents also raised concerns about proposed rental/UNO inspection ordinance revisions.
Morrisville Borough Council voted to request that the Bucks County commissioners "discuss" the prospect of making the Morrisville Free Library the eighth branch of the county library system, a procedural step the council framed as the start of a conversation about potential additional aid or operational options.
Council clarified the motion during debate to change the wording from "accept" to "discuss" before calling the question. Council members and members of the public described competing views: some residents urged the borough to retain local control of the historic library building and questioned whether county operation would preserve the facility, while others said joining the county system could obtain additional funding and services.
A lengthy public‑comment block followed, with speakers noting the library's staffing gaps, the value of library services and the uncertainty about whether county takeover had previously been pursued and denied. Council asked staff to open discussions with county officials; no immediate change to library operations was enacted at the meeting.
Separately under non‑agenda public comment, landlords and a local coalition presented a proposed revision to the borough's UNO (use and occupancy/certificate of occupancy) and rental-inspection sections of borough code. Presenters said the draft revision would shift some inspection responsibilities to private qualified inspectors chosen by property owners, propose timing changes at property transfer and recommend fines and reinspection windows; presenters framed the changes as streamlining and reducing perceived inequities for long‑term tenants. Council and staff discussed the ordinance's distinctions between certificates of occupancy, licensing and reinspection cycles and noted the proposed edits will need code office review before possible referral to staff and council for formal consideration.
