Patricia Hollabaugh

This Park, Recreation, and Open Space Plan for Ridley Park Borough serves as a working guide to sustain and enhance its valued parks and recreation assets, aiming to strengthen quality of life and reinforce its position as a community of choice. Key strategic actions include strengthening operations and maintenance, making strategic priority investments, expanding and diversifying recreation programming, improving connectivity and walkability, clarifying roles and responsibilities, leveraging funding and partnerships, and establishing a phased implementation approach.

The council agenda includes reports from the Mayor, committees, and the manager regarding topics such as upcoming Amtrak infrastructure work. The meeting will address several action items, including the approval of accounts payable, an E-Waste event, and facility permit applications. Additionally, the council will consider resolutions concerning the exoneration of 2025 per capita tax accounts and the designation of a collector for delinquent taxes. Other business includes the appointment of a new Borough Manager, staffing hires, and the formal ratification of official actions previously taken by the council.

The council meeting covered a wide array of administrative and operational business, including committee reports covering planning, zoning, communications, parks, public safety, and finance. Action items included the approval of accounts payable, the authorization of several facility permit applications for community events, and the approval of resolutions regarding per capita tax exoneration and the designation of a delinquent tax collector. Several appointments were made to various boards and commissions, including the Planning Commission and the Historical Architectural Review Board. Furthermore, the meeting involved the hiring of office staff, the appointment of a new Borough Manager, and the ratification of various official actions, professional service appointments, and contract approvals for managed IT services and traffic studies.

The council agenda included committee and departmental reports covering planning, code enforcement, public safety, and finance. Action items listed for consideration included the approval of accounts payable, an E-Waste event, multiple facility permit applications for St. James Regional Catholic School, and two resolutions regarding the exoneration and collection of delinquent per capita taxes. The council also addressed various appointments, including a new Borough Manager, planning commission members, and the ratification of several professional appointments made earlier in the year.

The meeting commenced with an Intermunicipal Liquor License Transfer Hearing concerning license R1402 from Ridley Township. Key discussions involved the Mayor's report emphasizing the need to provide reasoning for votes and acknowledging efforts in securing grants. Committee reports covered Planning & Zoning, including approvals for a use variance for a tow yard and a variance for parking at 300 Johnson Ave. Communications addressed the functionality of sound and video testing for telecom purposes and upcoming Historic Commission meetings. Parks and Properties noted snow preparedness and a smooth transition with Ridley Township for trash/recycling. Community Affairs highlighted upcoming Winter Yoga sessions and the Barnstormers current show. Finance received a grant, and the Community Organization discussed working with the Business Association on issues like parking signs. Public Safety reports were noted, and Emergency Management reported on assistance provided to a family affected by a house fire. Public comment was extensive, focusing on the qualifications of the Council President for financial stewardship, concerns about the Solicitor's role, and a request for the Council President and another Councilor to resign. Council business included the approval of Accounts Payable for January 2026 and the reappointment of Board and Committee members, including the controversial approval of Michael J. Sheridan as Zoning Hearing Solicitor.