Timothy U'Selis

The meeting focused on the MS4 mandate from the state of Pennsylvania, which requires municipalities to obtain permits and develop minimum control measures for stormwater runoff, noting the implementation costs would be several million dollars. The discussion addressed the choice between funding this through a property tax or a stormwater fee, ultimately favoring the fee structure as it can be based on impervious surface area rather than assessed value, which was deemed fairer, especially concerning tax-exempt nonprofits. It was also decided that the Upper Southampton Municipal Authority is better equipped to manage the stormwater system compared to the township public works department, leading to the transfer of ownership of the stormwater management system to the authority. The presentation detailed the environmental impacts of increased stormwater runoff due to development, including erosion, infrastructure damage, and pollution of streams and rivers. Solutions discussed for managing runoff included planting native plants with deep roots, building rain gardens/bioswales, tree trenching, and using retention basins. Attendees were informed about resources available for guidance, such as conservation districts and Penn State Watershed Stewards, and the process for appealing impervious surface measurements used to calculate the new stormwater fee.