West Vincent Township

The meeting addressed several key administrative and operational matters. The agenda included discussions and actions regarding executive sessions held on March 26th concerning political litigation, conditional use applications, bid awards, and personnel matters, as well as an April 3rd session on potential litigation and a conditional use application. Action items included the approval of the March 17th meeting minutes and consideration of the conditional use application for the Butterscotch Cafe, which involved granting approval for expanded indoor seating (up to 56 seats) contingent upon a board-approved parking plan and compliance with township ordinances, while denying relief for outdoor music. The board also addressed staffing, appointing Tommy Ryan as Zoning Officer and authorizing new Right To Know Officers for police and non-police requests. Finally, the board approved depository authorization for new signators at Victory Bank and S&T Bank.

The meeting included a reorganization session, with the re-election of the Chair and Vice Chair, and the election of a new Secretary. Key application discussions focused on a property at 2452 S. Chester Springs Road, where modifications to a letter addressing application concerns were unanimously approved, including suggestions for an additional vegetative buffer and retaining the old road as a public trail. Old business covered the Birchrun Road Bridge Replacement, where concerns were raised about widening structures within the historic district, and the Ordinance Revisions, with an inventory update being finalized for an upcoming workshop. Progress was noted on the 1245 Schoolhouse Lane property regarding a trial where the owner's contractor was found responsible for a barn collapse. New business included an update on Ground Penetrating Radar work at the Vincent Baptist Church burial ground. The Township Historian reported that the Historic Resources Committee is now officially a department.

The meeting included a committee reorganization resulting in the election of Ken Alan as Chair, Davey Waters as Vice Chair, and Jennifer Comunale as Recording Secretary. Discussions covered the construction update for Opalanie Park, including plans for pressure washing the building and presenting mural schematics in March. The committee also reviewed the Bark Ranger Program, which will receive more information in February, and brainstormed 2026 events such as ribbon cuttings for Fellowship Trail and Opalanie Park, a 'Get to know your parks' initiative, and Yoga in the Park activities at Wilson's Corner. A non-agenda item involved planning for a public survey, where Lindsay was tasked with finding pricing options within a $250 budget.

The meeting commenced with the selection of temporary and permanent leadership for 2026, including the Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary, with Donna Delany appointed as Open Space Liaison. Key discussions included the review of plans for the proposed Toll Brothers/Bennett development, leading to a motion to hold an extra meeting on January 15th for further discussion and to draft a review letter. The council agreed to participate in Stroud's Salt Watch program for collecting water samples on January 30th. A motion was approved to hold a second annual live staking demonstration/giveaway on March 8th. For the Pollinator Pitstop initiative, Wild Petunia was selected as the 2026 Plant of the Year, and volunteers committed to caring for seed trays. Tentative dates were set for the Healthy Yard Garden tour in June. Discussions concerning ground nesting birds in Opalanie led to a request for the township to restrict fox hunting starting April 1st. The council also reviewed follow-up items regarding the Purple Martin condo and chimney swift tower, the status of the Plastic Bag Ordinance enforcement, and information about electronics recycling in Phoenixville.

The meeting commenced with the Pledge of Allegiance and addressed minor technical difficulties. The board held a preliminary executive session for legal reasons and subsequently approved the minutes from the prior meeting held on February 18th, with a plan to make them immediately available online. The key discussion focused on the Human Relations Commission (HRC), including a presentation from a representative of the Phoenixville HRC supporting the establishment of a West Vincent Township HRC and anti-discrimination ordinance. The presentation emphasized the importance of a locally run HRC for fostering community dialogue, addressing perceived bias, and ensuring local representation, citing examples of mediating conflicts related to business accessibility and police response to mental health crises. Discussions also covered the specifics of Phoenixville's protected classes under their ordinance and the current status of West Vincent Township's proposed ordinance changes. Furthermore, an announcement was made regarding the rescheduling of a presentation on the Underground Railroad.