Quiet July Council Meeting

Borough Council President Mary Walk chaired the July council meetings from home on Zoom. Photo: Rachel Pastan

Swarthmore Borough Council debated the benefits of continuing work over Zoom versus returning to in-person meetings at its July 13 legislative session.

Planning and Zoning Committee Chair Betsy Larsen announced that her committee would hold its July 23 meeting in person in the Council Room in Borough Hall. “It’s easy to social distance in that room,” she said. 

When committee member Lauren McKinney wondered about Larsen’s preference, Larsen cited the need to look at architectural plans, which is easier to do in person, she said.

Council President Mary Walk sounded a cautionary note. “I don’t want anyone to feel that they have to come to an in-person meeting if they do not feel comfortable doing that,” she said. “I personally am not in a hurry to come back and do in-person meetings.”

Council member Jill Gaieski said that, given many people’s concerns about being out in public, holding meetings on Zoom made it easier for more residents to participate. McKinney suggested that, in some cases, the opposite could be true, noting the absence of certain regular in-person attendees on the Zoom calls.

Council member Ross Schmucki said that a health condition made it impossible for him to attend in-person meetings. 

Ultimately, the council decided to postpone any decision about moving back to Borough Hall until its next meeting, on August 10. As in most years, the council will meet only once in August.

The Planning and Zoning Committee will meet in person this month, however.

311 Cedar Lane / 409 College Ave. Settlement Reached

Assistant Borough Solicitor Carl Ewald announced at the July 13 meeting that a proposed settlement about the disposition of the double house at 311 Cedar Lane and 409 College Ave. has been signed by property owner Robert Keighton, Swarthmore College, and the borough. Keighton owns the Cedar-Lane-facing half of the building, and the college owns the half fronting on College Avenue. 

Last August, the borough informed both owners that the building was unsafe for human occupancy; that rehabilitation was not feasible due to the degree of deterioration; and that the structures should therefore be demolished, Borough Manager Jane Billings said at the time. Keighton appealed the notice.

Terms of the current settlement have not yet been made public.

Anti-Racism Resolution?

McKinney suggested at the July 7 work session that the council adopt an anti-racism resolution. “I feel like the universe is asking us to create that space,” she said. 

The immediate spark was an email she received from a friend who had been disturbed by the procession of blaring fire trucks and police cars that constituted this year’s Swarthmore July Fourth celebration. The friend found the display offensive “in these times when the blare of a police siren means different things to people of color” than to white people, McKinney reported.

McKinney said she would bring her proposal to the Swarthmore Human Relations Commission. 

Mayor Marty Spiegel, who also received the email, said he invited the sender to sit down and discuss it, “so we could understand what exactly everyone was thinking here,” he said. “I’m glad she wrote,” he added. “We’ll see if it goes any further.”

Police Policy Review

Spiegel reported that he has been meeting regularly with Police Chief Raymond Stufflet to review the police department’s policies and procedures. “We’ll probably be looking for input from the Public Safety Committee and then from Council,” he said. Spiegel reported that some community members have questions about the policies, which he wants to make sure are “consistent with what we would like to see here in the borough.”

At the July 7 meeting, Billings noted that the contract between the borough and the police department expires at the end of the year. The Fraternal Order of Police has requested that bargaining begin for the new contract that will take effect in 2021, she said.

Committees

The Environment Committee will meet July 22 at 7:30, on Zoom, to consider installing solar panels on Borough Hall. They also will discuss renewable energy certificates, as part of the borough’s Ready for 100 plan. The plan commits Swarthmore to 100% renewable electricity use in all borough homes, businesses, and government buildings by 2030.

The Planning and Zoning Committee will meet July 23 at 7:30, in Borough Hall, to discuss an upcoming Zoning Hearing Board application and to review some definitions that may be added to the zoning code. They may also review a proposal for subdividing a property at 686 N. Chester Road (corner of N. Chester Road and Oakdale Avenue).

The Public Safety Committee will meet July 27 at 7:30, on Zoom, to discuss parking on streets near ongoing construction on Michigan Avenue, and for preliminary conversation with Mayor Marty Spiegel about reviewing police policies and procedures.

View this or any other Swarthmore Borough Council meeting.

The next council meeting is Monday, August 10, at 7:30 p.m. Details will be available on the borough’s website.