Commissioner's Corner

Happy New Year, West Norriton! My name is Peter Smock and I am grateful for this opportunity to introduce myself to the community.
 
I am one of two recently elected Township Commissioners. I began my four-year term in January 2020 along with other newly elected Commissioner, Anne Pavone. I have been a resident of West Norriton for over 14 years.
 
Prior to January 2020 I volunteered as a member of the West Norriton Township Planning Commission. A highlight of my service was developing an improvement plan for the West Main Street Corridor in coordination with The Montgomery County Planning Commission.
 
I have completed courses of study provided by The PA State Association of Boroughs and The PA Municipal Planning Education Institute in “Zoning”, “Community Planning”, and “Sub-division and Land Development”. I have built strong relationships with leadership on the state, county, and township levels, as well as grass roots community leaders and engaged citizens. My expertise in people management and team building has given me the confidence needed to address challenging and complex projects.
 
I encourage anyone with an interest in serving the Township, on a Board or Commission, to check out the West Norriton Township website. It’s a rewarding experience to actively participate and learn about your local government. You’ll meet interesting people, who are your neighbors, dedicated to ever improving our community.
 
We welcome everyone to apply at this link: https://www.westnorritontwp.org/217/Boards-Commissions.
 
Personal time commitment, serving on a Board or Commission, is not overwhelming. Service will make you feel good. If you want to get an idea of how these committees work, join a Zoom meeting or 2. All Township meetings are open to the public and we encourage residents to attend. If you are tired of Netflix, this is the next best thing. Details for attending Township meetings are available on the West Norriton website. Let’s keep fingers crossed that we’ll be able to get back to in-person meetings before too long!
 
As for me, my professional background is in the publishing industry. I have worked for over 30 years specializing in Legal, Health Sciences, and Mathematics content. In a corporate role, I directed a team responsible for supporting the needs of a global organization. My skills are in team building, process improvements, standardization, communication, and managing department budgets.
 
I have extensive training in Project Management (Six Sigma Certified) and Commitment-Based Management techniques. Township Commissioners must work together effectively to deliver solutions to complex problems. Solving difficult issues requires teamwork, communication, and creative thinking. These are qualities in which I have real-world experience.
 
A final thought. I have a background in the Fine Arts. I am a graduate of the Minneapolis College of Art & Design. I am investigating ways our community can greater develop and embrace the arts and culture. Community arts, whether it is music, dance, painting, etc., not only strengthens the brand of a community, it fosters engagement among members of our diverse population. If you are in the arts, and have any ideas, I’d love to hear from you.
 
Best wishes for a healthy new year to us all. Please free to contact me with questions or concerns at psmock@wntwp.com.

Crime Tips from the Police Department

1. Please lock the doors to your vehicles! Most thefts from vehicles occur when the thief finds an unlocked car.
2. Be sure to keep your garage door closed and locked when not in use. If the door is left open it is easy for some one walk right in and take some of your things.
3. Please call the Police if you see something suspicious or out of place. You know when things do not seem right. WNPD is on duty 24 hours a day and will respond immediately!

It is better to be safe than sorry!

Snow Plowing in West Norriton

West Norriton Township Public Works Department makes storm preparedness a priority all year round. Salt and other necessary tools/materials are stocked in mid-summer to ensure that The Department has the necessary resources for Township residents to have a less stressful winter.

Please understand the Township’s snow removal process below to make sure everything can go according to plan during a storm:

Priority Roads

As snow begins to accumulate, the Township concentrates on certain roads. The first streets that receive attention are the Snow Emergency Routes. Once the Snow Emergency Routes are treated then the crews move into their regular residential routes.

Snow on State Roads

State snow removal crews are responsible for clearing state roads. These roads are as follows: W. Main St, Trooper Rd, W. Marshall St, Whitehall Rd and Burnside Ave. However, a Township plow will keep their blades down while traveling a state road to assist in the state’s snow removal process out of courtesy and safety for travelers.

Salting and Plowing

There are two aspects of a snow operation - salting and plowing. When roads start to freeze from falling precipitation, salting operations begin on the Snow Emergency Routes and continue until all roads are completed or until it is no longer effective to salt (due to the depth of snow). The more traffic on a road, the more effective the salt. As a result, some residential streets with small amounts of traffic may appear to have not been salted.
Please keep in mind that as temperatures drop, salt becomes less effective. Once the temperature drops below 20 degrees, salt is no longer effective at all.
If snowfall accumulates and plowing is required, salting operations cease. When the snow stops and final plowing is accomplished on all roads, salt is spread again. All roads are monitored for icy spots and re-salted where dangerous conditions persist.

Mailboxes

Each property owner should check their mailbox front to ensure that it is the minimum of 6 inches behind the face of the curb, which is within federal postal regulations. Prior to the start of winter, the homeowner should reset any mailboxes protruding past the minimum measurement of 6 inches behind the face of the curb. This will ensure that the mailbox will not be damaged during the plowing operations. Any damage that may occur will be the responsibility of the homeowner, unless the plow truck was directly responsible for the damage.

Basketball Backstops

All basketball backstops should be removed from any Township Right-of-Way, which is generally 1 foot behind the sidewalk. Any damage that may occur during plowing operations will be the responsibility of the homeowner.

Driveway Clearing

As salting and plowing are difficult operations to perform, residents are requested to park in their driveways when snow is anticipated to accumulate 3 inches or more, rather than on the street as per Ordinance #683 (PDF). Please keep in mind that it is almost impossible to keep snow from being deposited at your driveway during plowing, as the plow cannot be lifted or stopped at each driveway as it passes.

Important Driveway Tip

If you have your driveway plowed before the street is completed, clear an area to the left of the drive entrance (standing in the driveway, facing the street). When your street is plowed, the snow from the plow can be unloaded in this area instead of your driveway.
Plows sometimes find it necessary to make several passes in order to clear snow all the way to the curb to allow for proper drainage.
Please, do not empty snow from your driveway into the street; this slows the overall plowing operation. Also, if snow that is placed in the street freezes, it can create a traffic hazard.

Sidewalk and Fire Hydrant Clearing

Residents and business owners are asked that, as a courtesy, all public sidewalks be shoveled within 24 hours after a snowfall. Otherwise, individuals could slip and become injured. Remember that it is easier to remove snow before pedestrians pack it down.
If you have a fire hydrant on your property, please clear the snow away from the area around it. This will assist fire crews in the event of an emergency.

Patience Please

Please be patient, snow removal is a difficult and time-consuming process. Since Township crews need many hours of intensive labor to complete snow clearing operations, please try to limit your travel during and immediately following a snowfall unless absolutely necessary. The less traffic on the roads during snow clearing operations, the quicker the job can be accomplished.

Important Numbers

For emergencies, call 911
Public Works Department: (610) 631-0450
Please only call if it is an urgent matter. If snow removal crews are sent off their normal routes on special efforts, it slows down the overall cleanup. Your street will be plowed as quickly as possible.
If you do call to report a condition, the information is immediately dispatched to a truck in your district. There is no need to call a second time.
In the event of a police, fire or ambulance emergency, the Township's plow drivers are dispatched in conjunction with the emergency vehicles.

Neighbor & Family Safety

West Norriton Township would like to thank residents for their continued support throughout the winter season, and remind residents to check on family, friends and neighbors to ensure their safety and wellbeing this winter.