What's Up West Norriton

Summer 2022 Edition

Commissioner Miller
Commissioner Martin Miller

Your Participation Can Make a Difference.

What Happened in a Small Town in New Hampshire
Demonstrates the Power the Community Can Have.

I have been thinking for some time about the role that “ordinary citizens” play in the operation of our government. Whether at the local, county, state, or federal levels, I feel it is the responsibility of our citizens to stay involved somehow, and that extends beyond simply voting in elections (which take place twice a year, at minimum, every year).

Our board takes on some weighty matters, and I’m specifically thinking of how we spend YOUR money. The budget for the “general fund” is around $10 million per year. Other budgets (sewer, golf course, etc.) are all in excess of $1 million annually. What I’m saying is that tens of millions of dollars are spent each year, and we hardly get any push back or requests from residents to clarify the process.

I’m in my second term as a commissioner. There are some hot-button issues where we get passionate feedback from our residents (the Westover development proposal and unfounded “group home” scare come to mind), and while it can be unpleasant and contentious at times, I know that I appreciate seeing my neighbors feeling passionate about things that are important to them. Our board and our staff do a good job in allaying fears and helping to clarify misunderstandings and statements that have been “whispered down the lane” to ensure our residents are fully informed about anything occurring here in the township.

Obviously I’m biased, but I think our board does a thorough job. Not everyone will agree with all our decisions, but I hope the residents realize we do not take any matter lightly. There is significant behind-the-scenes communication with our staff to ensure we are educated enough to act on matters that come before us. We try to think a step or two or three ahead about the consequences of our actions and how they’ll affect the residents – remember, we live here too!

I’m using a lot of words to make a larger point: I read an article in the New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/10/us/croydon-free-state-politics.html) that discusses issues in a small town called Croydon, New Hampshire. To summarize: the residents didn’t get actively involved in their local government until something drastic and unthinkable happened (the school budget was voted to be slashed by 50% without a plan for the smaller budget). This happened because the residents were not paying attention.

There was a fairly radical resident who was resentful of paying what was perceived as a high tax rate for lackluster results. Never mind that you cannot apply arbitrary performance metrics to a school like you would apply to employees of a business, this decision caused chaos among the school board and parents of students as well. The resident convinced enough of the elected officials to vote to decimate the budget. Fortunately, New Hampshire law permits budgets to be rejected by the public, and that is what happened in this case (by a vote of 377-2, no less!)

One Croydon resident said that this could have been avoided by “Showing up. That’s the big lesson, and not just showing up, but also knowing what’s going on.” Another said such a thing “could happen most anywhere.” This spurred a lot of folks to get more involved by attending meetings, offering public comment, and generally being more aware of how things work. Some folks even are going so far as to run for their locally elected offices. 

I’ve observed varying degrees of participation by West Norriton residents in our government in my four+ years on the dais in the township meeting room. Remember: in Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, he reminded us that America’s form of government is “of the people, by the people, for the people”. To honor this exhortation, and for a government to be effective, it needs to be run by competent, compassionate, attentive people, and those people need to be closely observed by their neighbors. Too often I’ve looked into the audience at our meetings and seen a number of attendees that I can count on one hand with fingers left over, or even zero people.

We are about to borrow in the neighborhood of SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS for construction at Jeffersonville Golf Club, and we have not heard a peep from the residents about it. I know that the meetings we hold are not exactly exhilarating, but we NEED you to attend when you can. Thankfully, we do not have radicals on our board of commissioners, and I cannot envision a time where we would ever take a chainsaw to our budget, but it’s still the responsibility of the citizens to direct the government and make sure we know what’s important to you.

I hope to see you all on the first and second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. Our board of commissioners is made up of your neighbors. If you’re attending a meeting for the first time, please let me know so I can express my appreciation in person. I’m always glad to talk to my neighbors!


DC Morris
Deputy Chief Stephen Morris

Deputy Chief Stephen Morris 

FBI National Academy Session 282

Congratulations to Deputy Chief Stephen E. Morris on his graduation from The FBI National Academy!

The FBI National Academy is a professional course of study for U.S. and international law enforcement managers nominated by their agency heads because of demonstrated leadership qualities. The 10-week program—which provides coursework in intelligence theory, terrorism and terrorist mindsets, management science, law, behavioral science, law enforcement communication, and forensic science—serves to improve the administration of justice in police departments and agencies at home and abroad and to raise law enforcement standards, knowledge, and cooperation worldwide.

Deputy Chief Morris endured a grueling 10 weeks of both academic and physical challenges to successfully complete the Academy. 
Movie Night
Battery Recycling
Battery Recycling Center in Twp. Building Lobby

Where Can I Recycle Used Batteries?

Please don’t throw away your used batteries! These batteries are fully recyclable, and we have set up a collection tube for used batteries at the West Norriton Township Administration building. 

Since 2021, we have recycled more than 100 pounds of used batteries, sending them to a recycling company instead of a sanitary landfill.  At the recycling center, your used batteries are processed, then turned into new steel products, brick colorant, and even fertilizer for corn and soybean farmers. 

When batteries are discarded, they usually end up in a landfill, eventually deteriorating over time. Their contents could potentially mix with groundwater and impact the local aquifer. So next time you have some used batteries, please bring them to the Township building and look for our collection tube (pictured below). If you have any questions, please contact us at EAC@wntwp.com.

Your Tax Dollars at Work

Leaf Collection and Composting

Leaf collection occurs October through the second week of December. Due to weather conditions, the dates may vary.

Leaf Collection Guidelines
1. Curbside leaf piles are to be 12 inches high and 18 inches wide.
2. Do not mix limbs, brush, and other debris with leaf piles, as such items may cause damage to collection equipment and injury to township personnel.
3. Adverse weather conditions may cause delays.
4. Township employees and/or equipment are not permitted to enter private property to remove leaves.
5. Once the leaf machine has passed it will not return until items on every street in the township has been collected.
6. If your residence is located on the corner of the street, please place the leaves to be picked up at least 25 feet from the intersection.
7. If you live on a private street in the township we will pick up your leaves, but they must be bagged. Since most of the private streets in the township have narrow widths, we cannot take the leaf machines down those roadways and safely turn the machine around. Once you have the leaves bagged, please call the township office at 610-631-0450 and schedule the pickup.

Fall Leaf Removal Keeps the Leaves Out of Waterways
When leaves aren’t bagged, they can get into the drainage systems where they enter the local waterways. Once in the water, they start to degrade, causing dramatic increases in nitrogen and phosphorus. This encourages the growth of algae, which robs the water of oxygen and this will cause existing water plants and aquatic animals to die.

Leaves Are Ideal for Starting a Compost Pile
Collect the leaves and use them to start a compost pile. They break down quickly, so by next spring, you’ll have a nice supply of nutrient-rich compost for all your planting endeavors.

West Norriton Township, East Norriton Township and Norristown Borough initiated a joint leaf composting program in 1989 on the grounds of the Norristown Farm Park. The Norristown Farm Park is operated by Montgomery County and owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The two leaf composting sites (one for East Norriton Township and one for the other two municipalities) are leased from Montgomery County. The compost sites are operated by East Norriton Township under an agreement with the three municipalities and a lease arrangement with the County.

Composting Material
West Norriton Township is 5.5 square miles and has a population of 16,201 as of the 2020 census. As mandated by Act 101 West Norriton Township developed a comprehensive recycling program; a major component of this program is the collection of leaves which are delivered to the leaf composting facility. The West Norriton Township Public Works Department collects on average 4,500 cubic yards of leaves from the middle of October to the 2nd week of December each year and properly advertises this collection schedule each year on our website and in the newspaper. Leaves must be separated from the municipal waste stream per Township Ordinance. Leaves are collected utilizing leaf vacuums. Only Township vehicles are permitted to place leaves at the composting facility.
The leaves are composted using a compost turner and the final product is screened through a rotary tumbler. Most of the final product is used on the farm fields throughout the Norristown Farm Park.

Product Pickup Location
In addition, the final mulch product is also available for pick up by the residents of West Norriton Township at the Bin located behind the Jefferson Fire Company 85 School Lane. Each resident is responsible to load the mulch themselves.
Positions Available

Positions Available

Arts & Culture Commission 

The Council consists of 5 members appointed by the Board of Commissioners. Members serve staggered terms that vary in length up three years. Members must be residents of West Norriton Township. Application for positions on the Commission will be via the West Norriton Township website.

The Board is seeking 3 members to fill the remaining positions. 

Mission 

To develop, and deliver, cultural arts programs, art in public spaces, and consistent aesthetic sensibilities for the benefit of the residents of West Norriton Township. The creative arts include, but are not limited to art, music, theater, and dance.

Interested applicants can fill out the online form here: https://www.westnorritontwp.org/218/Apply-for-Boards-Commissions  

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1630 W. Marshall Street, Jeffersonville, PA 19403

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