Norristown Creates Citizen/Police Liason Group

In order to create a dialogue and understanding between Norristown Borough residents and the Norristown Police Department, a new group called Norristown Community & Cops Coalition Building Team was created.  The group trained for a year before being introduced to Norristown Borough Council on March 1st.  This is called being PROACTIVE!

There is a disconnect between residents of the borough and the police department.  The perception of many residents is that the police officers (who do not live in Norristown Borough) do not care about the residents.  Residents feel the police view everyone as a suspect and are treated badly by police.

What a great idea!  To read the full story from the Times Herald click here:  http://timesherald.com/articles/2011/03/16/news/doc4d7fb5d64a605873502311.txt?viewmode=fullstory

Norristown Borough Adopts $25.5 Million Dollar Budget With 12.74% Tax Increase

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Norristown Borough Council unanimously adopted their 2011 budget tonight that features a tax increase of 12.74%.   No layoff’s were announced.

Interestingly enough, Norristown’s budget is approximately $14 million dollars less than Pottstown’s budget.  Wonder why it costs so much less to run a larger borough??????

Lower-Income Rental Complex Proposed For Norristown

“A proposal for 48 rental apartments on Sandy Street subsidized by federal tax credits ran into pointed questions and some opposition when it was recently presented to council”…. read the full story on the Times Herald:

http://www.timesherald.com/articles/2010/12/27/news/doc4d17e877e8982758384678.txt?viewmode=default

Hat Tip to Chris Huff for bringing the story to my attention!

Here is another story from the Philadephia Inquirer with their take on the lower-income rental complex proposed for Norristown and includes Pottstown in their discussion.  Another hat tip to Chris Huff for the link!

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/home_region/20101230_Norristown_shuns_apartment_dwelling.html?viewAll=y

Norristown Takes A Giant Step Forward

Norristown Borough Council took a giant step into the light Tuesday evening.  The council unanimously voted to end multi-family apartment conversions for single-family homes!  BRAVO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The measure does allow for mixed-use meaning commercial use on the first floor and apartments on the upper floors.

Council has wisely decided to stop the madness.  By curbing the carving up of single-family homes into high density apartments, Norristown is demonstrating their desire to attract homeowners and shore up their tax base.

This is a big step in the right direction.

We applaud Norristown Borough Council for walking the talk!