Refuse & Recycling Information
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
CCHELTENHAMCCHELTENHAMHHEELLTTEENNHHAAMM TTOWNSHIPTTOWNSHIPOOWWNNSSHHIIPP 2021-2022 CALENDAR TABLE OF Acknowledgements CONTENTS Cover Image: Thank you to everyone who submitted photos for our Township Mask Mosaic! Message from the President ...............................1 2021 Board of Commissioners .............................2 Stormwater Management ..................................4 COVID-19 Vaccine .................................................6 Fire Prevention Month ........................................8 Township Polling Places .................................... 10 Citizens Committee Spotlights ..........................12 An Inside Look: Township Tree Health ...................................... 14 Township Directory & Map ........*removable insert* Black History Month La Mott & Camp William Penn .......................... 16 Parks and Recreation ........................................ 18 Property Maintenance and Permits .................20 Police & EMS ......................................................22 Township Facts & Figures .................................24 Tax and Budget Breakdown .............................26 Refuse, Recycling, and Leaf Collection Programs .............................28-29 The Cheltenham Township Calendar is produced by members of the Township staff with assistance from the Board of Commissioners and various members of the Cheltenham Township Community. In support of Cheltenham Township’s 2013 Sustainability Plan, this publication is printed on recycled, 30% post-consumer waste paper. Message from the President It’s now been over a year of navigating through the status of several trees in our many Township parks. With Dear Neighbors, the coronavirus pandemic, and through many the guidance of the arborist, staff has arranged for the removal challenges, I’ve found myself inspired by the resilience of Cheltenham residents. I want to of hazardous trees that could create damage to property or thank our many volunteers and Township staff, who have been integral to our response to harm citizens if they fall. While dead trees must be removed, this virus. We appreciate their dedication during these extremely challenging times. we’re glad to also be adding new growth. Thanks to a grant from My fellow Commissioners and Staff have had to make many difficult decisions to protect PECO, and to the first donors of the Township’s new tree donation our residents, businesses, dedicated staff, and volunteers who make up this wonderful program, we have been able to plant new specimen trees community. Together, we have learned how to adapt to difficult circumstances while in Curtis Arboretum and other Township parks. Our Parks Friends groups continuing to provide core services such as Police, Fire, Emergency Medical Services, Trash have been instrumental as well, maintaining healthy growth, thwarting weeds, & Recycling, and more. and adding new plantings as possible. In order to strengthen the Township’s financial position and continue to provide the level of One positive we saw from the pandemic is that a greater number of community members quality services you have come to expect in Cheltenham, the Board has begun implementing have joined our regular public meetings, conducted entirely online via Zoom, to voice some of the recommendations made in the August 2020 Strategic Financial Management concerns or provide feedback. After virus numbers drop and restrictions are lifted, we Plan. The Township increased the Earned Income Tax by 0.5%, a measure chosen because hope to implement a hybrid in-person and virtual meeting model to continue to encourage it affects only residents gainfully employed, rather than disproportionately affecting our meaningful engagement. We’ve started a Cheltenham Township YouTube channel where seniors and unemployed residents. This change could bring an additional $3.5 Million our Board meetings are posted after they occur, so residents have the opportunity to view in revenue to the Township, which will offset the projected operating fund deficit and a presentation on a project or discussion on a topic that impacts them if they were unable set the Township on the path of building a healthy financial future. The Township is also to make the live meeting. We have been working on additional plans for content for the undergoing a stormwater impact fee feasibility study to determine an appropriate fee to YouTube channel, so we invite you to subscribe and stay tuned! help fund the increasing state and federal water quality requirements and address flooding In light of the events of the past year, our citizen committees have stepped up to be a voice and other stormwater issues that greatly affect the Township’s residents and businesses. A for their community. The Civil Rights Task Force continues to ask difficult questions and be committee of residents and staff has been meeting with the Township’s contracted consultant a voice for accountability in the Township. As the Cheltenham Township Police Department to discuss the best approach for Cheltenham. This will provide a dedicated funding source is undergoing Re-Accreditation, which occurs every three years, they are listening to the for stormwater operating and capital expenses to help protect the health, safety and welfare public and continue to implement vital training and best practices in community policing, of residents and their property. The goal is to have a fee ready to be implemented in 2022. while striving to continue building great relationships with Cheltenham residents. The While bringing in new revenue is important, under the leadership of Robert Zienkowski, Department implemented body-worn cameras in 2021. Our Traffic Calming Committee our Township Manager, and Nathan Crittendon, Director of Fiscal Affairs, both Operating also started meeting in 2020. This new committee, consisting of residents representing each and Capital expense items are receiving additional scrutiny. The Commissioners are ward, meets to discuss solutions to concerns about traffic on our local roads. If you have reviewing all Township services and processes to ensure the careful expenditure of your concerns about traffic in your neighborhood, reach out to the Traffic Calming Committee. tax dollars. All three union contracts are up this year, which enables us to both review costs Another significant undertaking will be working with the Montgomery County Planning and provide our employees with a fair compensation package. We are also in the process Commission to update the Township’s Comprehensive Plan, last updated in 2005. A of assessing our facilities to determine the most cost-effective and efficient way to deliver steering committee of staff, commissioners, and residents has met a few times so far to services to the community. With over 14 aging and outdated facilities, the Township faces share expertise and begin addressing needed updates to guide the business, cultural, significant financial challenges in maintaining these facilities. environmental, and social future of the Township. The process will take 2-3 years, and At the onset of COVID-19, the Township stopped all but in-progress and emergency-related several public meetings will be held to gather resident input. We welcome your involvement Capital Budget expenditures and halted big projects for 2020. Road paving is one such in these meetings. capital project. This year, the Township will make up for the paving delay by paving twice On behalf of the Board of Commissioners, I thank all of our residents for their patience as many roads in 2021 as it normally does. Our pools are open again this year, providing and resilience in dealing with the challenges we have faced during the past year. We have residents with healthy outdoor activities. Phase III of the Tookany Creek Trail, a .75 mile been working tirelessly to seek new and more efficient ways to deliver services. With your stretch between Harrison Ave and New Second Street, is expected to begin construction support, we can continue to work toward a bright future for Cheltenham. this fall and be completed by the end of 2022. This trail will help connect more people to the Tookany Creek Trail, providing an opportunity for residents to safely enjoy our beautiful outdoor areas. The Township has also contracted with an arborist and has been evaluating Daniel B. Norris 1 STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD PUBLIC AFFAIRS Chair: Ann L. Rappoport PUBLIC SAFETY Chair: Irv Brockington BUILDING & ZONING Chair: Brad M. Pransky PUBLIC WORKS Chair: Mitchell Zygmund-Felt FINANCE Chair: Baron B. Holland PENSION BOARD (Seated, left to right) Chair: Daniel B. Norris Baron B. Holland, Vice President Daniel B. Norris, President Ann L. Rappoport, Ph.D. 7736 Green Valley Rd. • Wyncote, PA 19095 236 Barclay Cir. • Cheltenham, PA 19012 114 East Waverly Rd. • Wyncote, PA 19095 SINKING FUND COMMISSION 215-884-0485 215-635-0383 215-935-6575 Chair: Daniel B. Norris [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Ward 2 Ward 5 Ward 4 Laverock, Cedarbrook, West Wyncote, Melrose Park Lynnewood Gardens, North Wyncote and Curtis Hills and West Elkins Park (Standing, left to right) Matthew Areman Irv Brockington Mitchell Zygmund-Felt Brad M. Pransky 204 Berkeley Rd. • Glenside, PA 19038 7637 Brookfi eld Rd. • Cheltenham, PA 19012 35 Carter Ln. • Elkins Park, PA 19027 612 Webb Rd. • Elkins Park, PA 19027 267-901-5080 267-626-2264 267-252-8593 215-376-5600 [email protected] [email protected]