As a community and as a nation, we are in a challenging position regarding the ongoing vaccination effort to fight COVID-19 and end this pandemic. That challenge is vaccine hesitancy and the impact it could have on prolonging the pandemic and the possible generation of new variants. This comes on the heels of Governor Wolf’s announcement that when PA reaches a 70% vaccination rate we can, officially, stop wearing masks.

Over the last year, police departments across the country have been facing increased and fast changing challenges related to mental health in our communities. Lansdale alone has witnessed an increase in mental health calls of over 85% since 2020 began. This trend is something police are adapting to and managing. However, the need for mental health professionals is increasing as cases become more frequent and more complex.

On May 2 at 7 p.m., I ask that all Lansdale residents, if able, participate in the Bells Across PA ceremony where our community will honor frontline workers, local emergency workers and all those who have helped us continue to manage this horrific and ongoing pandemic by ringing any bell you might own for three minutes.

Data from the county continues to show that average positivity rate and cases are increasing across much of our community and the area in general. As of April 1, the 14-day average positivity rate in Lansdale was 8.8% and for the week ending April 8, the countywide positivity rate had increased to 8.5%.

Obviously, the desire is to have our 14-day average be as low as possible, with a benchmark of 5% representing that the pandemic spread is “under control.” Anything above 10% is considered highly concerning and indicates the potential for further community spread across the area.

This past weekend, Lansdale played host to multiple mass vaccination events for our community and the greater North Penn area. I cannot speak highly enough of the teams of volunteers and professionals that are working so hard to ensure people are vaccinated so that we can, one day, put this whole pandemic behind us once and for all.

Last week, state Senator Bob Mensch submitted an editorial outlining his support for constitutional amendments that would limit the power of the governor during times of emergency by stripping the executive branch of the ability to decide when an emergency has abated or not. As a community, we should absolutely vote NO on this constitutional amendment based on two important realities.

I would like to welcome two new full-time officers, Hazel Bundy and James Thompson, to our Lansdale Police Department! As noted in previous musings, the growth and development of our PD is going to be exceedingly important over the next year or so due to the population shifts we have experienced in just the last five years. The addition of Officer Bundy and Officer Thompson are welcomed additions to our team and will help bring our police department back to our regular staffing levels.

Ah, springtime! The weather is getting warmer, the days are getting a little longer and the road construction can begin!

Over the past several years, the borough has been working diligently to upgrade and repair our aging roadways with major roads like Line Street, Delaware Avenue, Cannon Avenue and Hancock Street — along with many others — all being done within the last four years. The borough’s mill and overlay program is still being finalized, however two roadways are going to be the focus of full reconstruction and repair in 2021: Laurel Lane and Columbia Avenue.

Like many of you, I have been reflecting on the realization that this week marks one year since the beginning of what would be one of the hardest years of any of our lives. As a community, and as people, we have been forever changed by the COVID-19 pandemic. What started out as a two-week quarantine turned quickly into twelve difficult months of sacrifice, courage, patience, and isolation for everyone across the country.

It is exciting to see, for the first time, a bipartisan bill that will fundamentally change the way we approach marijuana in our commonwealth. The bill presented by Sens. Sharif Street, D-Philadelphia, and Dan Laughlin, R-Erie, is comprehensive in its approach to the legalization of one of the most used, and least dangerous, drugs in the entire world.

Specifically, from a legalization standpoint, the bill creates reasonable age restrictions around the use of marijuana. Like, alcohol it allows for people over the age of 21 to purchase and use the substance while also banning marketing to anyone under legal age.

During the recent State of the Lansdale Police Department, Chief Trail and I outlined the progress the Lansdale Police Department has made over the last year. However, the work of managing and improving a police department is never done. We are constantly looking at ways to enhance our police department to further improve our service to the community. One of the careful considerations that we must make is around the appropriate amount of staffing within the department and when the appropriate time is to add to our ranks.

This evening, I will have the honor to present to council and the public the annual report on the state of our Lansdale Police Department. This report is a chance to celebrate the progress we have made over the last 12 months, while also outlining the priorities for the months ahead.

Over the last several years, the borough has been engaged in trying to find answers to how we can become more independent in our power generation while decreasing our carbon footprint. Those conversations have led to the opportunity to hire an outside consultant to help us design a plan to reach our power generation goals and become more independent as a community.

A critical part of every major snow alert is the preemptive step all residents need to take in moving their vehicle to the proper side of the road. This is critical to both the clearing of the streets and the safety of the roadways if anyone must travel. It is not unusual to have some residents forget to move their vehicles to the proper side of the road. However, this year, we have seen more unmoved vehicles than usual.

As the pandemic continues to rage on, one repeated complaint we have received is that there is not enough available parking for both residents and business-goers in our downtown area. Residents, who are not traveling to and from work anymore, are parking on the street for extended periods of time, giving shoppers and business goers few places to park.

We may need this day of reflection and service today more than ever. While our country continues to struggle with division and ongoing pandemic concerns, we can use today to help ground ourselves in core principles that will help all of us improve both ourselves and our community.

Shock. Sadness. Anger. Humiliation.

These were the immediate emotions so many of us felt last week as we watched an angry mob of seditious insurrectionists, encouraged by our own President, attempt to impose their will, and invalidate the legitimate votes of millions of citizens in our country.

As the new year dawns, it seems appropriate to lay out some of the hopes — and maybe a few dreams — that I have for our coming year and what I think we can accomplish as a community to keep us moving forward.

Finally, the last column of 2020. This year has been one of, if not the, hardest years in recent memory. Collectively, we experienced unprecedented upheaval in all aspects of our lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses shut, parents were tasked with being employees and teachers (while also being parents), health concerns and fear spread far and wide, racial tensions reached a fever pitch, and we lost valued family and community members to the virus.

Last Wednesday, Lansdale Borough Council voted unanimously to pass the 2021 Budget, which includes no new taxes or tax increases. The borough budget, millage and electric/sewer rates will remain flat for another year, despite one of the most difficult budgeting years in recent memory due to the ongoing challenges related to the pandemic.