🚫💧1500 Block of Garfield Water; Wyomissing Borough Council Updates

Author

Dr. Angela Adler
August 17, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes

The 1500 block of Garfield Avenue was under a boil water advisory for several days this week, and resident were notified of the advisory being lifted when they went to Wyomissing Borough Hall for an update.

The Wyomissing Borough Council met on August 13th, in another largely routine meeting. 

I have included information about me being mentioned by name during the Wyomissing Borough Council meeting, in a discussion about whether borough hall being locked during the Zoning Hearing on July 31st violated the Sunshine Act. I also include pertinent background information about the situation, and why I responded by making a public comment in the Wyomissing Borough Council meeting.

1500 Block of Garfield: Boil Water Advisory Lifted

Late on Tuesday August 13th, residents of the 1500 block of Garfield Avenue in Wyomissing received the following notice that they would have interrupted water service on Wednesday August 14th from 8am to 3pm. Residents were directed to call Wyomissing Borough Hall with questions or concerns.

August 13th notice of water service interruption

On Wednesday August 14th, residents on the 1500 block of Garfield Avenue received the boil water notice below, which was dated the day before, August 13th. The notice informed residents of:

  • a loss of positive water pressure

  • that the public must be informed within 24 hours and information necessary to include

  • a boil water advisory until receipt of a second notice

  • contact information for Wyomissing Public Works manager Jim Babb

Upon contacting Jim Babb for updates on Thursday August 15th, he let the resident know that the testing results had not come back yet, and advised they plan for the boil water advisory to continue until at least Monday August 19th.

On Friday August 16th, residents found out that the boil water advisory was lifted by going to Wyomissing Borough Hall. Residents said they were not receiving responses to emails or calls, so they went to Wyomissing Borough Hall. They were informed that Jim Babb was out of the office. Jim Babb’s assistant informed the residents that the water was safe and the boil water advisory had been lifted.

Boil Water Notice delivered August 14th, Page 1

Boil Water Notice delivered August 14th, Page 2

Wyomissing Borough Council Updates

Wyomissing Borough Hall

Wyomissing Borough Hall

Wyomissing Borough Council met on Tuesday August 13th. The meeting was largely routine, similar to the July meeting.

Updates from the meeting included:

  • the Wyomissing Park & Shade Tree Commission is seeking two new members

  • approved advertising a new ordinance to ban soliciting in Wyomissing and new ordinance for stop signs on Hill Avenue

  • police calls have been up for the past 3 months, but crime has been down and the department’s clearance rate is high

  • three probationary firefighters started duty on August 1st

  • council accepted the lowest qualified bid of $71,254.00 for the 50/50 sidewalk program

  • the September 28th Movie in the Park, which is scheduled to be shown at the Stone House, will be moved to a new location due to the construction

  • viewing platform was donated in the Parks System by the Wyomissing-West Reading Rotary Club - waiting for benches to be installed

  • Refuse & Recycling Committee is exploring the possibility of composting service

  • approved street sweeper purchase and mold testing at Berkshire Mall

For more details:

Angela adds…

I am including this information because I was mentioned by name in the Wyomissing Borough Council meeting. I had not given public comment during the meeting and was just there observing, but I gave public comment after I was mentioned by name.

During public comment at the end of the Wyomissing Borough Council meeting, it was discussed whether the door of Borough Hall being locked during the July 31st Zoning Hearing constituted a violation of the Sunshine Act law that requires publicly accessible meetings.

I was locked out of that meeting during Executive Session. The hearing ran from 2 - 5pm. However, the door to the building was locked from 3:15 - 5pm. I went outside during the executive session, which was late in the meeting, and discovered at 4:45pm that I was locked out.

Two people with standing in the hearing also went outside at that time - they had not informed anyone they were leaving at that time due to other appointments. If they had tried to get back in, they also would have been locked out while the board rendered its decision, which they have standing to appeal.

I did not file a complaint - someone else did. The Wyomissing Borough Manager, Michele Bare, requested to speak with me about the other person’s complaint. Ms. Bare is the only person at Wyomissing Borough who I have spoken to about the situation.

During the Wyomissing Borough Council meeting, I neither initiated nor perpetuated conversation about the door being locked, and I had no intention of participating. However, after I was mentioned by name by Council President Bill Jenckes, I did give public comment.

The statement of no singular individual should obfuscate the facts in any question on the Sunshine Act. No individual represents nor constitutes the entire public. And, as I stated in my public comment, I resent my name and my conversation with the Wyomissing Borough Manager being used to do just that.

For more details, see the Wyomissing-West Reading Wire explainer on the public’s rights under the Sunshine Act, and how the law maintains transparency in local government.