Storm Water Subcommittee’s First Meeting Discussed

Erik Garton, Upper Moreland Township engineer, said the first storm water subcommittee meeting was, “broad in scope.”

Garton, speaking at the Dec. 12 Community Development Committee meeting, reported that the subcommittee outlined considerations on priority areas, funding projects, and what the subcommittee could produce for the Community Development Committee and ultimately the full board of commissioners.

Members of the sub-committee are the township’s engineer Erik Garton, director of public works Jack Snyder, and commissioners Kevin Spearing, Kip McFatridge and Joe Lavalle, all of whom also sit on the Community Development Committee.

Garton said the first action of the subcommittee is to meet with ward commissioners, asking them what their general concerns are for township-wide storm water issues, issues within their wards and for their general input on storm-water management.

According to Garton, the next sub-committee meeting, whose date is yet to be set, will study, page-by-page, the township’s current storm-water management report.

Residents voice complaints about flooding

Ward 1 commissioner Lisa Romaniello, speaking during commissioners’ comments, informed the committee of an area, which, she said, has long been prone to major flooding, but is not included with the current study.

The area Romaniello was referring, borders her ward and Ward 6, namely Edgehill Road and Route 63, as well as the cul-de-sac area below that, Evans Circle.

Romaniello explained the entire area is connected to the same drainage-piping network.

“That system is insufficient,” she said, adding that a swamping-effect has occurred due to the years of flooding.

She submitted a document to the township manager that contained the names of what was implied to be the majority of residents in that area, asking the township to address the piping issues.

“What the residents were saying is that they will allow the township to carry out improvements in the collection of storm water,” Romaniello said.

This would allow the township temporary easements on the residents' property for improvement construction.

Snyder responded by asking if the residents were aware that should those properties have fencing, sheds, trees on the easements, it is their responsibility to remove them.

“It’s been the township’s policy that it is not our responsibility to clear an easement to do an improvement,” Snyder said. 

While Romaniello didn’t confirm if the residents were aware or not, she did say that the residents wanted to see the project completed.

“We know there’s a problem,” Romaniello said. “We’ll find a way to get it done.”

In a related comment, a Ward 7 resident, who declined to identify herself when interviewed, also remarked to the committee on the urgency for township action.

“I’m new to the township,” the resident, who moved from King of Prussia to Upper Moreland a little over a year ago, said. “And, at this point, I’m sorry to have bought it.”

During public comments, the Ward 7 resident said she was unaware of the flooding when she purchased her home. She said her first floor and her neighbors’ first floors constantly flood, during heavy rains. Her street also becomes inaccessible to vehicles.

And, while she has met with her ward’s commissioner, she said that something must be done now.

“I find this unacceptable,” she said after the meeting. “I get the feeling that this has been an ongoing problem and nobody’s done anything.”

Many considerations

During the committee meeting, Lavalle said that there were many things the subcommittee had to consider before solutions can be found.

 “We need to be able to make knowledgeable decisions concerning a couple of different topics,” Lavalle said, later adding, “not a band-aid, but a permanent solution.”

One such consideration would be how best to use the existing storm water fund.

According to Spearing in a , the fund has collected nearly $80,000 for projects. Lavalle said that the funds could be used to start improvement projects or be set aside as matching funds for potential grants.

Another consideration would be the use of modern filtration systems, such as rain gardens, as opposed to piping.

Other issues brought up by commissioners included Ward 6 commissioner Sam Valenza’s concern of water flow from one municipality to another, or from one property within the township to another.

Ward 3 commissioner Donna Parsell requested that the subcommittee clearly outline the criteria being used for its prioritization of projects.

Criteria Parsell suggested, include public safety and the areas with the greatest financial losses.