EAST NORRITON >> “Let’s set the record straight about the Van Landeghem Tract,” said Chairman Dennis DeSanto at the East Norriton Board of Supervisors’ November meeting. “We’re not hiding something.

“The board will be actively involved in anything that’s involved.”

DeSanto’s call for clarity comes amid speculation from advertisements, surveys, and postings on social media about East Norriton’s side of the property — 19.5 acres located off of Burnside Avenue which is slated to be developed as a passive recreation area.

The majority of people attending the meetings were East Norriton residents highly opposed to any development that would not be environmentally friendly, creating as some residents put it, “an angry mob mentality.”

DeSanto said it is not a priority right now to develop the East Norriton side of the property, what matters is that it is preserved. According to DeSanto, there have been three meetings to discuss West Norriton’s 15.1 acres of the Van Landeghem Tract and the East Norriton Board of Supervisors had not been told until after the meetings were held.

“We’re going to monitor this closely,” said Township Manager Robert Hart, “We’re building better relations.”

Police Chief Karyl Kates spoke at the meeting and thanked the board and the township for their support with Unite For Her, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising money for community members faced with breast cancer.

Proceeds the organization raises go toward free patient treatments insurance wouldn’t otherwise cover, such as, yoga, massage therapy and more. To raise funds and awareness in October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the East Norriton Police Department rented a pink police cruiser to collect donations.

Kates presented Unite for Her’s Marketing and Social Media Manager Corianne Schrim, Sergeant Tom Brennan and his wife, Karen a check for more than $6,000 in donations raised by the police department. “Lilly,” as the patrol car was affectionately dubbed, visited hospitals, schools, restaurants, even a pig roast, to collect donations.

“A tremendous success,” said the chief.

According to Schrim, Unite for Her is dedicated to raising money for local women diagnosed with breast cancer so they can “get control again, while going through an often terrifying time.”

Chief Kates thanked the board, the township administration, and of course her police officers, who dedicated themselves to supporting the “amazing” organization.

Also on the night’s agenda was a presentation by Tara Horowitz, Audrey Pyle and Cynthia Wirth to spread the word about East Norriton’s Kiwanis Club. Founded in 1915 as a business network organization, Kiwanis has since grown to serve communities around the world. Two years ago the national and international organization was brought to East Norriton with the purpose of changing the community for the better, one child at a time.

Kiwanis will also participate in East Norriton’s holiday parade in December.

The volunteers participate in countless community events and partner with other organizations to better serve the community, such as Meals on Wheels, Trunk or Treat and many more.

The 2018 proposed budget hearing was again presented by Finance Director David Crist. The budget totals $19,760,433. Since the proposed budget presentation in October, the finance department has been able to “lower department expenditures” by between 2 and 3 percent.

East Norriton’s debt maxed out in 2016 and ends in 2020 which will be the last payment.

“There will be no tax increase for 2018 to fund operations,” Crist said.

Reiterating his statement from the October meeting, Crist said there will be no increase in personnel and no plan for sewer increases.

There will be continued emphasis placed on business privilege tax audits as well as continued delinquent sewer collection with a concentration on the reduction of operating expenses.

The next steps, Crist said, will be to continue budget discussions in preparation for the presentation of the final budget on Dec. 12.

According to Township Manger Robert Hart, “the budget is in a very good spot.”

On Saturday, Dec. 2 East Norriton will celebrate the official start of the holiday season with its 25th anniversary parade at the Hillcrest Plaza. It promises to be an afternoon full of fun activities including an appearance by Santa Claus. All proceeds go to Laurel House, a Montgomery County based organization dedicated to ending domestic violence