More on Royersford Borough

an article from the Mercury goes into more depth than the letter sent to residents.

Official has big plans for town’s renewal
By Michael Hays

ROYERSFORD — Academy Award-winning director Peter Jackson of “Lord of the Rings” fame will bring his film crew to this small town of about 4,300 next month to shoot scenes for his new movie, “The Lovely Bones.”

Yet Borough Manager Michael Leonard isn’t banking on his town becoming the next movie hot spot in Pennsylvania. Just over a year into his job, this former mayor and borough manager of Conshohocken is focusing on the basics of municipal government — cracking down on building code violations, sprucing up downtown with plants and new cement, and finding ways to finance improvements to the sewer treatment plant.

“I’m used to it. I’ve done it before. It’s just a matter of sorting things out,” Leonard said.

An early problem he noticed upon taking the job in September 2006 was a lack of building code
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enforcement and accompanying standards. So Borough Council hired Pennoni & Associates, a professional engineering firm which can deploy its own team of code inspectors.

For whatever reason, strict and regular enforcement lagged in the past. Fire code violations, in addition to smaller infractions like accumulated trash in front of properties, should become a thing of the past once inspections begin in January or February, according to Leonard.

A lead engineer with the firm, Khaled Hassan, P.E., also serves as Limerick’s township engineer.

“We needed somebody who was going to be a little more aggressive,” Leonard said. “It’s important that we have a safe place for people to live.”

Land surrounding the Schuylkill River is one area targeted for future improvements in Royersford. A one mile walking/biking trail that could eventually connect with Upper Providence is in the works. Two residential developments in the same vicinity — River Park and Riverfront — will boast more than 400 condominiums and apartments once construction finishes.

Also on the riverfront, Leonard said there is a good chance of securing a Pennsylvania Fish and Game grant to build a boat ramp and fishing pier off First Avenue. A mural arts program in Philadelphia selected the Giftwares Company building at Second Avenue and Arch Street for one of their first suburban murals. Art students from Spring-Ford School District will contribute to the painting, Leonard said.

Then there is Main Street.

Peter Jackson may have loved the section between Third and Fourth avenues, but Leonard sees “a need to brighten up the town a little bit.”

Short-term revitalization efforts include potted plants along Main Street and the resurfacing of sidewalks. Looking down the road further, Leonard would like to welcome a new restaurant or bar to the neighborhood. A nighttime fixture could liven up the town once the sun sets, since Royersford is relatively quite after 6 p.m., he pointed out.

Sales tax revenue is steady but more is needed to fund improvements. The Borough Council is reviewing options for funding $2.5 million in sewer treatment plant upgrades.

“The borough hasn’t had much income coming in,” the manager said.

As a result, staff positions are limited. Leonard and Donna Zigler, the borough’s administrative assistant, are pretty much it at city offices. Then there are public works personnel, police officers, volunteer parks and recreation personnel and few others.

Getting work done electronically is a little bit easier thanks to a $10,000 technology grant secured by state Sen. John Rafferty, R-44th Dist., and state Rep. Tom Quigley, R-146th Dist., Leonard said.

One constant in Royersford remains local elected politicians. There aren’t any challengers in November to the three council members with expiring terms come January.

“You know who you’re working with,” Leonard said.