The Yardley Borough Council is scheduled to appoint a new borough tax collector at its June 21 meeting after interviewing seven applicants for the job at the June 7 meeting.
Interviewed were Carol Riker, Deborah Desroaches, Joanne Imhof, Fatu Markey, Beth Trevisani, Christine Ventresca and Kristin Archibald.
Cheryl Lowe-Cler had been the borough’s tax collector for 20 years before retiring last year. However, she agreed to be appointed to the position again when Melissa Wayne, elected to a four-year term in November, resigned barely two months into the job. Lowe-Cler recently asked the council to appoint someone else to the position as soon as possible.
Whoever is appointed would serve through 2023 but would have to win the position in that year’s election to retain the job beyond 2023. The tax collector is paid to collect borough, Pennsbury School District and Bucks County property and other taxes from Yardley residents.
In other actions from the meeting, council voted to advertise for bids on elevating a structure at 45 South Delaware Avenue, and approved a proposal from the borough Environmental Advisory Council to use $34,950 in grant money to study and do other work on the Buck Creek Watershed.
Pretty Bird Coffee at 7 S. Main St. was granted conditional use approval to have outdoor dining. The establishment will move six seats from inside to a covered front porch without increasing its overall seating.
Council voted to advertise for a full-time Civil Service police officer who would replace Joseph Harris, who recently resigned because he was moving out of state.
Borough resident Dawn Perlmutter, who ran unsuccessfully for council last year, announced that she is helping lead a petition drive aimed at getting a referendum on the Nov. 8 ballot that if successful, would reduce the council’s size from seven to five members.
Perlmutter said that because of resignations, there have been too many appointed council members in recent years not elected by borough voters. Fewer members should mean fewer resignations, said Perlmutter in pointing out what she feels would be one advantage of a smaller council.
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