Phoenixville council approves series of contracts, labor deal and ordinance amendments in unanimous votes
October 15, 2025 | Phoenixville, Chester County, Pennsylvania
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Phoenixville Borough Council on Oct. 14 approved a slate of motions covering contracts, personnel terms, grant applications and ordinance changes, each by unanimous voice vote.
Council opened the votes with adoption of the consent agenda and moved through individual motions that carried unanimously. Major approvals included: the third amendment to the water supply agreement with Pennsylvania American Water Company; a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2773 for the term Jan. 1, 2026–Dec. 31, 2029; and an amendment to an environmental site access agreement with Toll Mid Atlantic LP expanding soil-testing depths on borough wastewater treatment property from 6 inches to 12 and 18 inches. Council also adopted ordinance amendments to the zoning code (clarifying municipal-use buffer applicability and adding data center definitions and standards), to the subdivision and land development ordinance to fix cross-references, and to Chapter 21 (streets and sidewalks). Resolutions recognizing a Human Relations Commission member and authorizing submission of a PADC (Pico Green region open space) grant application for the MDM Nature Preserve Project (up to $10,000 with a 1:1 match) were passed.
Why it matters: the package advances near-term operational actions (water contract, site testing) and establishes local regulations (zoning, subdivision references, sidewalks) that together affect future development review, utilities operations and grant-funded open-space work.
Key details and outcomes
- Consent agenda: Motion carried (6–0; one councilmember out of the room; one excused absence). Motion to accept consent agenda moved by Mister White, second by Mister Strenfell.
- Third amendment to water supply agreement with Pennsylvania American Water Company: Approved 7–0 (motion carried). Motion: “Approve the third amendment to the water supply agreement with Pennsylvania American Water Company.” Mover and seconder recorded in the meeting as councilmembers; no roll-call votes were recorded.
- Collective bargaining agreement with AFSCME Local 2773 (Council 13/District Council 88), term Jan. 1, 2026–Dec. 31, 2029: Approved 7–0. Council thanked staff and bargaining-unit representatives for negotiations.
- Amendment to environmental site access agreement with Toll Mid Atlantic LP (wastewater treatment plant property): Approved 7–0. Background provided to council: the original agreement allowed testing to a depth of 6 inches; the amendment permits testing to 12- and 18-inch depths in the same or some of those locations; all other original terms remain unchanged.
- Zoning ordinance amendment (Chapter 27): Adopted 7–0. The amendment clarifies that buffer requirements apply to municipal uses, creates a definition for “data center,” allows data centers in certain districts by special exception (zoning hearing board review) and adds basic data-center standards.
- Subdivision and land development ordinance amendment (Chapter 22): Adopted 7–0. The amendments update cross-references that became obsolete after the borough rewrote the zoning ordinance; they remove references to eliminated parts and fix buffer/riparian references.
- Resolution thanking Sushmita Suchla for service on the Human Relations Commission (Resolution 2025-29): Adopted 7–0.
- Resolution to submit Pico Green regional open space program grant for the MDM Nature Preserve Project (application up to $10,000 with a required 1:1 match): Adopted 7–0.
- Ordinance amendment to Chapter 21 (streets and sidewalks): Adopted 7–0. (Advertised in the Pottstown Mercury on Oct. 6, 2025.)
Votes at the meeting were unanimous for the recorded motions; council called each question by voice vote and stated motion outcomes (e.g., “Motion carries 7–0”). Where roll-call tallies were read, the meeting record indicated unanimous “aye” votes or recorded the small exceptions noted above (consent agenda carried 6–0 with one member temporarily out of the room and one excused absent). No motions failed or were tabled during the meeting.
What council did not decide tonight
- No substantive changes to the council’s previously posted ordinance language were made on the floor; council adopted the advertised amendments as presented.
- The consent agenda bundled several routine items; individual details for each consent-item line were not described during the meeting and are recorded in the meeting packet/minutes.
Ending
Council closed the meeting after brief committee reports and community announcements and adjourned to its next regular monthly meeting.
Council opened the votes with adoption of the consent agenda and moved through individual motions that carried unanimously. Major approvals included: the third amendment to the water supply agreement with Pennsylvania American Water Company; a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2773 for the term Jan. 1, 2026–Dec. 31, 2029; and an amendment to an environmental site access agreement with Toll Mid Atlantic LP expanding soil-testing depths on borough wastewater treatment property from 6 inches to 12 and 18 inches. Council also adopted ordinance amendments to the zoning code (clarifying municipal-use buffer applicability and adding data center definitions and standards), to the subdivision and land development ordinance to fix cross-references, and to Chapter 21 (streets and sidewalks). Resolutions recognizing a Human Relations Commission member and authorizing submission of a PADC (Pico Green region open space) grant application for the MDM Nature Preserve Project (up to $10,000 with a 1:1 match) were passed.
Why it matters: the package advances near-term operational actions (water contract, site testing) and establishes local regulations (zoning, subdivision references, sidewalks) that together affect future development review, utilities operations and grant-funded open-space work.
Key details and outcomes
- Consent agenda: Motion carried (6–0; one councilmember out of the room; one excused absence). Motion to accept consent agenda moved by Mister White, second by Mister Strenfell.
- Third amendment to water supply agreement with Pennsylvania American Water Company: Approved 7–0 (motion carried). Motion: “Approve the third amendment to the water supply agreement with Pennsylvania American Water Company.” Mover and seconder recorded in the meeting as councilmembers; no roll-call votes were recorded.
- Collective bargaining agreement with AFSCME Local 2773 (Council 13/District Council 88), term Jan. 1, 2026–Dec. 31, 2029: Approved 7–0. Council thanked staff and bargaining-unit representatives for negotiations.
- Amendment to environmental site access agreement with Toll Mid Atlantic LP (wastewater treatment plant property): Approved 7–0. Background provided to council: the original agreement allowed testing to a depth of 6 inches; the amendment permits testing to 12- and 18-inch depths in the same or some of those locations; all other original terms remain unchanged.
- Zoning ordinance amendment (Chapter 27): Adopted 7–0. The amendment clarifies that buffer requirements apply to municipal uses, creates a definition for “data center,” allows data centers in certain districts by special exception (zoning hearing board review) and adds basic data-center standards.
- Subdivision and land development ordinance amendment (Chapter 22): Adopted 7–0. The amendments update cross-references that became obsolete after the borough rewrote the zoning ordinance; they remove references to eliminated parts and fix buffer/riparian references.
- Resolution thanking Sushmita Suchla for service on the Human Relations Commission (Resolution 2025-29): Adopted 7–0.
- Resolution to submit Pico Green regional open space program grant for the MDM Nature Preserve Project (application up to $10,000 with a required 1:1 match): Adopted 7–0.
- Ordinance amendment to Chapter 21 (streets and sidewalks): Adopted 7–0. (Advertised in the Pottstown Mercury on Oct. 6, 2025.)
Votes at the meeting were unanimous for the recorded motions; council called each question by voice vote and stated motion outcomes (e.g., “Motion carries 7–0”). Where roll-call tallies were read, the meeting record indicated unanimous “aye” votes or recorded the small exceptions noted above (consent agenda carried 6–0 with one member temporarily out of the room and one excused absent). No motions failed or were tabled during the meeting.
What council did not decide tonight
- No substantive changes to the council’s previously posted ordinance language were made on the floor; council adopted the advertised amendments as presented.
- The consent agenda bundled several routine items; individual details for each consent-item line were not described during the meeting and are recorded in the meeting packet/minutes.
Ending
Council closed the meeting after brief committee reports and community announcements and adjourned to its next regular monthly meeting.
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