HATBORO, PA —When borough officials gathered for the Borough Council meeting at the end of last month, there were many mentions about the success of a major event outside the Pennypack Community Center that everyone said was pulled off without a hitch.
After all, borough officials put together its first major event outside the Pennypack Community Center on Spring Avenue, with food trucks, fun activities for children, and a fireworks show.
That event came after residents complained about the fact that fireworks could cause damage to their pets’ ears and that allowing drinking during the festival would cause issues.
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“We really ended summer with a bang,” Mayor Tim Schultz told the audience at the Sept. 23 council meeting.
“For the fireworks, there was a lot of hard work by police and our public works crews,” Council President George Bollendorf said.
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“There were no issues at Cruise Night and the fireworks was a very good time<‘ Police Chief Mark Ruegg said.
But during public comment at the end of the meeting, members of the Hatboro-Horsham Soccer Club had a few things to say about the aftermath.
They complained that the Pennypack soccer field wasn’t cleared for their game the next day.
Before the council meeting, the soccer club sent an email —obtained by Patch —stating their complaint.
“We would also like to make mention of the debris from the fireworks show on Friday evening,” the email stated. “Lovely event and great for the community, we were advised in separate communications with Robert Jacobus that the debris would be removed. Sadly upon our arrival for game times on Saturday, we found this was not the case. We complied with all requests to move nets, making sure the portable restroom was locked; however, with communications we hoped that all firework debris would be cleared allowing for a clean field for play on Saturday. We appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to your prompt response.”
Bollendorf stated that the public works department and borough officials worked until midnight to clean up the trash from the event.
“Complaining about a little debris is petty,” Councilwoman Nicole Shay said. “Public Works was out there cleaning up. It doesn’t hurt for anybody to help out.”
Councilwoman Amanda Jacobus, who attended the event as well as Shay, also spoke out against the soccer club.
“Now I’m pissed off,” Jacobus said. “Have a little decency before asking us to bow down to your needs. That was an abrasive email.”
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