[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6551159,"mediaKeyId","5354460-c3477127a60ca6a5ecae06803f0f2f17","parentId",5354460,"title","Pottstown council to consider DA-led drone pilot tied to ShotSpotter alerts","audioSeconds",779,"startMs",113000,"endMs",892000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5354460-c3477127a60ca6a5ecae06803f0f2f17&start=113&end=892","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5354460-c3477127a60ca6a5ecae06803f0f2f17/thumbnail_113000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6551159/Pottstown/Montgomery-County/Pennsylvania/Pottstown-council-to-consider-DA-led-drone-pilot-tied-to-ShotSpotter-alerts","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6551159-568221fa3823c5def71c333f78b98799/orig.mp4?Expires=1771071881&Signature=MkarECAPf23mrmpVn2uy~EbhnjIalvZsgb1HD-Myl~vq0paCqNIUI05UOjUDHFAKfJ1DMwsZxAo8x4trGknZEwnP4FbZ-nFu2VUV14zufkC-V7EQqD9XI94EGxE5YvNmWW79Rg7~2HUIgtP7arQWl~CNsDeskojLMJmoDbtXQXLV5AgBOTKbTeOiYVz-0ie42fKuZ-FG8ylATuZJ8XOgpULrhpJIWx3aK4i8aNPAruDhHPDVBy2rS2f7tSC65E~~uQ41PNzBcU23ir~LE6u694wz~zGB2CJAcmqjuFkAj~cEvPw~6PTUNaR5v~qmcgCeo3H2H4A4Ur6IXtsTNCv9yQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Pottstown, PA","date","2025-07-10T13:20:44Z","article","Pottstown Borough Council placed on its July meeting agenda a proposal from the Montgomery County district attorney\u0000to install a drone \"nest\" on the roof of Borough Hall and deploy a small drone to ShotSpotter alerts in the borough. The chief of police described the drone as an automated supplement to the existing ShotSpotter gun-detection system and said the district attorney\u0000would cover costs and liability.

The proposal matters because the system would put a camera-equipped, autonomously-deploying drone above parts of Pottstown during some emergency responses, raising operational, privacy and FAA-safety questions that councilors said must be addressed before any expansion of use.

Chief Markovich, Pottstown\u0000police chief, described how the system would work and the equipment involved. \"When ShotSpotter goes off, they'll push a button. The drone will automatically deploy and begin recording, and it will automatically fly to the ShotSpotter alert area and begin recording the scene,\" he said, adding the drone would typically fly at about 200 feet and includes anti-collision technology. He also said the launch \"nest\" is roughly 3 feet by 3 feet, weighs about 300 pounds, and the drone itself is about 12 inches by 12 inches.

According to Chief Markovich, the nest would be climate-controlled so the equipment can cycle through cold and hot weather, and return to the nest automatically after a deployment. He said Montgomery County staff are already pursuing Federal Aviation Administration approvals for the device and that the DA's office would initially own and operate the system. \"All the costs will be covered by the district attorney's office,\" he said.

Members of council asked how the borough would ensure the drone is only used in response to ShotSpotter alerts and not for broader surveillance. A councilor emphasized transparency, saying any expansion of scope should return to council for approval. Solicitor Chuck Garner told council staff would draft an agreement to house the nest on Borough Hall that would assign costs and liabilities to the district attorney's office.

Councilors also asked about who would operate the drone and cybersecurity risks. Chief Markovich said initial operation would likely be by Montgomery County personnel, with Pottstown officers trained later, and that those operational specifics remain to be determined. A councilor asked about hacking risk; Chief Markovich said he did not have a definitive technical answer at the meeting and said the vendor and county would need to provide security details and FAA compliance information.

The council did not vote on the request at the meeting; members agreed to list \"approval for the district attorney to implement this drone program in the borough of Pottstown and mount the nest on the roof of Borough Hall\" for the next council meeting so the agreement, insurance and a policy limiting use to ShotSpotter responses can be reviewed.

If council approves the proposal at the upcoming meeting, the borough solicitor said staff would draft an agreement spelling out insurance, indigent liability and the limited operational purpose. Solicitor Chuck Garner said that agreement and other required documentation would be brought to council for review and approval before any installation or routine operation occurred.

Council members indicated they expect FAA approvals, signed agreements and explicit operational policies limiting deployments to ShotSpotter alerts before full implementation. The district attorney's office, which Chief Markovich said would own the equipment, would be responsible for costs and insurance under the arrangement discussed.

Key unresolved details include a formal operations policy; which specific county staff would operate the drone and under what training requirements; vendor cybersecurity specifications and FAA authorization; and how footage and data would be stored, protected and accessed. Those points were flagged by councilors as conditions for any approval.

The item will return to council for a formal vote; at the meeting the mayor asked that the proposal be placed on the Monday council agenda for consideration and adoption of any necessary agreement.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Pottstown Committee Of The Whole, July 9th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Pottstown Borough Council placed on its July meeting agenda a proposal from the Montgomery County district attorney to install a drone \"nest\" on the roof of Borough Hall and deploy a small drone to ShotSpotter alerts in the borough.","taxTitle","Pottstown, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania","taxId",4189,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6551146,"PA Downtown survey shows strong positive responses as Pottstown pursues Main Street designation",639,955000,1594000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5354460-c3477127a60ca6a5ecae06803f0f2f17&start=955&end=1594","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5354460-c3477127a60ca6a5ecae06803f0f2f17/thumbnail_955000.jpg","/articles/6551146/Pottstown/Montgomery-County/Pennsylvania/PA-Downtown-survey-shows-strong-positive-responses-as-Pottstown-pursues-Main-Street-designation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6551146-fd089f82d3e97ca54c7224b8bd20c670/orig.mp4?Expires=1771071881&Signature=dVid-NxpIOTbgejRv~KHheQgsnlP01A3KRcRkUbVQqRmqq9BraJgTNk~TeGdowhkFAMm8avUt~79L1hemmGTPL-Wnts39ioZLVSunRvXyTl5YV5jlX6pNXCDKvmeJHVcQqdmHu4dy9hHsBb93Ek8ovcYw3JKw6giylDWiBr94C9oPQl-p6Ijp7LjOOtnawpsVT5bXbx2kMPXpNAYgo--eYQ0~8E~m38AN0XiNTSa85U3wCIcxEsVp-axGUl9ouHprjFMgZoyBqI9Yo5H633F10yqUafZK6ZeRWGkWEmhgNdNl6uVGcHh1RVkSNrQUqFl8PvEAzdusHojEOzCI8RJ1w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pottstown officials reviewed results of a public survey conducted by PA Downtown as part of the borough\u0000\u0000application for Main Street designation. The survey ran from May 14 to July 6 and produced 1,154 responses; presenters said the results will serve as baseline measures to be repeated in years three and five.

Lee Clark, economic development (PA Downtown representative), summarized the findings and said the highest-rated local attribute was quality architecture (87%), with 69% of respondents visiting downtown at least a few times a month and 80% reporting the downtown has safe places to cross the street. Clark said most responses were positive but flagged opportunities including marketing the community, improving evening vibrancy and building maintenance.

The survey sample included residents, business owners and visitors. Clark said visitor responses tended to be more favorable than resident responses and that younger respondents (ages 18\u0000to 24) reported higher satisfaction and more frequent downtown visits than older cohorts.

Councilors and staff discussed using the data for outreach and to support the Main Street designation process. Clark said PA Downtown produced summary materials and would provide the data to council; staff also plan a press release and distribution to local businesses. \"We extended to July 6. It just closed on July 6,\" Clark said, adding that PA Downtown compiled the results and would use them in the eventual designation for Pottstown.

Councilors asked staff to share the findings with merchants and to post the summary widely in the borough. The presentation included demographic breakdowns and comparisons of residents versus visitors, which organizers said will help guide marketing and program priorities for downtown revitalization.","An outreach survey fielded as part of Pottstown's Main Street designation effort drew 1,154 responses and showed strong positive sentiment on architecture and downtown visitation; organizers will use the results as a three- and five-year benchmark for Main Street work and plan a press release and outreach to local businesses.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6551151,"Borough to consider accepting two fire trucks from West Pottsgrove; agreement listed for council vote",72,3776000,3848000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5354460-c3477127a60ca6a5ecae06803f0f2f17&start=3776&end=3848","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5354460-c3477127a60ca6a5ecae06803f0f2f17/thumbnail_3776000.jpg","/articles/6551151/Pottstown/Montgomery-County/Pennsylvania/Borough-to-consider-accepting-two-fire-trucks-from-West-Pottsgrove-agreement-listed-for-council-vote","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6551151-25b9843ce23a5430a79779648f10ff7b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771071881&Signature=Gk6eCvn-hifop4FJLYxbSpX7EckFX6LuuPLEvpfR6zY785eOJjdrBZchmO1n8vIATPtndFUR6BrThvGFxMIBoLVXxbHE76YdtSR0hYZrwOn3U3KPorJX0f8dqxVcWuB0UgLpSXmJZy024ZRVK4OpMMV6PCI1PXYNpGZbv0NrRG6kfw1D1DIxFkMEESugBf4MmjrlQHkgiyWzdeJJ8HgSyaCz-~d5F22pRsWkpNOYoa6QDbn9MxtrXNTB0Gx4EwmwcqVPxehDKLQf42jh9UM5nnNRbPhCJjap~C-JqIaMeaZSH6NacYAezOc8~g0gCn9ELculL3ffz3y1b7d2MqLDAg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pottstown Borough Council will be asked to approve an agreement to accept two fire trucks transferred from West Pottsgrove Township, the borough solicitor said. The trucks were obtained by West Pottsgrove through a county court order and would be turned over to Pottstown at no cost; the borough would maintain them and make them available for fire protection in both West Pottsgrove and Pottstown.

Solicitor Chuck Garner told council the township received assets from a dissolved fire company and sought a local municipality willing to assume title. \"We basically would turn the trucks over to the borough at no cost, and we would use them for fire service protection, both for West Pottsgrove and the borough,\" he said, noting the fire chief supports the agreement.

Garner said the agreement has been approved by West Pottsgrove and would be ready for council approval Monday if members are inclined. Council did not vote at the Committee of the Whole meeting but agreed to list the item for the next meeting.

Key implementation details include transfer of title at no cost, borough responsibility for maintenance and operation under the Pottstown Fire Department's authority, and the fire chief's support. The solicitor said the borough would gain useful equipment with no purchase price but would assume maintenance and operational costs going forward.","Pottstown's solicitor said the borough will be asked Monday to accept two fire trucks transferred by West Pottsgrove Township under court order; the borough would take title at no cost and assume maintenance, with the vehicle use to support fire protection for both jurisdictions.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6551155,"Council to vote Monday on waiver for 4-unit Chestnut Street condo plan",364,3346000,3710000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5354460-c3477127a60ca6a5ecae06803f0f2f17&start=3346&end=3710","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5354460-c3477127a60ca6a5ecae06803f0f2f17/thumbnail_3346000.jpg","/articles/6551155/Pottstown/Montgomery-County/Pennsylvania/Council-to-vote-Monday-on-waiver-for-4-unit-Chestnut-Street-condo-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6551155-6cdd4ff653f21d9c915e40c932880907/orig.mp4?Expires=1771071881&Signature=bhXZjO6K3cMYCbYL~9M7MIrE4LUr583MumzkUGJabMqjrv0FD-E~mNspafxDUAX5Ned5gWg7F4m-SNmM5mMVTOlxELQrbcLpIqNsPo7NoJLLJseOFsvuu72oWl7bT20XVH4hQzhdN1zQ32ASPY-XK6m2CG7OOh5zrG8cSrjqYUSXRnegyqQZid33i6GERdPxJ89bCjLhr9cdc3S-BujE9vMEplkV7oOhAnZ~y5CmJzrmgCqW4J6qxBTOI3HeduKstuSsfmtq7cpo2522zXJ4nBTnQAvpvtZPTlipNxn0d3Lxwu8TYq~02mRQb6nLzwSgvXk84hGn2wT7Ipb2WuS1tQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pottstown Borough Council will consider on Monday whether to grant a waiver of land-development review for a proposed four-unit condominium at 944 Chestnut Street. The developer's attorney said the project would still meet subdivision and zoning requirements and that the borough engineer would perform a full technical review even if council grants the waiver.

The request matters because a waiver would bypass formal review and comment by the borough planning commission and Montgomery County planning staff; staff and the borough engineer advised council they do not recommend the waiver for a building of this size.

Attorney Richard Alquist, representing the 944 Chestnut Street owner, told council the firm intends to submit full land-development plans that comply with the borough\u0000Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (SALDO). \"We will comply with SALDO,\" he said, and noted any waivers from the subdivision ordinance would still require council approval.

Borough staff and Cedarville Engineering issued a review letter dated June 20 that did not recommend granting the waiver, and the zoning officer similarly advised against a waiver. Dan (borough staff) summarized that the project would require eight parking spaces and that, historically, council has not granted waivers for projects of this scale. The solicitor and staff said the waiver would remove the formal input of the planning commission and county planning but that the borough\u0000engineer would still perform technical plan review.

Councilors expressed concern that bypassing the planning commission would limit public and professional input on building appearance, parking, landscaping and other site design items. Council agreed to put a motion on Monday's agenda to either grant or deny the land-development waiver request so members can vote after additional consideration.

If council denies the waiver, the developer will be required to submit a full land-development plan and return for planning commission review. If council grants the waiver, staff said any required engineering review and any specific waiver requests from SALDO would still be reviewed and could require subsequent council action.","A developer requested a waiver of formal land-development review for a proposed four-unit condominium at 944 Chestnut Street; borough staff and Cedarville Engineering are not recommending the waiver and council will decide at the next meeting whether the project should go through full planning commission review.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Pottstown council to consider DA-led drone pilot tied to ShotSpotter alerts

PA Downtown survey shows strong positive responses as Pottstown pursues Main Street designation

Borough to consider accepting two fire trucks from West Pottsgrove; agreement listed for council vote

Council to vote Monday on waiver for 4-unit Chestnut Street condo plan