Abington Township · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Abington public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Code Enforcement and Citation Concerns
A local property owner raised concerns regarding excessive citations and legal fees resulting from code enforcement actions after a lightning strike damaged his swimming pool.
Implicit bias training with police department
Commission members Justin Williams and Monique Allen will run an implicit bias training on September 30 at 7 p.m. for the Montco Youth Aid Panel, part of ongoing HRC-Abington Police cooperation.
School Safety and Parking
Abington residents packed a recent town hall to demand urgent school safety upgrades and hash out frustrating local parking headaches. Locals want fast action from town leaders to protect students and fix neighborhood congestion.
Deer Mitigation Program
Abington police presented statistics showing a sharp rise in deer-related complaints and vehicle accidents over the past five years. To address safety concerns and over-browsing, the board voted to approve two emergency controlled archery hunts at Alverthorpe Park before the season ends.
National Night Out logistics
The commission is staffing National Night Out on August 3, with volunteers split between shifts and a request for Justin to power wash the tent.
Proposed Fire Code Ordinance Update
Fire Marshal Platz presented an ordinance update to replace the 30-year-old BOCA fire code with the 2021 International Fire Code. The update introduces clear operational standards, free digital fire report submissions, and modernized safety rules for lithium-ion batteries and bonfires.
Fire safety concerns of Stuart Avenue neighbors
A resident whose home was threatened by embers during the SPS fire said no one from the company ever contacted him, and he worries there's still no barrier between his house and the factory if another fire happens.
Immigration outreach and ICE inquiry protocol
The commission reviewed the solicitor's guidance on handling ICE inquiries and plans a photo-and-statement campaign so the public knows who commissioners are. Members also flagged a county immigration town hall and a possible Braver Angels immigration workshop.
Police Department Taser Upgrade
The police department is upgrading its non-lethal de-escalation tools by entering into a five-year purchasing agreement for Axon Taser 10 devices.
Human Relations Commission Outreach and Community Programming
The HRC reviewed recent successes like the Human Library and MLK Day events, while planning future collaborations with Montgomery County Community College and the NAACP to expand local civil rights and community engagement.
Emergency Response
A massive warehouse fire at SPS Technologies in Abington Township forced voluntary evacuations for hundreds of locals. If you live in the area, definitely keep an eye on local alerts for road closures and air quality updates.
Industrial Fire
A massive industrial fire broke out at SPS Technologies in Jenkintown, forcing evacuation warnings for nearby residents. Thankfully, early air quality tests haven't found any dangerous toxins floating around yet.
Industrial Fire Emergency
Voluntary evacuations and shelter-in-place orders near SPS Technologies in Abington have officially been lifted after an industrial fire scare. If you live in the area, the immediate danger is gone and things are getting back to normal.