Municipal Hall’s council chambers are filled with people attending a Sept. 16, 2025 Norristown Municipal Council work session. (Rachel Ravina – MediaNews Group)
Norristown residents vocalized their concerns with the relationships between elected officials time and time again as cracks continue to form in the seven-member council.
Dealings appeared to reach a breaking point earlier this week when several residents took to public comment airing their frustrations with council as tensions have escalated in recent months.
Norristown resident Terrance Barnes acknowledged “the elephant in the room” of Municipal Hall as he sought to shed light on the “obvious adversity, animosity, general distrust and divide on the council and between the council members.”
Barnes, who vied for a spot on council and ran and lost in the primary election in the municipality’s first legislative district, maintained the need for elected officials to serve in a way that benefits the community.
“Even standing here now I’m disheartened, and losing the will to try, because if you guys can’t work together for the greater good, how do you expect us as the community members to come through and bear the burden of trying to strengthen [forces against] community violence?” Barnes said.
Barnes’ comments during the Sept. 16 work session came on the heels of a fiery meeting earlier in the month where council members engaged in a verbal showdown over the installation of a plaque to honor a 17-year-old boy who died more than two decades ago. Constituents have observed rising tensions and have shared reservations about how the municipality is perceived.
“It’s a shame, because we have other communities out there looking at us, like laughing,” said Norristown resident Erica Warthon.
“Communities watch and listen, and they see the arguments taking place on the floor … they see the lack of control. They’re hearing about the adversities being fought behind closed doors, and we are watching how that divides not just the council, but the community also. It makes us look bad like we place our trust in the wrong people,” Barnes said.
Longtime Norristown resident Laura Smith, who also serves on the board of the George Washington Carver Community Center, agreed.
“We are really starting to get too personal,” Smith said, advising council members that “you don’t have to like them, but you have to work with them.”
Trunk or Treat debacle
In addition to the general goings on around municipal government, several residents have expressed their frustration with officials about the municipality’s alleged pull back of support for Trunk or Treat. Former Norristown Councilwoman Heather Lewis previously pressed elected officials for answers as to why financial commitments had been pulled.
“This is an event that provides the community youth the safe environment to enjoy the time honored tradition of dressing up and trick-or-treating without worry or fear of danger,” Barnes said. “It also brings together local businesses and organizations to engage the community in a positive way.”
Around 750 children participated in 2024 and 650 children took part in the event in 2023, according to Barnes, who emphasized “it continues to grow every year.”
“So I’m here to humbly request that even if the municipality, as a government entity, decides not to support the event, that the council from their discretionary funds granted to be used to aid in assisting community events, make a pledge or donation to see this event’s success, not only this year, but to help it continue to grow and flourish in years to come,” Barnes said.
Taria Mayo, who partnered with Lewis on the venture, called on elected officials to donate their discretionary funds to support their efforts. Councilmen Will McCoy and Dustin Queenan each pledged $250.
Trunk or Treat previously took place at the Norristown Recreation Center, Mayo said, asserting previous difficulties gaining access to funds for the annual event.
“I came to [the] municipality last year when Tommy [Lepera] was president, and I was told that they will not fund my situation here in Norristown … because I was partnered with Heather Lewis. If I pick a new partner, then they give me the money if I don’t, and I’ve told them, I don’t sell my soul for anyone. I don’t chase money. It’s going to come to us,” Mayo said.
Municipal Administrator Leonard Lightner swiftly denied the municipality’s lack of involvement.
“We never said that the municipality would pull out of Trunk or Treat,” Lightner said.
As Lightner noted there is no “written agreement” with Lewis and Mayo with respect to the Halloween event, and he tasked Tracie Henry, the municipality’s special events coordinator, to speak with them “in reference to how the future is going to look.”
“So the money is still in the budget. We never said we were pulling out, and our staff was the one supporting all of that,” Lightner said. “So I think before we start just saying these things, please call me and ask the question to get both sides.”
‘Put aside the petty grievances’
Still, area residents called on their elected officials and government counterparts to do better.
“19401, let’s get it together,” Warthon said.
“Put aside the petty grievances. We [need to] put aside the political infighting … put aside our personal emotions or individual dislikes, and come together to strengthen a community that is underwhelmed by your actions, overwhelmed by the drama, and really just ready to give up,” Barnes said.
