Plans for two Montgomery County trail projects advanced Thursday as officials authorized contracts totaling $2.28 million for engineering services.
A $1.35 million agreement with the Fort Washington-based Michael Baker International, Inc. covered “preliminary engineering services for the Cross County Trail East–Section B” in Upper Moreland Township.
Another roughly $934,395 agreement awarded to Bowman Consulting Group Ltd., of Reston, Virginia, covered “preliminary engineering services for the Cross County Trail East – Section A,” which spans Upper Dublin and Upper Moreland townships.
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation representatives and Montgomery County officials evaluated scope proposals previously advertised on the state agency’s engineering and construction management system, per contract details. Eighty percent of funding was obtained through federal monies, while 20 percent came from county capital improvement program dollars for both contracts.
Montgomery County Commissioners also unanimously appointed and reappointed a handful of individuals to serve on two boards. Drew Gilchrist was appointed and Mark Vasoli was reappointed to the county’s Open Space Board. Dr. Paula Durlofsky, Chris Mundiath and Julie O’Connor were appointed to the Montgomery County Office of Children and Youth’s Citizen Advisory Committee.
Meal delivery service sparks discussion
Additionally, a seven-item bids and request for proposals package was authorized for advertisement on Thursday. Among them was one issued on behalf of the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services seeking meal delivery assistance.
County officials strive to “provide home delivered meal services to support older adults, aged 60 [years] and over, in their home by providing nutritious meals to homebound individuals.”
The advertised language stipulates “this is a previously solicited service,” which was “scheduled for re-solicitation in 2026.” Funding would come from a state aging block grant.
Plymouth Township resident Denise Pottinger encouraged county commissioners to select Meals on Wheels as a provider, emphasizing the organization’s impact on area seniors.
“It’s about them being independent and staying in place,” Pottinger said.
Pottinger disclosed she “had a stroke last year.” While she said she had her children helping her, she noted how so many others are not in the same position.
“Having a program where you order a bunch of meals, and it gets dropped off, and expecting an 85-year-old or someone who broke their leg to go outside and pick up that box of meals and bring it inside — that doesn’t make sense to me,” Pottinger said.
“I know Ms. Denise, you knew my mother really well, and thank you for advocating for Meals on Wheels. We are just going out to RFP. We will collect multiple vendors to give seniors choice,” said Montgomery County Commissioners’ Chairwoman Jamila Winder.
Commissioner Tom DiBello agreed, expressing he thinks “services will still be available for our elderly to decide what’s best for them.”
The topic was personal for Winder as she took a moment to reflect on her parents’ experiences dealing with illness and mobility issues in their later years.
“Luckily, they had myself and my brother, but had they not, their income was such that they [wouldn’t] qualify for anything,” Winder said. “So that’s just something that we’ve got to just solve for as a country. If people find theirselves disabled and maybe spending all their money towards health care, [it] leaves very little money to support other things.”
“Thank you for raising that. That’s something we really should be thinking about,” Winder said.
The next Montgomery County Board of Commissioners meeting will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 7 on the eighth floor of One Montgomery Plaza, 425 Swede St., Norristown. Those interested in attending the meeting can also do so virtually. Visit montgomerycountypa.gov for more information.
