Andrea Deutsch Joins Narberth Council

Andrea Deutsch became the newest member of the at a caucus meeting on Wednesday night.

Deutsch—outgoing president of the Narberth Democratic Club and the owner of , a Narberth pet-supply shop—was appointed by the council in a unanimous vote and will serve on the council until Dec. 31, 2013.

Deutsch fills a vacancy created when Surge Ghosh  at the Jan. 2 reorganization meeting.

“I’m very excited to be joining the Narberth Borough Council and I hope to make good decisions that benefit the businesses and the neighbors of the borough,” Deutsch told Patch after the meeting.

The council for the council seat Jan. 30, but one of the applicants, Ken Jacobs, subsequently withdrew from the process, leaving three candidates, Deutsch, Richard Diaz and Michael Gaudini, Council President Sam Quinn said last night.

After nominating Deutsch for the council appointment, Councilwoman Heidi Boise said, “It was difficult to make a decision. I know Andrea has been in the borough a long time. I know her personally, so I know her integrity.”

Councilman Bob Wegbreit said to Deutsch, “I’m impressed with your entrepreneurship and your business.”

Boise, Wegbreit, and Councilman Bob Weisbord also praised candidate Diaz. Boise said she wanted to talk to Diaz after the meeting about how he might work with the borough in another capacity.

Deutsch was sworn in by Mayor Tom Grady, immediately after the council appointed her. She received a round of applause from a nearly full audience before taking her seat at the council table.

Deutsch told Patch that as a council member her goals will be to increase business in Narberth and make sure that the old Narberth school building is taken care of.

Deutsch said her two-year term as president of the Narberth Democratic Club will end at the club’s next meeting, but she will continue to serve on the organization’s executive board.

In other business, the council unanimously approved the Rockland Avenue Federalization Agreement,which will save the borough 15 percent of the $1 million cost to demolish the Rockland Avenue Bridge.

Before the agreement, Narberth was responsible for funding 20 percent of the demolition cost, with 80 percent of the funds coming from the federal government, said Borough Manager Bill Martin.

With the Federalization Agreement, Narberth will pay 5 percent, PennDOT will fund 15 percent and the federal government will pay 80 percent, Martin said.

“So, some delays give you money,” Martin said.

The Rockland Avenue Bridge is slated to be demolished late this summer, behind schedule, Boise said.

Drawings for another bridge project, the replacement of the Narberth Avenue Bridge, are well underway, Boise said.

“We’re just fine-tuning lighting,” Boise said. “That project will not begin until the end of 2013.”