The new term of the Upper Pottsgrove Board of Commissioners began on January 2, 2026. The three new commissioners—Al Leach, Elwood Taylor, and Tyrone Robinson—joined current commissioners Cathy Paretti and Dave Waldt to fill the five board seats of a first-class township. A commissioner’s term is four years. The three new commissioners’ terms will end on the first Monday in January 2030; the two current commissioners’ terms will end in January 2028. Both Paretti and Waldt, now serving their second terms, stated in their 2019 campaign letter that they would serve only two terms.
Given this new board and the commissioners now serving, here are a few predictions for the upcoming legislative term (January 2026–January 2028; first-class township boards reorganize every two years):
1. Pending Commonwealth Court appeals
There are two legal cases on appeal in the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court, which generally hears cases involving government agencies. The first case concerns the proposed site of the Township municipal building near Evans Road, commonly known as Smola. The second case involves the Gilbertsville Road site, which is currently the primary site; this case concerns contracts signed in 2025. Both cases are land-use issues and are important in determining how the Township may use the 338 acres it owns in the future.
Prediction: The commissioners, pushed by Taylor, will move to drop both appeals. These appeals are strong, and the commissioners do not want definitive answers to the land-use questions, even though the Evans Road (Smola) appeal is already paid for. In addition, appellate cases are substantially less costly than proceedings in the Court of Common Pleas (the first court in the process). Why wouldn’t you want a clear ruling on land-use issues affecting 338 acres of Township property—unless you are afraid of the outcome?
You may recall that the three new commissioners, led by Taylor, sued the Township after it signed the contracts, in what appeared to be a vindictive stunt.
2. Artisan development lawsuits
The Township is currently involved in lawsuits with Artisan, a developer proposing to build 400 houses near the Summer Grove subdivision. When Artisan sued the Township, the previous board fought the suits. Taylor voted in 2019 to advance the first phase of this project, helping create the current overdevelopment threat.
Prediction: Look for Taylor to push the other commissioners to settle the lawsuits with Artisan and allow construction to proceed. Incidentally, Taylor lost his election bid in 2019.
3. Resolution 703 and conflicts of interest
In 2019, the Township adopted Resolution 703, which restricts commissioners from serving on internal Township committees and from serving on boards of organizations that receive Township funding. Commissioners must act on recommendations from internal committees, and it is illogical to vote on your own recommendation if you sit on the committee issuing it. The same reasoning applies to external organizations funded by the Township; a commissioner serving on such a board presents a clear conflict of interest.
When the resolution passed, the affected commissioners resigned from those committees—except Taylor. He sued the Township rather than give up the chairmanship of the Planning Commission. Again, he lost his election bid that same year.
Prediction: Look for this board to repeal Resolution 703 altogether or weaken it significantly to placate Taylor.
4. Budget review and taxes
The new board should review the current budget (the 2026 budget was passed by the previous board with no tax increase). This provides an opportunity to understand the Township’s various funds and to study revenues and expenses as they should be evaluated. The board also has the authority to reopen the budget.
Prediction: Look for the new board to reopen the budget, increase the Township tax rate, and restore funding to the Pottstown Library. Led by Paretti, the Township began phasing out library funding in 2021. We’ll see if she defends her previous position. A longer-term prediction: within the terms of the three new commissioners, the Township will incur debt to fund a municipal building at a substantially higher cost than the Gilbertsville Road project.
5. The Capinski road issue
Here is an interesting prediction. Jim Capinski has attended Township meetings for many years and has long complained that the Township should take ownership of a side road near his house. Taylor—who has served as a commissioner on and off since 1998 and as board president for much of that time—consistently opposed Capinski’s request and did not allow the Township to assume ownership. Capinski frequently claimed at meetings that Taylor had “whited out” his road on the Township map. There was no love lost between the two.
However, in the past year, as Taylor planned his return to the board, he and Capinski became steadfast allies. As with his earlier rants against Taylor, Capinski redirected his attacks toward the majority of the previous board.
Prediction: In return for his support, look for Capinski to finally succeed in having the Township take over his road. No more “whited out” speeches.