Local News

                Brian Miller, the former Upper Perkiomen Middle School music and chorus teacher accused of having inappropriate relationships with two female students, will be spending time behind bars after being sentenced to three to 23 months in Montgomery County Court Tuesday.

                Judge Thomas P. Rodgers reportedly turned down Mill-er’s pleas for leniency and probation and also sentenced him to five years of probation after he is paroled from jail.

                Miller, who lost his teaching certification and was fired by the district in April 2009, was reportedly working as a waiter. 

                The 29-year-old Bethlehem resident was hired by the district in August 2003 and also served as a technology coach.  He was charged with unlawful contact with a minor, endangering the welfare of a minor, indecent assault, corruption of minors and criminal use of a communication facility in March 2009 after police said he had a romantic relationship with an eighth-grade girl from January though March of that year.

                Police said Miller was the girl’s teacher for several years and the student said they began spending more time together as she became involved in school musicals. 

                Miller reportedly kissed and fondled the girl in the classroom.  He also allegedly told her that he loved her.

                He later told her, according to court records, that he wanted to marry her and have sexual intercourse with her.

                Upper Perk Police became aware of the relationship after one of the girl’s friends told school officials, who alerted authorities.  

                Police charged Miller with another count of corruption of a minor in June of last year after learning the teacher had inappropriate contact with another 14-year-old female student.

                Court documents stated during the same time period he was engaging in a relationship with the other student, Miller told the second student he wanted to kiss her and that it was hard for him to control himself around her.  He also said she was the reason he and his wife were unhappy.

                Miller reportedly corresponded through notes and online with both girls, giving one of the girls gifts.

                Both girls and their family members reportedly testified against Miller during court proceedings earlier this year, saying he betrayed them and one said she would live with the events for the rest of her life. 

                Miller, who was out on $250,000 bail and $50,000 bail, will appear at the Montgomery County Correctional facility Aug. 20 to begin his sentence.

Bids Scheduled to Go out Later this Year

                The wooden bridge in the 1400 block of Salford Station Road, closed for several years due to structural deficiencies, may be open to traffic once again.

                Upper Salford Supervisors’ Vice Chairman Kevin O’Donnell announced Tuesday that a tentative agreement has been worked out between the township and Montgomery County for replacement of the bridge. 

                Although officials were releasing few details, O’Donnell said the township will be doing most of the work itself and purchasing materials, which is expected to cut costs.  Bids are scheduled to go out sometime in 2011 for the primary construction phase.

                While it isn’t clear what part the county will have in the project, temporary trail detours will be established once construction begins.

                The bridge’s ownership has been debated over the years because the township believes the structure is a county bridge, over the Perkiomen Trail, and the county defers responsibility to the township.

                In other news, supervisors passed a resolution to prohibit parking on certain roads during the Philadelphia Folk Festival, held at the old Poole Farm, Salford Station and Clemmer’s Mill roads, Friday, Aug. 20-Sunday, Aug. 22.

                Campers are expected to arrive Thursday, Aug. 19.

Parking will be prohibited along Salford Station Road, between Schwenksville Road and Salford Street; Clemmer’s Mill Road, between Spring Mount Road and Salford Station Road; Winter Lane, between Autumn Lane and Salford Station Road; Autumn Lane, from Winter Lane to the end; Harmon Road, between Salford Station Road and Salford Street; Galen Lane from Clemmer’s, Mill Road to the end; Barnbridge Road, from Clemmer’s Mill to the end; Wolford Road, between Salford Station Road and Old Skippack Road; and Haim Road from Clemmer’s Mill Road to the end.

The resolution also provides tow-away zones for all of the affected roadways.

                The board later approved a resolution to oppose both PA House Bill 2431 and Senate Bill 1357.  Both these pieces of legislation propose the merging and consolidations of local governments (boroughs and townships) and will bring them under the jurisdictions of county governments instead.  If passed, this will include all municipalities in the commonwealth.  All three supervisors made it clear that they are strongly opposed to these proposed legislations.

                Along the same lines, the board approved a resolution for Upper Salford to join the Southeastern PA Stormwater Coalition in opposition to current proposed legislation and unfunded, mandated, proposed regulations for the MS4 (PAG-13) permit as tentatively required by the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

                This is in response to upcoming overregulation of all local municipal storm water management. Joining the coalition will provide legal, legislative, and engineering support services.

                In addition, the supervisors approved a motion designating Township Secretary Susan Rosato as the agent for the township to handle the process of applying for reimbursements of manpower/labor and salt use expenses for the February 5-7 and 9-11, 2010 snow storms as provided through the Federal and Pennsylvania emergency management agencies.

                Supervisors’ Chairman Theodore Poatsy announced that the next scheduled meeting for the ACT 537 Sewage Facilities Plan will be 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 17 at the township building.

                Newly-elected State Representative Marcy Toepel (R-147) made an appearance at the meeting to introduce herself. Additionally, having recently spoken with PennDOT, she stated that the Spring Mount Road Bridge replacement is on schedule and is expected to be completed by the end of October of this year.