December 7, 2017

Pottstown Metropolitan Regional Planning Committee

P.O. Box 311   Norristown, PA   19404-0311
Contact: Marley Bice, AICP   610-278-3740   mbice@montcopa.org

April 3, 2018
Shaun Elliott, President & CEO
Philadelphia Freedom Valley YMCA
400 Fayette St., Suite 250
Conshohocken, PA 19428
Dear Mr. Elliott:
On behalf of the membership of the Pottstown Metropolitan Regional Planning Committee (PMRPC), I am
writing to express our concern regarding the potential closing of the Pottstown YMCA and our strong desire for
all parties involved to work together to ensure that the Pottstown YMCA facility remains open and continues to
provide essential and valuable services to the larger Pottstown-area community.
The Pottstown Metropolitan Regional Planning Committee consists of membership from six municipalities in
western Montgomery County and two municipalities in northwestern Chester County. We recognize that the
Pottstown-area community relies upon the programs and services offered at the Pottstown YMCA. The facility’s
current location is ideally located along several bus routes and adjacent to the Pottstown High School making it
convenient to area residents. We feel that the unique services and opportunities offered by the Pottstown
YMCA in its current location are irreplaceable and should be enhanced. We strongly encourage the Philadelphia
Freedom Valley YMCA, and other parties involved, to continue to work towards a solution that would allow the
Pottstown YMCA facility to remain open and be properly maintained and updated in the long-term.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,

Edward O. Reitz Jr., Chairman
Pottstown Metropolitan Regional Planning Committee
c:

Valerie A. Arkoosh, MD, MPH, Chair – Montgomery County Commissioners
Kenneth E. Lawrence, Jr., Vice Chair – Montgomery County Commissioners
Joseph C. Gale, Montgomery County Commissioners
Honorable Tim Hennessey, Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Senator Bob Mensch, Pennsylvania State Senate
Honorable Thomas J. Quigley, Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Senator John Rafferty Jr., Pennsylvania State Senate
Honorable Marcy Toepel, Pennsylvania House of Representatives
David W. Kraybill, President, Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation
Peggy Lee-Clark, Executive Director, Pottstown Area Industrial Development
Eileen Dautrich, President, Tri-County Area Chamber of Commerce