By Richard L. Gaw
Staff Writer

For the past decades, whenever the London Britain Township Board of Supervisors gathered for their public meetings, they were accompanied not only by interested members of the municipality, but by inconveniences uncommon to most modern-day public buildings of its kind.

There were no restrooms, no audio-visual technology, no private meeting space for elected officials, and the heating ventilation was often so loud and inefficient that it drowned out important conversations.

“COVID-19 really shone a spotlight on what we were lacking when we began conducting Zoom meetings,” said supervisor Brian Sachs. “The existing building had one outlet. We had to stretch a phone line out the door and across the grass and into the other township building, and that is when we decided that we needed to make some renovations.”

At one meeting in January of 2023, township resident and now board member, Bruce Yost, volunteered to spearhead the plan to revitalize the space. The renovation was supported by funding the township had received earlier from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Over the next two years, Yost, with the support of Sachs, and the entire task force, known as the Core Project Team, set out to renovate the space to combine form and function. As the project took shape, the board sought input from the surrounding community and members of the audience during township meetings.

After a renovation of the 1,200-square-foot space – designed in collaboration with Chesterville Architects and constructed by a team of local contractors - the revamped space officially opened in September. The meeting hall includes a restroom, four large-screen monitors, upgraded lighting, a separate conference room, and additional seating. Eventually, its front vestibule walls will display special treasures and important proclamations from the township’s history.

“The goal of this building was to keep the look of an old schoolhouse, but with modern technology,” Sachs said, referring to the room’s original blackboards, pitched ceiling and a bell in the front of the building, which was once used at the South Bank School. “We wanted to keep the charm of it without making it look like just another conference room.”

In addition to the Board of Supervisors, the refurbished space will also be used by several of the township commissions and committees, and it will be made available for local scout groups, homeowner’s associations, Avon Grove Library, our regional emergency management partners and Pennsylvania State Police to use as an adjunct meeting space.

“Our vision for this meeting hall is to provide a welcoming space for London Britain residents and the wider community,” board Chairperson Aileen Parrish said. “Our hope is that the building will offer a host of useful tools to guide the township over the next two decades.”

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email [email protected].