A coalition of local churches and community organizations will host a public town hall meeting in Limerick this week focused on issues including affordability, utility costs, immigration, and proposed data center development in the region.
The MontCo Congregational Town Hall for the Common Good is scheduled for Thursday, May 21, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at St. James United Church of Christ (UCC), located at 321 S. Limerick Road.
The event is being organized in partnership with POWER Interfaith, Royersford Baptist Church, St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Telford, and Trinity UCC in Collegeville, according to organizers of the event.
Pastor Beth Eustis of St. James UCC said the gathering will include a structured discussion with local elected officials, with questions selected in advance. State Rep. Joe Webster and State Rep. Joe Ciresi* are expected to participate.
Focus on Affordability and Growth
Promotional materials for the event state that organizers hope to address concerns many residents have about “higher food, gas, and utility prices; data centers; and the treatment of immigrants.”
In a message shared with community members, Eustis described the event as an opportunity for residents to collectively engage with elected officials on issues affecting them.
“Some of us may feel powerless but we are not,” Eustis wrote. “Our power is in the numbers. The more of us come to this town hall, the more likely our elected officials will take us seriously, and the more likely we will be able to have an impact on our communities.”
Eustis also said organizers plan to gather written feedback from attendees following the officials’ portion of the program as the coalition considers future community action and advocacy efforts.
Data Centers Remain a Regional Flashpoint
The town hall comes as proposed data center developments continue to draw significant public attention across the Spring-Ford area and surrounding communities.
In April, conditional use hearings for large-scale data center proposals began in Limerick and East Vincent. Meanwhile, officials in Royersford and Upper Providence are actively drafting ordinances to regulate data center development.
The May 21 event is open to the public. Organizers said elected officials are expected to participate from about 7 to 7:45 p.m., with the broader program concluding around 8:30 p.m.
Those interested in attending can register here.
*Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this article stated that Mike Hayes, chief of staff for Rep. Joe Ciresi, would attend the event. Organizers later confirmed that Rep. Joe Ciresi himself will be present.
