The Wyomissing Infrastructure Committee met on Monday, September 16th. On Tuesday, September 17th, there were meetings of West Reading Borough Council and the Wyomissing Personnel Committee.

• West Reading Borough Council updates

• Wyomissing Infrastructure Updates

• Wyomissing Personnel Updates

West Reading Borough Council

The West Reading Borough Council met on Tuesday September 17th. Discussion included:

• establishing a volunteer program to support elderly residents with yard work through the West Reading Environmental Advisory Council

• the Wawa on Penn Avenue is listed for sale

• discussion with public of experimental parking regulations

• approved advertising Grape Street no-parking ordinance

  • 30 days until made permanent - can be amended in that period

• approved extending the Proclamation of Local Disaster Emergency through October 16, 2024 while part of Cherry Street is still closed

• added agenda item to reject all South 7th Street construction bids - delaying till next year

• West Reading council members are supporting Reading Planning Commission with downtown master plan

• approved West Reading Borough taking ownership of petroleum tanks at 433 Penn Ave (former Schweitzer’s Service Center), anticipating the removal of the tanks

• authorized reimbursing Norfolk Southern up to $20,000 for unanticipated costs while getting painting quote for railroad bridge

• approved purchase of water pressure gauge, in response to recent water main breaks, to notify borough of problematic water pressure levels

• approved contracting Derck & Edson to complete amendments of Downtown Zoning Ordinance

• approved changing out streetlights to LED - anticipating sizeable electricity savings

• approved planter placement and maintenance

• approved all action items in Treasurer’s Report

For more details:

• Sept. 17th West Reading Borough Council Agenda

• Video: Sept. 17th West Reading Borough Council Meeting

Wyomissing Infrastructure Updates

The Wyomissing Infrastructure Committee met on Monday September 16th. Discussion included:

• Old Mill Road to be closed from Evans Ave to Parkside Drive South for construction for the next week

• future of the 50/50 Sidewalk Program

  • program established in 2015, intended to run for 5 years

  • budget is $70,000 annually

  • 90% of sidewalk hazard violations are caused street trees owned by the Wyomissing Borough - even recently replaced sidewalks

  • paving stones as alternative to concrete

• Administration and Police Department construction: considering altering the existing Borough Hall building and/or property

  • project cost: $4-5M

  • cheapest option is the build a 2-story police department in the front yard of Borough Hall at Penn Ave. and Reading Blvd.

  • suggested creating parking around the entire new building

  • suggested tearing down existing Borough Hall

  • planning town hall meetings with residents when more is known about the status of grant applications, drawings are developed etc.

• planning a message to the public regarding free-ranging cats

• Borough Manager shared that written decisions on Zoning Hearings, which are required to go out within 45 days, are being sent at the end of that time frame

• Berkshire Mall declined to consent to air quality testing for mold so Wyomissing Police are applying for a search warrant, then proceeding with testing

• updates on 4th & Oley pump station redesign

• Berkshire Mall under contract for sale with Metropolitan Companies

• approved payment applications for Public Works Garage and Stone House project

For more details:

• Sept. 16th Wyomissing Infrastructure Committee Agenda

• Sept. 16th Wyomissing Infrastructure Committee Meeting Documents

• Video: Sept. 16th Wyomissing Infrastructure Meeting via Real Wyomissing Boro

Wyomissing Personnel Committee

The Wyomissing Personnel Committee met on Tuesday September 17th. Discussion included:

• ongoing discussion of personnel evaluations

  • specifically examined police department evaluations

• fire department position & role requirement updates

For more details:

• Sept. 17th Wyomissing Personnel Committee Agenda

• Sept. 17th Wyomissing Personnel Committee Meeting Documents

• Video: Sept. 17th Wyomissing Personnel Committee Meeting via Real Wyomissing Boro