🏷️🏬 WR Boro Council Cancelled; Wyo Library & Infrastructure Updates

Author

Dr. Angela Adler
October 23, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes

Wyomissing Public Library board met on Monday October 21st, and Wyomissing Infrastructure Committee met on Tuesday October 22nd. The West Reading Borough Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday October 22nd was cancelled.

Table of Contents

Beyond the Agenda: Possible Land Speculation in Wyomissing

As I’ve noted, passenger rail is slated to return to Reading (and possibly Wyomissing) by 2029. This will lead to massive, rapid development in Berks County in the next decade.

Two points in the Wyomissing Infrastructure meeting this week make me think land speculation has begun in Wyomissing:

1. The purchaser currently in due diligence to acquire the Berkshire Mall property advertising a subdivided sale of the mall property before completing their own purchase

2. The new owner of the Inn at Reading property expressing openly that he may not develop the property

This is important because land speculation will affect our quality of life in our community. We benefit when people invest in our community - not when they look to extract from what they think our area will be in the future.

Land speculation can lead to properties sitting vacant and deteriorating for years. (I saw it happen extensively when I lived in Pittsburgh.)

And while the passenger rail project may succeed, there is no guarantee. If land speculation fails, as a community we will be stuck with deteriorated properties.

Wyomissing Infrastructure Committee

Wyomissing Borough sign

Wyomissing Borough

The Wyomissing Borough Infrastructure Committee met on Monday October 21st. Discussion included:

  • scheduling a hearing for an ongoing agenda item pertaining to a residential property

  • Berkshire Mall

    • air quality testing completed - mold found, not at levels that merit public safety health concern

    • construction and property maintenance violations issued to Berkshire Mall in beginning September 2024 - have not complied so borough will start filing citations

    • property is 58 acres, under agreement with Modus; Modus is already advertising the property as two subdivided properties for sale, without yet owning the property

  • Western Berks Water Authority had their monthly meeting same day, after the Wyomissing Infrastructure meeting

    • finalizing next year’s rates

  • sewer system maintenance budget cut for 2025 from $400,000 to $200,000

    • Wyomissing Borough Council historically invested proactively in maintaining sewers, so Public Works does not anticipate issues from reducing the budget in the short term

  • Inn at Reading site development delayed for 5 years

    • conditional use permit for Inn at Reading site only valid for 5 years

    • Wyomissing Borough may need to budget to maintain the Wynnewood pump station until developers are contributing

    • property owner has said construction may never happen on the site, depending on potential to make money off the property

  • borough employees anticipate the HVAC pipes in Wyomissing Borough Hall failing “at some point” and costing $300,000-$400,000 to repair

  • 640 properties with uncertain water line material - letters will be sent soon as part of national service line inventory project

  • Berkshire Heights Playground project: approved McCarthy designing, permitting, and putting project out to bid

    • project delayed till 2025

    • grant requires that playground equipment be purchased through competitive bid

West Reading Borough Council Meeting - Cancelled

Meeting Cancellation - West Reading

The West Reading Borough Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday October 22nd was cancelled.

West Reading Borough Council next meets on Tuesday November 19th starting at 7pm at West Reading Borough Hall.

Wyomissing Public Library Board Meeting

The Wyomissing Public Library Board of Trustees met on Monday October 21st at 7pm.

Angela adds…

I made it to the second half of the meeting because I was assistant coaching the Wyomissing Area Soccer Club under-11 boys soccer team - the scrimmage ran past 7pm.

Also, I have submitted a letter of interest to serve on the Wyomissing Public Library Board of Trustees and will be interviewed for the role. (I love libraries!) There are several board positions open at the library - information on how to apply is below!

Discussion at the meeting included:

  • approving the proposed 2025 budget

  • updates on raffle baskets for the upcoming library fundraiser

  • recruiting new board members

  • circulation updates

    • digital material circulation has increased, physical material circulation has decreased

    • digital materials are more expensive, and expire after a certain number of borrows

      • Wyomissing Public Library collaborates with other county libraries to maintain digital collections

      • ongoing discussion of ways to account for potentially increased costs due to digital circulation

      • awaiting update on law being considered to regulate the costs publishers can charge libraries

Wyomissing Pubic Library: Seeking Board Members

The Wyomissing Public Library Board of Trustees will have several Board positions available beginning in January 2025. This is a great opportunity to support your community library!

Applicants should be over 18 years old, a resident of the Wyomissing Borough, contribute $100 or more to the Library Association, and be able to attend Board meetings on the 3rd Monday of each month.

Interested persons should submit a resume and letter of intent on or before 10/26/24 to our Library Director at [email protected]. Please include your professional background and experience in civic/volunteer organizations. Qualified candidates will be interviewed.

For more details: