The Wyomissing Planning Commission met August 5th, and the Wyomissing Finance & Administration Committee met August 8th.

The Planning Commission reviewed a revised plan for parking lot updates for State Hill Craft Cocktails & Kitchen.

At the Finance & Administration Committee, committee members observed that borough spending is depleting financial reserves, including through the use of financing. The committee approved purchase of a new street sweeper and mold testing at the Berkshire Mall.

Also included below are agenda items for the Wyomissing Borough Council meeting on Tuesday, August 13th at 7pm.

• Aug. 5: State Hill Craft Cocktails & Kitchen @ Wyomissing Planning Commission

• Aug. 8: Wyomissing Borough Spending & Reserves Concerns, New Street Sweeper Purchase, Berkshire Mall Mold Testing @ Wyomissing Finance & Administration Committee Meeting

• Agenda Items: Wyomissing Borough Council Meeting on Tues. Aug. 13

State Hill Craft Cocktails & Kitchen - Final Plan Submission

At the August 5th Wyomissing Planning Commission meeting, State Hill Craft Cocktails & Kitchen presented a revised plan for expanding the parking lot at 1 Wellington Blvd.

• Expansion of parking lot

• Light plan revised per previous instructions

• Concerns about dumpster location - owner requested moving dumpster away from the building due to the smell, but the commission was concerned that this puts the dumpster closer to neighboring lots

• Stormwater management plan has potential for sinkholes, which would be property owner's responsibility

• Intended 6-foot privacy fence and loading/unloading areas not marked in plan

• Forwarded to Wyomissing Borough Council for conditional approval, subject to a revised plan with the dumpster near the restaurant, and addition of fencing and loading/unloading areas to plan

For more details:

• August 5th Wyomissing Planning Commission Agenda

• August 5th Wyomissing Planning Commission Meeting Documents

• Video: August 5th Wyomissing Planning Commission meeting via Real Wyomissing Borough 

Wyomissing Borough Spending & Reserves, New Street Sweeper, Berkshire Mall Mold Testing

The Wyomissing Finance & Administration Committee met on August 8th to discuss items including borough spending, mold testing at the Berkshire Mall, and purchasing a demo street sweeper.

• PFM Financial Advisors presentation on financing strategy

  • Committee members noted that the borough is financing a lot of costs, including of purchases (ex. firetruck) that were deferred in previous years

  • Financing and spending are cutting into Wyomissing borough financial reserves

  • Committee members recommend a close look at spending patterns - to make necessary purchases while maintaining financial reserves as much as possible

• Borough manager recommended switching borough insurance broker from Loomis to EHD for improved service

• Purchase of a demo street sweeper approved as recommended by Infrastructure committee

  • Current street sweeper has needed extensive repairs in 2024, necessitating renting a sweeper on multiple occasions

  • Demo street sweeper available for $330k+: includes trade-in of current sweeper

  • Current sweeper manufactured in 2017, has known engine issues - engines were discontinued

• Berkshire Mall Mold Testing:

  • Evidence of mold due to multiple roof leaks (including in closed Bon Ton area of mall)

  • Areas closed to public, but odor of mold is pervasive in publicly accessible spaces

  • The borough has no enforcement options for remediation

  • Wyomissing borough concerned about public safety and exposure

  • Positive mold testing could support the borough filing injunction against the mall to force repair of damage causing mold

    • Possibility mall could be condemned

  • Mall is in 18-month due diligence process for purchase - prospective owners aware of issue, could impact purchase deal

  • Committee approved testing for mold and air quality at Wyomissing borough expense

For more details:

• August 8th Wyomissing Finance & Administration Committee Agenda

• August 8th Wyomissing Finance & Administration Committee Meeting Documents

• Video: August 8th Wyomissing Finance & Administration Committee meeting, part 1 via Real Wyomissing Boro

• Video: August 8th Wyomissing Finance & Administration Committee meeting, part 2 via Real Wyomissing Boro

Tuesday August 13th: Wyomissing Borough Council Agenda Items

Where: Wyomissing Borough Hall

Time: Tuesday, August 13th, starts at 7pm

Agenda Highlights:

• recap of committee & commission meetings in past month

• approval of purchase of a new street sweeper

  • current street sweeper, purchased in 2017, has engine that has since been discontinued - required much maintenance this year

• approval of stop signs at Hill Avenue and George Avenue, and amending parking on Hill Avenue

• motion to authorize the maturing PLGIT to remain a PLGIT class account

• motion to change commercial zoning officer to McCarthy Engineering Associates, and to make Wyomissing Borough Manager Michele Bare the alternate commercial zoning officer

For more details:

• August 13th Wyomissing Borough Council Agenda

• August 13th Wyomissing Borough Council Meeting Documents