Clifton Heights council adopts tiered permit-fee cap, encumbers ARPA grants and approves energy and PennDOT agreements

The Clifton Heights Borough Council voted unanimously at its meeting to adopt a resolution that amends administrative and regulatory permit fees and caps fees for very large building projects, approved the encumbrance of $100,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for a second round of nonprofit grants, and approved contracts for energy supply and a PennDOT multimodal transportation grant reimbursement.

The council approved Resolution 2025-5 (as referenced during the meeting) to tier building-permit fees so that permit revenue remains proportionate to municipal review and inspection costs for very large projects. Borough staff described the change as necessary because the community is facing an unusually large school construction project that, under the borough's prior formula, would have produced an excessive permit fee. The staff presentation outlined the tiered schedule the council adopted: a 4% base percentage on smaller projects (up to $5 million), 3% on values between $5 million and $40 million, 1% on $40 million to $75 million, and a quarter-percent (0.25%) above $75 million up to a $100 million cap. Council members said the tiers align the borough's fees with comparable municipalities and prevent an outsized one-time permit charge on major public projects.

Council also approved a motion to encumber — rather than merely allocate — $100,000 of previously earmarked ARPA funds for a second round of grants to qualifying borough nonprofit organizations. The borough manager explained the program will require organizations to submit bylaws and profit-and-loss statements (historical and recent) for verification, and a fiscal firm will review applications and calculate awards. Applications are to open the Friday after the meeting with a target return date around May 1; staff said the allocation process will allow for organizations that need additional time to meet internal bylaw notice requirements.

Separately the council approved entering an energy supply agreement with the company named in the meeting (referred to as Smartis/Smart Energy in the record) after staff said a 48-month supplier proposal showed roughly $4,400 in estimated savings over the contract period compared with current costs. The council also approved a multimodal transportation fund grant reimbursement agreement with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, acting through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, for highway and bridge projects the borough listed as eligible under the grant program.

All motions described above passed by unanimous roll call votes. Councilors also voted to accept routine reports from the borough's financial adviser, police chief, fire chief, engineer, solicitor, and community development/code enforcement staff.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution amending administrative/regulatory permit fees (Resolution cited in meeting): Motion made by Mister Cannon; seconded by Mister Gorman; roll-call outcome: unanimous yes (Mister Resnick, Mister Braun, Chair, Miss Barelli, Mister Gorman, Mister Cannon, Mister Swan, Mister Fagioli). Result: approved.

- Encumbrance of ARPA funds (Round 2 grants to nonprofits): Motion (to encumber $100,000) made by Mister Berman/Barnet (as recorded); seconded (recorded); roll-call outcome: unanimous yes (Mister Resnick, Mister Braun, Chair, Miss Barelli, Mister Gorman, Mister Cannon, Mister Swan, Mister Fagioli). Result: approved/encumbered.

- Approval of energy supply/sales agreement (supplier recorded in minutes as "Smartis/Smart Energy"): Motion made by Mister Fagioli; seconded by Mister Braun; roll-call outcome: unanimous yes. Result: approved.

- Multimodal Transportation Fund grant reimbursement agreement with PennDOT: Motion made by Mister Gorman; seconded by Mister Cannon; roll-call outcome: unanimous yes. Result: approved.

What the fee change means

Borough staff said the fee schedule maintains a 4% calculation on smaller projects but reduces the percentage on larger valuations so that a very large public-construction project will not be assessed an unreasonably large single permit charge. The manager and staff emphasized permit fees must reasonably relate to municipal costs and cannot function as a general tax or revenue generator for the borough.

ARPA grants: procedural details

Staff said the borough previously received $747,000 in ARPA funds and earlier set aside $100,000 for nonprofit grants; council has now encumbered an additional $100,000 for a second round. Applicants will submit bylaws, proof of eligibility, and profit-and-loss statements from defined years; a fiscal reviewer will verify filings and calculate awards based on documented lost revenue. Staff expects to distribute awards in late spring after verification.