Council adopts ordinance to authorize PennVEST loan for wastewater plant upgrades

The borough council voted to adopt Ordinance 2025-08, a debt ordinance under the local government unit debt act, authorizing the issuance of a guaranteed revenue note with a maximum principal amount of $4,829,635 to fund improvements at the wastewater treatment plant.

Speaker 6 introduced the ordinance, saying it was "formal action constituting a debt ordinance under the local government unit debt act, authorizing the incurrence of debt for the issuance of 1 guaranteed revenue note in the aggregate maximum principal amount of $4,829,635 for improvements at the wastewater treatment plant." Council discussion identified the loan as a PennVEST financing package: Speaker 3 described it as a "PEN VEST loan" (transcript spelling varied) and said the interest would be 1% for years 1 through 5 and "years 6 through 20 something, it's 1.5." The transcript did not record a precise terminal year for the higher rate.

Staff said bids for the project are out and will be opened at the next meeting. One council member estimated a likely bid number "might come in at 4,650,000," indicating a possible gap between the estimated cost and the authorized loan amount. Council approved the ordinance by roll-call vote, recorded as 6 yes and 2 absent.

Council members also discussed whether a regional plant referenced in the meeting (named in the transcript as the "Hummer City plant") would affect borough treatment needs; staff suggested the topic be addressed in the public works agenda for follow-up.

Next steps: bids will be opened at the next meeting and staff will return with results; the ordinance authorizes the borough to proceed with the PennVEST financing process.