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Blakely council approves preliminary 2026 budget, emergency plan and PennDOT winter agreement; authorizes advertising of two ordinances
Summary
At its Nov. 17 meeting Blakely Borough Council approved the preliminary 2026 budget with revenues and expenditures of $12,975,603, adopted an updated Emergency Operations Plan and approved a winter service agreement with PennDOT. The council also authorized advertising of Refuse and Permit ordinances and heard that refuse fees will rise to $300 per year.
Blakely Borough Council approved several administrative measures at its Nov. 17, 2025 meeting, including preliminary approval of the borough's 2026 budget, adoption of an updated Emergency Operations Plan and approval of a winter service agreement with PennDOT.
Controller Carlo Celli read a preliminary 2026 budget that lists total revenues and expenditures of $12,975,603 and detailed line items including taxes, public safety, highways and electric-company expenses. Council approved the preliminary budget in a recorded motion (moved by Michael Henzes, seconded by Kevin Swift; recorded as all ayes). The controller's line items in the minutes include: Taxes - $1,170,476; Permits - $54,344; Fines & Forfeits - $22,250; Interest/Rents - $734,991; Intergovernmental Revenues - $496,350; Charges for Services - $7,657,429; Gas System - $245,411; Culture & Recreation - $148,403; Other Financing Sources - $2,329,374; Total Revenues/Expenditures - $12,975,603.
The council also approved Resolution 27, adopting an updated Emergency Operations Plan for the borough, and Resolution 28, entering a Winter Service Agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) for Gino Merli Drive (motion recorded as all ayes). The solicitor then asked the council to authorize advertising two proposed ordinances: Ordinance 5 of 2025 (amending the Refuse Fee Ordinance) and Ordinance 6 of 2025 (a Construction Permit ordinance). Council authorized both advertisements for passage at the Dec. 15 meeting.
Refuse and committee reports: Edward J. Alco Jr., reporting for Refuse & Recycling, said the annual refuse fee will increase to $300 per year (the first increase in 17 years) with a 10% discount for residents who pay before the end of February. The minutes record this statement as a committee report; the authorization to advertise a revised Refuse Fee ordinance was approved for consideration on Dec. 15.
Other business: The council accepted presented bills for payment (General: $137,107.87; Electric: $26,158.39) and heard updates on electric decorations, Main Street infrastructure communications with Lackawanna County, vehicle readiness for winter and park-safety staffing plans.
What’s next: The minutes show the ordinances will be advertised for a Dec. 15 final action; the preliminary budget will follow the municipality's public-notice and adoption timetable.
