Chambersburg Town Council to Consider Storm Sewer Upgrades, Firefighter Retirements, and Traffic Changes at Upcoming Meeting

Chambersburg, PA residents can anticipate a Town Council meeting on Monday, February 23, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in Council Hall, located on the first floor of the Utility Addition Building at 100 South Second Street. The agenda includes discussions and potential votes on several significant items, including rejecting bids for a water treatment plant project, authorizing an aerial photography consultant, approving substantial bill payments, waiving fees associated with a past event, and addressing personnel changes within the fire department. Additionally, council members will consider a traffic intersection modification, the installation of trail signage, updates to recording fees, and the solicitation of sponsorships for upcoming events. The meeting will also cover a change order for storm sewer cleaning, the certification of fire service contributions, and various agreements funded by the Community Development Block Grant program. Residents requiring accommodations to participate in the meeting are encouraged to call 717-251-2447 in advance. The meeting will also be accessible virtually via Zoom.

The upcoming Chambersburg Town Council meeting on February 23, 2026, will feature a vote on rejecting all bids received for the Borough of Chambersburg Clarifier Blowdown Upgrades Project at the Water Treatment Plant. Following this decision, the project will be readvertised for new bids. Council also plans to authorize borough officials to enter into an agreement with Kucera International, Inc. to serve as a consultant for an aerial photography project. This agreement is projected to cost no more than $60,000, based on the company’s proposal submitted in response to a request for proposals issued in November 2025.

In financial matters, the council is expected to approve payments for January 2026 totaling $17,635,539.29. A request to waive borough fees amounting to $2,879.24 for the Christmas Parade event, organized by the Downtown Business Council in November 2025, will also be considered. The meeting agenda further includes a provision for staff to collaborate with the Franklin Fire Company Fire Police and external fire police units to provide assistance during three non-emergency events within the borough.

A significant personnel item on the agenda is the acceptance of Firefighter Tony Albright’s retirement notice. Following this, the council may authorize a request to the Chambersburg Civil Service Commission for a certified list of candidates, with the aim of hiring up to two firefighter cadets for the July/August 2026 Fire Academy class. For matters of public safety and traffic flow, the council will refer a request to the Parking, Traffic, and Street Light Committee to determine if the intersection of Grandview Avenue and High Street warrants a four-way stop. Additionally, the committee will review a request from the September 11th National Memorial Trail Alliance regarding the installation of wayfinding signage along the trail route within Chambersburg.

The council will also vote on amending the Borough of Chambersburg Act 22 Law Enforcement Audio and Video Recording Request Policy, increasing the associated fee from a flat rate of $100 to $125 per hour. Furthermore, authorization will be sought to solicit sponsorships for the borough’s 4th of July event. A substantial change order, No. 6, for the storm sewer cleaning and CCTV project with Utility Services Group is also on the agenda. This modification will increase the contract amount by $110,230.40, bringing the total to $301,0232.01 for the inspection and cleaning of approximately 20,000 feet of storm sewer system pipes, 146 inlets, and 16 manholes, to be funded by the Storm Sewer Fund. Finally, the council will consider approving, by resolution, the certification of percentages of time contributed by paid and volunteer efforts to the borough’s fire services in 2025, as required by Act 205.

Under the “Consent Agenda – Previously Discussed” section, the council will review an agreement with RailPros for construction monitoring and flagging services related to the North Fourth Street Storm Sewer Box Culvert Replacement Project, with costs to be covered by Storm Sewer Utility Bond Funds. A resolution for a grant application to the Chesapeake Bay Trust, seeking $35,000 for floodplain restoration project planning at Falling Spring Presbyterian Church, will also be considered, with the required match to be provided by the Storm Sewer Utility.

Several subrecipient agreements funded by the 2025 Community Development Block Grant Program are scheduled for approval. These include an agreement with New Visions of South Central PA, Inc. to remodel the kitchen at a clubhouse building, an agreement with TrueNorth Wellness Services for wall repairs at a residential facility, an agreement with South Central Community Action Programs for the purchase and installation of handicap accessible doors at a building, and an agreement with Franklin County Housing Authority to acquire and install a commercial refrigerator for a food distribution program.

The council will also address a request for a 90-day extension to consider action on Borough Plan RE-1625, a final subdivision plan for multiple lots on Wayne Avenue. During the “Regular Agenda,” the Water Utility will present information on options for repainting the Nitterhouse Tank and potentially adding a logo, including associated costs. A preliminary report on the condition of the chemical feed system at the Lecuona Water Treatment Plant, which may influence policy on fluoride introduction into the public water supply, will also be provided. Further items include a potential modification to the 2026 Street Improvements List, a report from the Natural Gas Utility Department on their background and 2026 project timelines, and authorization to approve an ordinance updating the Code of the Borough of Chambersburg regarding vehicles and traffic, incorporating previously adopted parking changes. The meeting will conclude with an executive session to discuss personnel matters, specifically the conditional appointment of promotions to Captain in the Chambersburg Fire Department and to Corporal in the Chambersburg Police Department.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the Borough of Chambersburg.

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