Chambersburg Town Council to Discuss Grant, Budget, and Local Regulations

The Mayor and Town Council of the Borough of Chambersburg will convene for a regular public meeting on Monday, August 10, 2026, at 7:00 PM in the Borough Hall Council Chambers, located at 100 South Second Street, Chambersburg, PA 17201. The meeting will also be accessible remotely via the Zoom platform. Residents can participate in discussions on a variety of municipal matters, including financial reports, proposed agreements, and potential local ordinances.

A significant item on the preliminary agenda involves the formalization of a grant agreement. The Council is expected to authorize the approval of a $500,000 Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant secured from the Pennsylvania Office of the Budget. These funds are earmarked for the demolition of the former JCPenney/Big Lots store located in the Southgate neighborhood. The Borough received this grant on July 16th, and this authorization will enable the Chambersburg Area Municipal Authority to access and utilize these funds as needed. The demolition of this blighted structure is seen as a step towards the future redevelopment of this key area within the Borough.

The meeting will also address routine financial matters, including the authorization to approve payments for July 2026 totaling $17,928,256.48 and the approval of personnel action reports for the same month. Additionally, the Council will consider an affiliation agreement with Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. This agreement aims to provide supervised internship, practicum, student teaching, and field experience opportunities for university students in areas such as Accounting, Human Resources, Information Technology, Communication, and Community Development, potentially creating a pathway for future Borough employment. The Council is also set to discuss transitioning to Paymentus as the new non-utility payment portal, replacing Official Payments, at a cost of $5,000, utilizing a processor already familiar to the Borough for utility payments.

Further items on the agenda include routine approvals for contractual matters, such as a change order for the 2026 Street Paving and Improvements Project to address additional grading on Stonegate Circle South, with a total project cost of $1,575,409. The appointment of Smith, Elliot, Kearns, and Co. as the independent auditor for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 is also slated for approval, with associated professional service fees outlined for each year. A proposal to implement a SmartSafe Secure Cash Hardware Technology with F&M Trust Bank, at an estimated monthly cost of $427.88, will also be reviewed. The Council will consider authorizing staff to work with local and external Fire Police units for assistance at three non-emergency events. Another change order for the Public Works Campus project, decreasing the contract amount by $22,942 due to additional site grading for ADA requirements, will be discussed, with the project remaining within budget. The addition of an entry-level Generating Station Mechanic position to the Electric Utility for succession planning is also on the agenda.

The Borough is also seeking authorization to accept and execute a $12,000 Green Light-Go funding grant from PennDOT. This grant will facilitate the upgrade of pedestrian signal controls at two downtown intersections to incorporate Accessible Pedestrian Signal (APS) technology. Changes to construction contracts for the Southgate Infrastructure Project and the North Fourth Street Storm Sewer Box Culvert Replacement Project will also be addressed via change orders, with adjustments to contract amounts and scope. A request from Sunnyway Early Learning Center for the removal of on-street parking and the implementation of a four-way stop at specific intersections will be referred to the Parking, Traffic, and Street Light Committee. Finally, the Council will authorize the President of Town Council to sign a Certification of Consistency Plan with the Consolidated Plan for the Eastern Pennsylvania Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Program, a document to be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Under the Regular Agenda, the Council will consider waiving Borough fees totaling $6,638.22 associated with the Fountain Fest event. A review by the Borough Solicitor of proposed options for a local law to regulate e-bikes on Borough-owned properties, such as sidewalks, trails, parks, and parking lots, is also scheduled. A mid-year financial review for 2026 will be presented, offering insights into the Borough’s financial status, revenue, expenses, and cash reserves, with a note on potential future challenges in funding police and fire services. Reports from the Parking, Traffic and Street Light Committee meeting and the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting will also be presented, including discussions on subdivision plans for properties on East Catherine Street and South Harrison Avenue, and the potential vacation of a Borough-owned alley.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from a Chambersburg Borough Town Council Press Release.

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