Order this business meeting for the
Borough Council for the Borough of
Gettysburg, Monday, June 8th.
Um
as we uh start the meeting tonight,
we're going to do our usual moment of
silence and pledge. Uh I'd ask you to
keep our colleagues uh Alyssa Sanders
and Kim Mayers in your thoughts. Uh both
have injured themselves of late and then
we'd like to wish them all
both a speedy and painless recovery and
hurry back to us, please. So, if you
don't mind joining me for a moment of
silence.
Pledge.
» I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all.
» All right. Thank you, folks. Um one
quick little bit of information for
everybody.
Uh last year, we started a partnership
with Gettysburg College um
and created a junior council position in
an attempt to
uh
not only better meet the needs of 1/3 of
our population on the campus, but also
to um
help foster a sense of uh civic
obligation and duty in young people. Um
for the last two semesters, we were
lucky enough to have Ella Prieto here
and I'd like to introduce everybody to
Jocelyn Ducat, who's going to be joining
us for the summer.
Uh and then once um
students return in August, the student
senate will be naming a um
full-time replacement for the year. So,
everybody, please welcome Jocelyn.
Um remember that uh
the junior council member does not vote,
but they are free to participate in our
deliberations.
Welcome Jocelyn.
All right, an executive session was
conducted by the Borough Council in the
Borough of Gettysburg immediately
following the adjournment of its work
session meeting held on May 26th, 2026
consistent with section 708 A1, section
708 A2, and section 708 A4, and section
708 A5 of the Sunshine Act. An executive
session of the Borough Council will be
conducted immediately following the
adjournment of this evening's monthly
business general meeting consistent with
section 708 A1, section 708 A2, section
708 A4, and section 708 A5 of the
Sunshine Act for the following purposes.
One, to provide updated information and
to discuss matters involving the
employment or appointment of current or
prospective Borough employees. Two, to
provide updated information and to
discuss strategy in connection with the
negotiation of a new collective
bargaining agreements with the Teamsters
Union Local 776 for both the Borough's
uniformed police officers and its
non-uniformed non-professional
employees. Three, to provide updated
information and to discuss strategy in
connection with a complaint filed with
the PHRC and EEOC by a former Borough
employee. And four, to review and
discuss matters of Borough business
which if conducted in public could lead
to the disclosure of information or
confidentiality protected by law.
Um I need a motion please to approve the
June 8th, 2026 agenda as presented.
» So moved.
» Is there a second?
» Second.
» All right, all those in favor please say
I.
» I.
» I. Any opposed?
» I.
» Thank you, the motion carries.
I would also take a motion to approve
the minutes of the Council business
meeting for May 11th, 2026 and minutes
of the Council work session for May
26th, 2026 as presented.
» So moved.
» Is there a second?
» Second.
» Is there any discussion? Are there any
omissions, corrections, errors, or
additions to be made?
All right, seeing none, all those in
favor, please say I.
» I.
» I. Any opposed?
Thank you.
Uh we don't have any special
presentations this evening, so that'll
take us directly to public comment. This
first section is reserved for items
appearing on tonight's agenda.
If you'd like to speak on another topic,
we're going to ask you to wait till the
end of the meeting.
Please use the podium. Please speak
directly into the microphone. Please
state your name, address of residence,
and we will ask you to limit yourself to
5 minutes. Is there any public comment?
All right, seeing none, we will move on.
Excuse me for a moment.
All right, um we'll start this evening's
current and old business with the
planning department and Mr. Whitmore.
» Good evening. A copy of the report was
provided electronically. Um I guess the
unique points from it, we will be having
two zoning hearing board hearings this
month, one for a special exception
related to a
eating place with a drive-thru, and a
bed and breakfast at 250 Carlisle, and
then one related to a variance request.
The variance request relates to a unique
situation that we're finding.
Um this is not a unique situation for
Gettysburg, but it's a phenomenon
happening across the United States,
whereby um creating a duplex two-family
structure can become pretty challenging
if you're going to have separate owners
on each side. Uh that's what's what is
necessitating the variance is the
necessity for fee simple type of
ownership as opposed to just a ground
rent or um
condo.
We'll probably be bringing you some
material related to this in the near
future from the planning commission, but
at this time that's that is going to be
an issue discussed by the zoning hearing
board. Otherwise, the planning
commission will also be they are in the
process of reviewing a subdivision land
development plan. It's a minor
subdivision related to that
specific zoning hearing board case at
South Washington Street. Other than
that, tonight's agenda includes the
motion for safe streets for all.
This is a federal grant program.
We're going through the process of
working through the grant. This [snorts]
would be
the project would be administered by
Michael Baker International. It's
related to the consulting services for
the Gettysburg safe streets plan.
Overall,
the additional material from the report
involves the HARB, which as you can see
is pretty bulky for this month. We can
address any specific concerns you may
have with any of those applications, but
the vast majority were approved
unanimously by via consent agenda. So,
it's pretty standard stuff that the
HARB has identified as being
fast-tracked for approval.
All right.
Any questions for Mr. Whitmore before we
begin digging into those motions?
Do we have a date yet for that zoning
hearing?
The zoning hearing for the special
exception is on June 18th.
The special the zoning hearing for the
variance is on the 29th.
And yes, we'll have the advertisement
for the
online calendar.
It'll be up tomorrow as we just finished
packing it.
Great. Thank you.
All right. If there are no questions, we
can start working our way through his
motions.
» I make a motion to accept the February
26, 2026
request for proposal for consulting
services for safe streets for all SS4A
project planning proposal submittal from
Michael Baker International for
consulting services for the Gettysburg
Safe Streets Plan not to exceed $150,000
as recommended by the director of
planning, zoning, and code enforcement,
and the Federal Highway Authority
Pennsylvania Division SS4A
grant administrator.
» Is there a second?
» Second.
» All right, we have a motion and a
second. Is there any discussion?
All those in favor, please say aye.
» Aye.
» Aye. Any opposed?
That motion carries.
Uh and then we're into the HARB motions,
please.
» Make a motion to accept the HARB new
business recommendation for COA 26-00142
major project 201 Chambersburg Street
Amanda Teller for the removal of an old
fence and shrubbery abutting South
Franklin Street. Replace the sidewalk
and replace the existing fence with a
new 6-ft wood picket fence
totaling 212 linear ft.
» Is there a second?
» Second.
» We have a motion and a second. Is there
any discussion?
All those in favor, please say aye.
» Aye.
» Aye. Any opposed?
Motion carries.
Uh Baltimore Street.
» I'll make a motion to accept the HARB
new business recommendation for COA
26-00154
major project 404 Baltimore Street Mark
and Megan McClain
for the replacement of the second floor
balcony porch and railings with all wood
materials in a historic 1863 style.
» Is there a second?
» Second.
» We have a motion and a second. Is there
any discussion?
All those in favor, please say aye.
» Aye.
» Aye. Any opposed?
The motion carries. Thank you.
York Street.
» I make a motion to accept the HARB new
business recommendation for COA 26-00166
major project 636 York Street, Lisa
Angstadt, for the replacement of the
existing three-tab shingle roof with GAF
Timberline HDZ architectural roof
shingles and to repair the standing seam
metal roof as needed.
» Is there a second?
» Second.
» We have a motion and a second. Is there
any discussion?
All those in favor, please say aye.
» Aye.
» Aye. Any opposed?
Motion carries.
312 Baltimore Street.
» I make a motion to accept the HARB new
business recommendation for COA 26-00175
major project 312 Baltimore Street, Ted
Hurt, for the emergency repairs and
excavation to expose the front of the
foundation damaged by water
and to perform interior work to allow
for structural wall stabilization.
» Second.
» We have a motion and a second. Is there
any discussion?
All those in favor, please say aye.
» Aye.
» Aye. Any opposed?
The motion carries.
236 York Street.
» I make a motion to accept the HARB new
business recommendation for COA 26-00177
major project 236 York Street, John and
Patricia Ziegler, for the replacement of
two storm window doors to storm doors in
a similar architectural style
with 291 ACE ASH Spectrum aluminum
rustic brown doors.
» Second.
» We have a motion and a second. Is there
any discussion?
All those in favor, please say I.
» I.
» I. Any opposed?
Motion carries.
Next, please.
» I'll make a motion to accept the HARB
new business recommendation for COA 26
-00183
major project 134 York Street, Greg
Peterson
for the replacement of two storm doors
in both the front and rear of the
building with half light screen doors
in a similar architectural style to the
front facade of the structure.
» Is there a second?
» Second.
» We have a motion and a second. Is there
any discussion?
All those in favor, please say I.
» I.
» I. Any opposed?
Motion carries.
205 South Stratton.
» I make a motion to accept the HARB new
business recommendation for COA 26-00190
major project 205 South Stratton Street
Daniel Small for the relocation of the
exterior front stairway and landing that
will lead to the front door of the
structure.
» Is there a second?
» We have a motion and a second. Is there
any discussion?
All those in favor, please say I.
» I.
» I. Any opposed?
Motion carries.
» Make a motion to accept the HARB new
business recommendation for COA 26
-00192
major project 37 Lefeuvre Street, Alumni
Park
Caleb Sellers for the construction of a
16 ft wide hexagon
bandstand using CMU foundation walls and
wood construction
standing seam metal roof, vinyl
soffit venting, aluminum fasciae, trim
and a brick veneer base.
» Second.
» We have a motion and a second. Is there
any discussion?
All those in favor, please say I.
» I.
» I. Any opposed?
Motion carries.
Next, please.
» I'll make a motion to accept the HARB
new business recommendation for COA 26
-00208
major project 205 North Stratton Street
Vilma Eldemira Juarez
for the installation of 72 linear feet
of a 4-ft tall dog-eared flat top
pinewood fence that will be located on
the southern parcel boundary.
» Is there a second?
» Second.
» We have a motion and a second. Is there
any discussion?
All those in favor, please say I.
» I.
» I. Any opposed?
Motion carries. 110 Baltimore Street.
» I'll make a motion to accept the HARB
new business recommendation for COA
26-00169
major project 110 Baltimore Street,
Marsh Creek Social Works
for the replacement of two front
exterior lantern fixtures, repair
exterior wood trim on windows and doors
and replace the two first floor front
facade windows with the condition that
the window style is one over one full
light from Jeld-Wen, Anderson, or Pella.
» Second.
» We have a motion and a second. Is there
any discussion?
All those in favor, please say I.
» I.
» I. Any opposed?
Motion carries. 59 South Street.
» I'll make a motion to accept the HARB
new business recommendation for COA
26-00196
major project 59 South Street, Karen Von
Hagel for the removal and replacement of
15 windows with ProVia Endura EN-600
series double hung white vinyl windows
without grills replace siding with the
same clapboard and paint with a color to
match the structure. Remove a
a remove 4-ft by 6-ft rear porch and
back door and replace with 216
sq ft composite rear deck and a new
ProVia wood grain door with clear glass
on the west elevation. Install 48 linear
feet of a new 6-ft tall wood fence along
the west and north property lines and
install approximately 18 ft 6 in of a
new 4-ft tall wood fence with a gate
along the front west property line.
» Is there a second?
» Second.
» We have a motion and a second I heard
Mr. Rio first.
Uh all those in favor, please say I.
» I.
» I. Any opposed?
Motion carries. 61 Steinway.
» I'll make a motion to accept the HARB
new business recommendation for COA
26-00201
major project 61 Steinway Avenue
» [clears throat]
» Kimway Bright for the replacement of the
metal front door with a fiberglass front
door with six light panels.
Replace the exterior lighting fixture
with a lantern design. Install two black
mailboxes on the exterior facade wall.
Replace the rear deck steps, decking
spindles, and balusters using either
black metal mesh or wood deck spindles
along the rail and risers.
» Second.
» We have a motion and a second from Mr.
Mooney.
Any discussion?
All those in favor, please say I.
» I.
» I. Any opposed?
That motion carries. 31 Buford.
» Motion to accept the HARB new business
recommendation for COA 26-00203
major project 31 Buford Avenue
for the installation of one 32-in wide
6-ft tall ProVia end door casement
window in the east side brick wall
sandstone window without grids.
» Is there a second?
» Second.
» We have a motion and a second. Is there
any discussion?
All those in favor, please say "Aye."
» Aye.
» Aye. Any opposed?
Motion carries.
That was exhausting. Um any questions
for Mr. Whitmore before we move on?
All right, thank you, sir.
Parking Department, Mr. Gable.
» I just wanted to uh remind the public
that uh we are in search of a new
parking manager. Uh the uh that
advertisement is on the bureau's
website. Position will remain open until
filled, and uh we are beginning rounds
of interviews uh later this week.
Uh as uh parking is the bureau's uh
highest second highest revenue source, I
always like to recap this for not only
the council, but the public uh at large.
And you can see 2026, we are keeping
pace with uh the historic averages of in
2025 and just slightly ahead of where we
were in 2024.
Since the um
uh office of the parking manager is
vacated at the moment, you'll see that
uh ticket violations are actually uh
down year to date. Uh so uh that's a
symptom of our folks uh
doing kind of double duty. Some of our
administrative tasks are currently being
held uh taken care of by our um
full-time parking enforcement officers.
But they're they're not down to an an
alarming rate. And with that um
concludes the parking report for this
month, unless there are questions.
» Any questions?
All right, thank you, sir.
Public Works, Mr. Harbaugh.
» Good evening. Um you all should have
received my report. Some highlights on
my report, um
spring brush collection was conducted at
the end of May, the week before Memorial
Day. Um
if any residents out there that
accumulated brush after since we've went
through and collected brush, if they
accumulate brush,
they're more than welcome to drop it off
at our our facility down at 457 East
Middle Street. Um we take brush all year
round. Um
we do have
two agility projects we're working on.
We worked on one last week and we are
working on one this week with the
surrounding townships. Um one of them
was a paving job this week was uh
uh gutter cutting along the edge of the
roadways. Um we're working on that this
week.
Um
street preservation contract number two.
Um we had a pre-construction meeting
and they actually started today.
Um
there's no road closures for this part
of it right now. Um they're doing crack
sealing,
um which there was some parking taking
off of some streets.
Um and they're flagging as they're
sealing.
Um but come after bike week, the
uh chip seal will happen and the fog
seal will happen. Um don't have dates on
that yet, but um it will be posted and
the contractor is made aware of that
they are to reach out to all the
businesses.
Um I know they reached out to the
college already,
um but they're also supposed to reach
out all the other
co- residents and and businesses on the
streets that are being performed um with
the with the chip seal. Uh when the when
the road closures are going to happen.
Um
other than that, that's all I really
have.
» All right. Do you have any questions for
Robbie before we move on?
All right. Thank you, sir.
Mr. Claybaugh.
» Good evening, Council. Uh you should
have copy of my written report. Um and
then there are three motions on your
agenda as well. Before I get into those
motions, I did want to give you an
update on the East Lincoln storm drain
project. It's a stormwater authority
project, but we talked about it at your
workshop um 2 weeks ago, and we talked
about the the curb bump-out um trying to
to slow traffic to a traffic calming
um heading
um whenever for for vehicles that are
speeding heading eastbound on Lincoln
instead of
making that bend and continuing
northbound on Old Harrisburg Road and
um having it neck down where they go
into East Lincoln.
Um we had talked about
is just a curb bump street diet enough
to slow the cars down there. Should we
also add a speed table like they did on
Broadway?
The way we left that was we were
everybody was definitely okay with the
the the diet, the curb bumps, but we
would like to get some counts, some
speed studies done to determine if the
next level, the speed table, is
warranted or not.
Um at the time I thought that was a good
idea. I did not think about the fact
that that street is under construction.
There's a significant [clears throat]
amount of construction that's happening.
All kinds of trenching, Columbia Gas has
been out there for weeks. Trying to do
speed study at this time is not going to
provide the results that we are looking
for. Um it's just there's too many
flaggers, there's too much construction.
People are going slow as it is. Um so I
did want to give you an update that at
this time I just didn't think about that
2 weeks ago when we were having this
conversation.
Um so
uh I I had a chance to talk talk it over
with staff. Um for now we think that our
recommendation would be to move forward
with the the bump-outs, um get the
street constructed like that, and then
from there, after that's done, then we
can reanalyze it and take a look with
with the with the help of the police
department to see if we feel like
there's still an issue. Um I I
understand 100% um President Moon's
concern there that if we would we still
could come back later and add a table
where we're going to be doing the
bump-outs, you'd be cutting into a brand
new asphalt surface.
I 100% share his concern with that.
There's there's it's one of my pet
peeves as a as an engineer somebody that
that cuts into a brand new streets. And
in case you didn't know this, I was one
of the architects for the streets
degradation
ordinance that we have to preclude
people from cutting into a brand new
street. So it is one of my pet peeves
and I
we try to avoid that at all costs. But
in this case, I just don't know if
there's any other good path forward. So
again, I think
the idea for now is to is to move
forward with the with the bump-outs. I
feel like that's going to provide some
pretty good results.
And I feel like if we would then follow
up once the streets paved and it's brand
new asphalt, that's usually whenever the
speed ticks up.
So then we can put some
some counters down and and measure the
speeds
next summer essentially.
» I'll allow you.
» So aside from that, just have the three
motions that are on your agenda. The
first one is with regards to a grant
application
that we that the stormwater authority
would like to submit. I actually already
submitted it. It was due at the end of
last month. So this motion is
retroactively
we need to file a resolution. It's
essentially that there is a 15% match to
this if the if the borough would receive
the grant, the borough would be
responsible for 15% of that that total
price tag that you see there, that
$456,000.
The stormwater authority is
agreeing to to pay that 15%. So it's
just a really formality that this has to
go through the borough. The borough
applies for the grant, not the
stormwater authority.
That is for that channel wall between
Gillon and Alley, Carl L Street, the one
we've talked about plenty of times. It's
past way past its useful life.
The wall with the same age, the same um
structure just upstream of that along
Coone Alley failed a few years ago, as
we know. Um so, this one we're we're
hoping to get to this one
um with some grant money before it fails
as well.
Uh and we are the the other big hurdle
with that is we have the design
basically done
um submitted to DEP for permitting.
Um we are
currently working on the
maintenance and operation agreements
with the property owners. There's two
property owners, the one that owns the
Late Night Bites on the left side,
that's the City Mart, and then the one
on the north side was the old Ugly Mug
um property. So, we're we have reached
out to those property owners and we're
in discussion with them on the permanent
ownership and and maintenance of those,
and that will be required as well for
the grant application. Um should we fail
with that effort, then the grant
application would also fail. Um so, it
just get withdrawn at that point.
The next uh motion is about um payment
to Kinsley for the curb ramp
replacements that they did earlier this
this year. This is essentially just a
formality, an administrative item. Um
they asked for payment in exactly the
amount that they were contracted. Um so,
um again, this is just a administrative
formality.
Um and then the last one is for um
contract change order to do an extension
time extension. So, Robbie just gave you
an update on the street work that we're
proposing.
Um
the contractor would It's It's only a
few days worth of work. They do crack
sealing in a couple of days. They do the
chip seal in a couple days, and then
they put down the script type fog seal
at the end in a couple of days. So, it's
like a week's worth of work, but they
would like to get the crack sealing done
now, like Robbie said, and then come
back later in the end of July. So, they
can't fit it within 30 days. They got it
We got to make it 60 days so they can do
that at two different times. Uh which
makes sense and actually, if they do the
crack sealing a little bit earlier and
let it hit with traffic, it actually
works better. Um so, we would support
this this
change order. And the only other thing I
wanted to add to Robbie's presentation
on that the the the street closures that
are going to be associated with this is
and all the property owners are going to
get a door hanger, like Robbie said,
letting them know this, but also the
this chip seal that that goes down, I
always like to remind everybody that it
it's a two-step process. So, it first
comes down as a chip seal. It seems like
a normal chip seal. It is a
high-performance chip seal, so you don't
get quite as the same amount of whip
off. Uh by whip off, you whenever your
tires run over it, the stones kick up on
your cars, you that's what we we call
whip off. You're going to have a little
bit of that for a week or two. Then,
they come through and they re-sweep and
then they spray this um it's a it's a
GripTight fog seal, is what it's called,
uh on the top of that and it locks any
remaining stones down and almost makes
it like it's a brand new street. So,
just if people were concerned about the
fact that they're getting a chip seal in
in the in the borough, they just need to
wait for a week or two until we can put
that that fog seal on the top and then
that that keeps everything in and it
locks it down. So.
Uh with that, I have nothing to add
unless you have any questions for me.
Any questions before we get into the
» Motions.
» All right. Would anybody care to make
the first motion?
» I'll make a motion to adopt resolution
number 060826-1
for the purpose of authorizing the
preparation and submission of an
application to the Pennsylvania
Department of Community and Economic
Development DCED
for a flood mitigation program FMP grant
in the amount of $456,876.30
for the replacement of the Stevens Run
Channel Wall
from Gilliland Alley to Carlisle Street.
» Is there a second?
» Second.
» We have a motion and a second. Is there
any discussion?
All those in favor, please say I.
» I.
» I. Any opposed?
Motion carries. Thank you. Kinsley.
» I make a motion to approve application
for payment number one final in the
amount of $151,325
to Kinsley Construction LLC
for the FY 2023 CDBG curb ramp
replacements project as recommended by
the borough engineer.
» Is there a second?
» Second.
» We have a motion and a second. Is there
any discussion?
All those in favor, please say I.
» I.
» I. Any opposed?
Motion carries. And then the change
order.
» Make a motion to approve contract change
order number one
for the 2026 roadway improvements
contract number two street preservation
extending the contract time by 30 days
from July 8th 2026 to August 7th, 2026
as recommended by the borough engineer.
» Second.
» We have a motion and a second. Is there
any discussion?
All those in favor, please say I.
» I.
» I. Any opposed?
That motion carries.
Any questions for the engineer before we
move on?
All right. Thank you, sir.
Uh the police department, Chief Snyder.
Welcome. Good evening.
» Good evening, everyone. Uh you should
have a copy of my report submitted
electronically. Just some uh
few highlights I'd like to point out
with reference to
community events uh this past month or
actually the month of May. Um several
things we participated in. St. James
Preschool. Uh we were at the Lincoln
Cemetery Memorial Day program.
We also were
happy to be invited to Vita School for
their bike
safety day, I guess I would I would call
it. Um in all fairness, I should point
out I think Sergeant Pruitt and Officer
Klump probably had more fun than
they really should have been allowed to
have with the kids. It was hard to get
them back to work. We appreciate the
invite and the opportunity to
participate. With reference to
some of the events we covered, I'd like
to to
basically compliment
not just our folks, but certainly
Robbie's guys in public works. With
reference to the Memorial Day parade, it
was a I thought it was a pretty big
turnout.
It went like a, you know, a well-oiled
machine.
And I appreciate, you know,
both teams
everything they put into it to make it
work and make it successful. With
reference to training, I realize that we
put some things in here different times
and not everybody may understand what
they're referencing. Legal updates, we
have a subscription with a Crisp Whale
service. And basically on a monthly
basis, our guys go through this online
training with various topics that you
know, are appropriate for what they do
out there. It also
uh
counts towards their mandated annual
training for the year. So, we're
accomplishing a couple different things
with that. And the last notation I have
in there with reference to the AED
introduction,
our AEDs that we were carrying that had
basically they were worn out. They were
8 years old. Um you couldn't get parts
for them. The batteries weren't
functional. So, our partners at WellSpan
were gracious enough to help us with
grant funding. So, we now have new AEDs
in the cars. I I thought it was
important to get that in there before
the summer season kicks off.
We're able to accomplish that. The
training went well.
And again, uh
very appreciative to what they have done
for us.
We couldn't do it without them.
And that would be my report. If there's
any questions, I'd be happy to answer
them.
» Any questions for the chief?
What are we putting in the second motion
here?
» Uh once we accept the um
civil service list, we'll populate that
with a name.
» Okay.
All right.
Um thank you, sir.
Did you have something, Dad?
» Uh the motion.
» Okay. Great.
All right. Uh so, we have a motion for a
civil service list. Would anybody care
to make that motion?
» I make a motion to accept the
eligibility list of candidates for the
open bureau position of entry-level
patrol officer as certified to and
submitted to the bureau council by the
civil service commission of the bureau
of Gettysburg. The bureau council does
not object to the candidate certified by
the civil service commission on its
eligibility list submitted to the
council.
» Is there a second?
» Second.
» All right. We have a motion and a
second. I believe I heard Mr. Burger
first.
Um is there any discussion?
All those in favor, please say aye.
» Aye.
» Aye. Any opposed?
Motion carries.
We have but one name on this current
civil service list, and that is going to
be Eugene Robertson. Is that correct?
Have you not seen the list? Looks at me
like I'm
» I believe that's correct.
» That's correct. Yes.
» Yeah. Okay. [laughter]
All right. So, when we make the motion,
we would fill in the name Eugene
Robertson.
Would anybody care to make that motion?
» And what's the effective
» I'm sorry?
» The date. The effective on date.
» Uh would that be the first day of the
academy?
» I believe we need a uh conditional offer
to finish the last two aspects of the
hiring process.
» Mhm.
» Um the physical and psychological.
» Okay.
» So, uh
we hope to have uh this candidate in the
academy the second week of July, second
full week. Uh so, uh
I guess the sooner the better.
» [clears throat]
» Um Sarah, do you have any insights as to
what would make the effective
» Appointment, so it would be tonight's
» Tonight's date.
» Date.
» Okay. So, we'll go with June 8th, 2026.
Thank you, everybody.
Thank you.
All right. Would anybody care to make
that motion?
» I'll make a motion to make the
conditional appointment of Eugene
Robertson
as the first ranked candidate on the
eligibility list as certified to and
submitted to the borough council
by the Civil Service Commission of the
Borough of Gettysburg for the open
position of entry-level patrol officer
with the Gettysburg Borough Police
Department. Said con- conditional
appointment of an entry-level patrol
officer shall become effective on June
8th, 2026.
» Is there a second?
» Second.
» We have a motion and a second. Is there
any discussion?
I would like to take a moment and
clarify something I said earlier. Um
while this is a list with one candidate
on it, um
that's not to uh imply that we are just
going with our only option. Um this
candidate was one of 10, and the other
nine were winnowed down through a fairly
uh competitive and in-depth process that
involves physical exams, uh
psychological exams,
uh written tests, oral tests, uh
polygraphs. So, I I just wanted to
clarify that the way that this
eligibility was determined was through a
very deliberative process.
Unless there's any other discussion,
all those in favor, please say I.
» I.
» I. Any opposed?
Motion carries.
Any questions for the chief before we
move on?
Thank you, sir.
Office of the manager and treasurer, Ms.
Stoll.
» Okay. I'll just give a shout-out to
Tammy Mergler. Today is her 17th year
working here at the bureau.
I'd like to congratulate her on that.
» Yeah.
» Um and then we have a few motions on the
agenda. That's everything I have.
» Mr. Gable.
» Our year-to-date in the general fund
remains within budgetary parameters.
Uh
property tax on the screen here, we have
collected just under 86% year-to-date.
So most everything is received through a
discount, nearly 100% there.
And we're at the the penalty phase
uh soon here.
Uh bottom line, all the way down.
Year-to-date revenue over expenditures,
we are currently running a $270,000
surplus for the year. And I think that
is largely attributable to the fact that
we were paying not paying two salaries,
uh one in the position of police chief
and the other in the parking manager. Uh
so,
as those folks begin to cycle on and
Chief Senator is here paying the
salaries, I think this will start to
average out to a closer to zero by the
end of the year.
Liquid cash uh in the general fund,
which includes reserves, uh 3.3 million.
We still have a very hefty capital
reserve down here at 2.1 million. Uh so,
those are the things that we will use as
we uh have obligations related to grant
funding and local matches
as we move forward throughout the year.
So, um
we are in a pretty good financial state
uh year-to-date.
I would add to Mr. Whitmore's um
report earlier uh that the uh
the borough did receive uh notice of its
uh CDBG allotment for 2026
cycle.
I do not remember the number off the top
of my head. It's about 127-ish thousand
dollars. Uh and the two necessary
um public hearings are going to be
scheduled in the the next uh month and a
half two months. Uh so that way you can
have that done and buttoned up as we
move into budget season.
That concludes my report.
» Excellent. Thank you.
Any questions for the manager before we
get into motions?
Oh.
» Do Do we want to announce uh
the child advocacy
» Going to do that, yeah.
» Or something about
related [clears throat] to CDBG.
» Yes, indeed. Uh we can do that now if
you'd like. Would you like to?
» Nope. Go Go right ahead. Yes, sir.
» Um sort of related. Um CDBG is a fund uh
federal dollars um attributed through
through the state and the county. And
every year we get a uh an allotment that
is determined by people who get paid
much better than any of us.
And uh we are then sort of limited as to
what we can spend this money on. Um
community block development grant money
is supposed to be spent on specifically
um investments in low-income housing
infrastructure and or um
direct support of ADA issues, which is
what we tend to spend it on. We have um
for many years chosen to spend these
federal dollars to help with sidewalk
improvements, particularly around curb
cuts and the truncated domes at
crossings for people with low vision.
Uh last year we were approached by the
Children's Advocacy Center and they
asked us to do something
novel, which we had never done before,
which was to take our allotment for
some fiscal year and um
basically sign it over to them.
They would then use that
as a qualifier for a state grant um
for considerably more money. So last So
we
voted to
gift them 120 something thousand dollars
uh which they were able to use to
qualify for
uh state grants. Um the um money they're
hoping to get would be spent directly on
the rehabilitation of the facility on
Baltimore Street for the direct service
of
young people in this community who um
need assistance.
Um whether it's because they come from
an an abusive household or lack
financial resources.
Or even need therapeutic resources.
Uh it was a bit of a gamble
giving away our CD BG money like that
and I'm happy to say that this week we
found out that that gamble paid out.
The state of Pennsylvania awarded only
7.5 million dollars this year and the
Children's Advocacy Center was just
awarded the full 1.2 they applied for.
So
uh that's pretty pretty remarkable and
um
it is rare for us to have an opportunity
to
use money like that for the direct
support of people in our community. We
often
um
I think get stuck in a pattern of really
only taking care of the nuts and bolts
of governance. And um it was um
It was a good feeling to kind of put our
money where our mouths were and take a
gamble and it paid out and I just want
to congratulate everybody at the
Children's Advocacy Center and um
look forward to seeing them dive into
that work.
Thank you for bringing that up.
» Yes.
» All right. Uh would anybody else care to
start making motions here?
» I'll make a motion to approve all bills
and payrolls for the month as presented.
» Is there a second?
» Second.
» We have a motion and a second. Is there
any discussion?
All those in favor, please say I.
» I.
» I. Any opposed?
Motion carries.
The cola.
» I'll make a motion to authorize a cola
increase for retired police pensioner
Harry E. Weiker to be paid
from the police pension plan effective
May 1st, 2026.
» Is there a second?
» Second.
» We have a motion and a second. Is there
any discussion?
All those in favor, please say I.
» I.
» I. Any opposed?
Motion carries.
All right. Resolution.
» Make a motion to adopt resolution number
060826-2
for the purpose of authorizing the
disposition of an amended listing of
certain identified records of various
departments of the Borough of Gettysburg
in accordance with the provisions of the
Municipal Records Act and the Municipal
Records Manual consistent with the
Borough's intention to follow the
schedules and procedures for the
disposition of certain records of the
Borough of Gettysburg as set forth
therein pursuant to Borough Council
Resolution number 021020-4
adopted by the Council on February 10th,
2020.
» Is there a second?
» Second.
» Thank you.
Uh, we have a motion in a second. Any
discussion?
All those in favor, please say "Aye."
» Aye.
» Aye. Any opposed?
The motion carries. Thank you.
All right, the box card.
» I make a motion approving the 2026
municipal box alarm card emergency
response assignments along with any
related box card changes as submitted to
and reviewed with the borough council by
the Gettysburg Fire Department at the
council's work section work session
being conducted on May 26, 2026 and to
authorize the execution of the 2026
municipal box alarm card review form and
its subsequent delivery to the Adams
County Department of Emergency Services.
J. Matthew Moon, president of borough
council, Allison Lintal, mayor, and
Sarah L. Stoll, borough secretary, are
hereby authorized to sign, attest,
execute, and deliver the said 2026
municipal box alarm card review form.
» Is there a second?
» Second.
» We have a motion in a second. Is there
any discussion?
All those in favor, please say "Aye."
» Aye.
» Aye. [clears throat]
» Aye. Any opposed?
Thank you. The motion carries. And then
we have an appointment for GAR A.
» I'll make a motion to appoint Kurt
Andresen to the board of the Gettysburg
Area Recreation Authority to complete
the remainder of the unexpired five-year
term of Thomas Demko, whose term expires
in May 2027.
» Is there a second?
» Second.
» All right, we have a motion and a
second. Is there any discussion?
Uh, I would just like to add here that
anybody in the community who's
interested in volunteering with one of
our 10 authorities, boards, or
commissions can find the application on
the borough website. I want to thank Mr.
Andresen for taking this appointment
with GAR A.
I also want to say a thank you to Mr.
Demco as he leaves the board. Um Tom
moved here just a few years ago and
immediately decided to find ways to get
involved in this community he had just
adopted and so I want to thank him for
his
uh selfless service on Gettysburg these
last few years
and for taking that on the moment he was
getting to know this community.
All right, that's going to take us to
our liaison reports and we'll start this
evening with Ms. Sellers from Main
Street Gettysburg.
» Good evening everyone, council and
Jocelyn, welcome. Uh just a few things
to update you on. We'll start with the
Gettysburg Welcome Center. So um we
continue to meet with the contractors.
The uh the foundation was poured. Uh
it's about 90% now. The last 10% is uh
allowed for all the electricals and
things that are happening still. So un-
underground plumbing has happened. Uh
electrical electrical conduits have been
completed. We have our next meeting on
June 16th and our biggest effort at Main
Street Gettysburg right now is to
continue to fundraise for the endowment.
We're at about We're just over $300,000
of the $1 million goal and that will
provide sustainable revenue for
operations of that uh with with the
construction fully paid for, that's our
goal now is to make sure that it lives
in perpetuity to serve this community.
So
uh many thanks and uh send anybody my
way that has questions about how that
works.
Uh the wayside
marker walking tour. So this is a was a
51 marker um
the walking tour throughout the historic
district. We had uh we did Wendy and I
uh
wrestled two more into place of the new
markers. Uh public works, thank you
Robbie for doing the other three. Uh
that puts a total of 50 out there. The
number 51 will be at the Gettysburg
Welcome Center. We'll tell the story of
that piece of property.
And then we are actually working with
the um
Historic Gettysburg Adams County to
actually add one more at the GAR Hall.
So, uh stand by for more information on
that uh as it develops.
Um
the bid meeting uh on Steinwehr Avenue,
we had uh a long list of uh
of um
items on that agenda. I know Kim's on
the phone and she joined us uh by phone
for that meeting as well. So, uh she can
uh
report on that as uh if she wishes, but
we went over all the things that are
happening for the summer on Steinwehr
Avenue. There's certainly a lot of
things happening. We will not have a
July meeting, so the next meeting will
be August 6th.
Uh America 250 PA, uh I will say that
there is over 200 uh events happening in
Adams County. They've already already
have happened or are still on the
calendar this coming year.
Um I attended the Revolutionary War
event at the Daniel Lady Farm a couple
weeks ago. Um really an amazing uh
opportunity to start seeing kind of the
founding of our nation and how things
looked in the colonial period. So, check
out destinationgettysburg.com if you
need something to do in Adams County. Uh
uh if you can't find something, you're
not looking for it cuz there is a lot
going on.
Uh we continue to work at the Lincoln at
Gettysburg um event in November. So,
lots of things happen, lots of
logistics. I'm very pleased that Main
Street Gettysburg is uh is supporting
this event. Uh it's really going to be
extraordinary and there'll be more to
come from the Lincoln Fellowship of
Pennsylvania on the details.
Christmas Festival is in 179 days. I
just had to throw that in.
» [laughter]
» I was counting.
Um so, planning continues on that in and
amongst all the other things.
And somewhat related to that, uh
Destination Gettysburg was kind enough
uh in middle of May to host a panel
discussion and invited uh Lonnie Buck of
the World War II experience museum and
myself to talk to businesses about what
it means to plan events in Adams County.
So, it was a really interesting couple
hours worth of discussion, especially as
we're talking about all the things that
are happening this year as well as
things that happen routinely, you know,
from the Memorial Day parade and all the
the comments that the chief made that
the public works does. There's so many
components to bringing these special
events to our community. And so, it was
very helpful to be able to talk to these
businesses and let them know the things
that that are needed, how how far ahead
of time they're needed, how we do
backwards planning, and you know, just
really the nuts and bolts as you
mentioned, they're a little bit more
complex than than some people realize.
So, it was it was a great opportunity to
connect with our business community and
answer some of those questions. So,
that's all I have unless you have
questions for me now.
» Any questions?
Thanks for all of that. Thanks for the
work you're doing with those way
markers. You never know where they're
going to pop up. I like them.
All right. Gara, Mr. Rio.
» Mr. Mr. President.
Um, I do believe we still have a motion
that needs to be voted on.
» Oh, I'm so sorry.
Is that the Gara?
» The the no, the Kurt Andreason. You made
a nice comment and then we failed to
vote.
» Yeah, I just love listening to myself
talk.
» [laughter]
» I do have that you read that motion.
» I read the motion and it was seconded.
» Forgive me. Um, I'd like to call a vote
on that, please.
» [laughter]
» Um, on the
topic of the motion to appoint Kurt
Andreason, would all those in favor
please say I?
» I.
» I. Any opposed?
Thank you. Thank you for catching that.
» Watching at home like, what happened?
» [laughter]
» This suspense is killing me.
» Mr. Rio, Gara.
» So, there was a music festival planned
for Gara that was postponed due to
weather that will be held over Labor Day
weekend now.
Um
And there's continued conversation about
a splash pad. So, if you want to be part
of those conversations, find a
an open forum to uh
to add your comments. Certainly, there's
concern that we have
um about ongoing costs, but there's
there is a a donor that wants to make it
happen. So,
» Mhm.
» It's a possibility.
» That would be wonderful.
Thank you for that.
GMA, Mr. Burger.
» Uh we finished the paving on Buford
Avenue.
Uh still a little bit of work on Brehm
Alley.
There's a section between um the bridge
and the sidewalk in front of the dollar
store that we uh
have to work on to get uh ADA compliant.
Uh so, that will be finished up pretty
soon.
Uh
Chad was talking about Lincoln Avenue a
little bit about 80% of the
gas utility work's done. Uh and we put
out
uh our job to bid and we'll have the
numbers for our meeting coming up on
this Monday.
» All right.
Uh Ms. Myers, anything about the bid?
» Uh yes, I attended the meeting um
remotely. And um there were several
things discussed. Um
the vintage baseball festival, which is
July 19th. Um and the board did discuss
and agreed to make a $500 contribution
to that. Um the flower baskets are hung.
Thank you to um
to Jill and Wendy and Robbie and public
works for that.
Of course, we did talk a little bit
about the Christmas festival.
Um
and the uh brass band festival.
Everything is on track for that this
weekend. There'll be a lot of events
happening down on Steinwehr Avenue
um for the the brass band festival.
And that is about it.
» All right, thank you.
Uh ACBA, Mary Lintal.
» So I attended the ACBA meeting on May
18th and
uh
they their speaker at the meeting was a
representative from Destination
Gettysburg who was talking about
um all the upcoming events. Their goal,
um as Jill mentioned, is to get to 250
events um
and they're well on their way towards
that uh in the county. So uh they were
discussing some of the upcoming events
including the um 4th of July at the Rec
Park um and sharing some of that
information.
Additionally, um some of the other
boroughs shared information and invited
uh community members to attend.
Littlestown is having a Senior Olympics
on Friday, June 26th and anyone is
welcome to attend that. They can um RSVP
to the Littlestown borough office.
That's at their community park.
Um
» [clears throat]
» And
there was one other thing. I just have
to read my notes now.
Well,
I think that was all for ACBA. They also
um were preparing for the um
the state conference that was held in
Hershey and they brought up um the
national incident management training
which uh happened there at that
conference as well.
» All right, thank you.
Uh next is COG. I attended COG this
month as did the mayor. Um the subject
uh
for presentation this month was uh Carl
Petersack from Destination Gettysburg
gave a pretty um
pretty compelling and informative
PowerPoint on um not just um
Destination's impact on the community
but also um financial trends.
And uh it was very informative.
Um
the tourism economy in Adams County
brings in approximately $80 million a
year
and currently employs about 5,100
people. So, it is a um
important part of who we are. And it was
a interesting conversation.
Uh happy and the trail feasibilities
study, Chris Berger.
» Uh I was not able to make the meeting
this
» All right. Thank you.
Anything from ACTPO, Ms. Doll?
» I have not received anything.
» All right.
Did you have anything to contribute on
recycling, Mr. Mooney?
» I have nothing. Just hopefully everyone
is recycling and if you do, uh condense
your stuff, crush down your big things
like boxes and milk jugs, it'll take up
less space in your
uh tiny totes.
That's it.
» Um I did want to point out on the
subject of recycling that this morning
as I was walking to work, I saw that the
uh new big bellies were being installed
on the square. So, that's good news.
» They are and they're going to get a
special wrap just in time for July 4th.
» Wonderful.
Waste Management uh removed theirs
promptly after uh a gentle nudge after
our last meeting and Waste Connections
was able to get theirs in place. We
thank them for that. I also want to say
that last month we had the opportunity
to um tour the recycling facility uh
that Waste Connection owns. It's a
separate company that they purchased
some years ago. It's in York. Mr.
Whitmore went, Councilwoman Musser went,
Dev English went.
And it was a fascinating uh experience.
We learned a lot. Um
there certainly does seem to be a
disconnect between Waste Connections and
the companies they own as to what is
recyclable and what is not.
Um however, they did want us to pass on
uh two guiding rules of thumb when it
comes to mixed single-stream recycling.
Uh the first one was, if you're not sure
if something should be recycled, just
throw it away.
Uh whether that's a greasy pizza box or
a questionable thing. If you are unable
to clean a container, please do not put
it in the recycling. If you're not able
to get all of the food waste out, it it
degrades the quality of the recycled
material.
And the biggest thing they would ask you
is to please never put
either
propane canisters or any kind of lithium
battery in your recycling.
Both of those
when crushed by the machinery cause
fires that are
life-threatening.
And they said they get fires
multiple times a week.
So, please folks, do not put any sort of
lithium battery, not from your e-cigs or
vape things, or from computers or
anything like that. None of that is
recyclable through your municipal
single-stream recycling.
All right, fire and EMS reports are on
file. And that brings us to elected
officials' comments. Does anybody have
anything they'd like to say tonight?
» I would like
» Yes, I'd like to just mention that
I have met with Susan Nagle, the chair
of Shade Tree Commission, and they are
starting to look at updating their Shade
Tree, the recommended Shade Tree list,
as well as starting to work on updating
and revising the permitting process.
So, I plan on attending their next
meeting on August the 11th. So, there'll
be some more information
after I attend that meeting.
» Thank you.
Anyone else?
» Yeah, I'd like to
thank Robbie and his crew for their hard
work on Memorial Day. We watched the
parade, my daughter and I, from down in
the Lefever Street area. By the time the
parade ended,
by the time we got to Breckenridge,
everything was already open to that
point. So, uh you guys do an amazing job
with that. I also like to thank the
chief and his uh officers for their work
on the the uh Pride March.
Uh the the alleys and stuff were shut
down with great precision. It took a lot
of effort, I think, to coordinate that.
So, thank you. I also like to add that
there will be a homeless awareness event
on the square of Gettysburg uh this
fall. There'll be more details coming.
So, hopefully the mayor can put the
weight of her office behind that. I'll
get [clears throat] with you, talk about
our ideas. So, that's it.
» Great.
» Um I did want to add a few things. I
submitted a report as well
electronically.
Um this past month, I um issued two
proclamations. One on May 20th, 2026.
That was a proclamation of commendation
recognizing Gary Schaefer for his 36
years of service as a board member of
HARB.
» You're here.
» Um yes, much appreciated uh to Gary and
all of his service.
Additionally, on May 29th, 2026, I
issued a proclamation recognizing
um May 29th through 31st as LGBTQ+ Pride
Weekend in Gettysburg and June 2026 as
Pride Month in the Borough of
Gettysburg. And I wanted to echo Council
Member Mooney's um
thanks for the police department in
helping with the march there as well.
Um attended several community events
this month. I also swore in two new fire
police officers at the Gettysburg uh
fire department and received a tour
there. Um also wanted to highlight that
um I attended a breakfast organized by
Representatives Mal and Wallen in
regards to the um April 2026 freeze and
impact on farmers in our community. Um
Secretary Redding was also in attendance
there, and since that breakfast to
discuss the impact of the freeze on
farmers in the greater Adams County
community, uh USDA Secretary Rollins has
issued a disaster declaration for 17
counties in Pennsylvania, including
Adams, and so
um folks are mobilizing
around that effort to to help.
Um additionally, there is a new um
mobile dental clinic that Mission of
Mercy has unveiled and will be um headed
around our community. They also have a
mobile um
health care health clinic that comes to
Gettysburg once a month.
Um
I wanted to
uh reiterate my thanks to Council
President Moon. Um I was away during the
Memorial Day event celebration, and he
was able to step in and represent the
borough um and commemorate the the
weekend's events in my absence, so I
appreciate him stepping in and sharing
remarks and attending those events. Um
thanks again also to Officers McDonald
and Orth for hosting the pre-K class
that we brought. Um and the event uh
that I wanted to mention from ACBA that
that I uh failed to to mention during
the report was that Upper Adams has
joined together and they shared that
they're having an America 250 event this
weekend, a large event at Oakside Park
in Biglerville. There'll be a family uh
friendly activities. There'll be a
parade that's from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m.
this Saturday. Um and I believe this
Friday there's also an event at the Rec
Park here, the library's uh fun fest
will be going on from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Um as I mentioned, I obtained my
certification National Incident
Management Systems training that was put
on by PEMA officials during the
Pennsylvania State Borough Association
conference.
Um
and then a couple uh constituent
concerns. Well, one further
announcement. Uh we do expect some
members uh some service members of the
USS Gettysburg to uh visit our community
in August. Um so we're going to be
hosting them um and and they are going
to be exploring their namesake, so that
we're looking forward to that. Um
Some constituent concerns were related
to lack of trash cans on Baltimore
Baltimore Street. I have subsequently
walked through Baltimore Street
down from the square to La Fever and
noted nine trash cans,
but that was a concern that was brought
to my attention as well as a concern
about potential pedestrian crossing
signs at the square. And lastly,
um
some concerns about external repair work
on
buildings in the borough and the need
for disconnection of power while
external contractors are working on the
buildings. It was confirmed through
communications with Met-Ed and First
Energy that power is required to be
temporarily disconnected. That is their
formal policy and procedure for working
externally on buildings that would be
near power lines. They no longer provide
insulation, but everything would need to
be disconnected.
Um and let's see, I will be attending
the Pennsylvania State Mayors Conference
next month in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
and also I will be attending a pride
celebration reception at the Governor's
Residence in Harrisburg.
» I would like
» Please.
» Just I would like to say farewell and
thank you to Bob Crumrick who
just retired and he and his wife Kim are
moving down south.
And um
really appreciated his friendship.
Um
his witicisms, his storytelling. He
he he was a funny uh
a funny, very wise man and I'm going to
miss him.
And I wish him luck and he was council
president and a long-time council member
here, so
um I'll keep in touch with him, but I
just wanted to publicly thank Bob and
wish him and Kim good luck.
» Again, hear, hear.
All right. Anybody else?
All right. So, I do have a couple
things. Um mostly
revolving around community events. It
has been a busy couple weeks. Um,
as the mayor mentioned, I filled in for
both the Memorial Day
observations at the Lincoln Cemetery as
well as at the National Cemetery. Two
wildly different experiences.
Um,
the National Cemetery
was
quite an experience and uh in addition
to Representative Meow and myself on the
dais, we also had
um,
a number of veterans organizations as
and a last-minute visit from uh Doug
Burgum, the Secretary of the Interior of
the United States.
Uh, that was an interesting
um,
surprise.
And um, I do want to say too, I want to
echo what everybody else has said here
about um,
the administration of these events by
your department, by your department, by
the entire staff that works on these
permits. Um,
it's important that you guys show up,
you and Gavin show up, you know, even at
the events that don't necessarily have a
heightened security necessity. Being out
there in the community, um,
it's good to see you out there. People
really appreciate you when you're there.
So, thank you for being at the Lincoln
Cemetery on Sunday.
And I do want you both to know that um,
on the stage at the National Cemetery,
the first thing I asked people to do
when they exited was to acknowledge the
incredible professionalism both your
departments um,
employ in cooperation with so many other
agencies as well to pull off events like
this as seamlessly as you do. Thank you.
Um, Pride happened on the weekend of the
29th. Um,
it is um, it was quite a feat.
Um, Pride almost didn't happen in
Gettysburg this year. Um,
we all know why.
And the way that this community rallied
together to save something
um, not just save it, but to improve it
and to be nimble and um
to create a an environment where
thousands of visitors come to our
borough, including representatives of
the governor's office, who spent the
entire weekend with us. Ashley Strange
was here the entire weekend.
Extraordinary extraordinary person from
the governor's office.
Um
These things don't just happen. They
happen cuz people
care and they are uh
exercises in love. Um
The
board of directors for Pride pulled off
something remarkable in just 10 weeks
time.
And they couldn't have done it without
the help of the people in our government
who facilitate these events and the
support of people like the mayor. Thank
you for everything you did that weekend,
the words you said.
And thank you to the police and public
works for helping things like that
happen as well.
Um
Pride celebrated its 10th year here in
Gettysburg as an official event and it
was
exceptionally important that the story
of Pride be told in this America's 250th
year.
And um
in the shadow of a declaration that says
all people are equal.
Uh so thank you to all involved.
Um
Along that note as well, I'd also like
to point out that the weekend of the
19th and 20th are the Juneteenth
celebrations here in the borough. There
are events at the Rec Park, at the
Majestic. There's a variety of events.
So please get on their website and check
out all of the offerings, including a
free concert at the Majestic.
That is all I have. That'll take us to
our second public comment section of the
evening. This section is not restricted
to items on the agenda. You can speak at
any topic.
We do however ask you to restrict
yourself to 5 minutes. Please use the
podium. Speak directly into the
microphone. Please state your name and
address of residence and please limit
yourself to 5 minutes.
Is there any public comment?
» Thank you very much. My name is Paul
Witt. I'm a I live at 709 Sun Fair uh
Fair View Avenue.
I'm a member of HARB and a future
borough council for a former borough
council member.
I own and operate two hotels on
Steinwehr Avenue.
Uh I just like to uh reiterate the
importance of what I feel is the sign
ordinance in Gettysburg.
I've got a picture I'd like to pass
around that you can look at. This is
before the sign ordinance was taken
effect.
What happened back in the '60s, people
built made uh larger and larger signs to
compete with their neighbors. Two of
them blew down on the Steinwehr Avenue.
Uh luckily no one was hurt. It was taken
away and the the borough council people
thought, "Maybe we should do something
about this." And they did.
They researched and and enacted a sign
ordinance which has been very
successful.
Um it has reduced clutter in in town. Uh
a lot of these pictures came out in
major newspapers how tacky Gettysburg
was, how cluttered, and how terrible it
looked.
That's the you haven't seen these
pictures lately.
Um also the fact that the there's a
price factor for the uh individual
business owners. These large
corporations, franchisors,
require you to put in large interstate
type signs unless there's a sign
ordinance which which prohibits them
from doing that.
This saves us a lot of people a lot of
money.
Um
I read the sign ordinance the other day
and I uh
I think it still is uh one of the
bases of it is that you're allowed 1
square ft of sign
per 1 linear ft of frontage.
I think that's a reasonable
amount of signage.
And with 50 square feet of maximum per
signs,
um
in my 50 years in the tourism business,
people have complained that the the
station project is going to
hurt tourism substantially in
Gettysburg.
In my opinion, this is ridiculous. It is
not going to hurt tourism at all at all.
Uh if it did, I'd be one of the first
people affected by this.
Um
the the loose the dilution of the sign
ordinance and these and its
implementation
will definitely hurt tourism in
Gettysburg if it's not uh properly
administered.
Um
I'm just wondering, is the sign
ordinance really being enforced? Uh if
not, why not? And who who decided not to
enforce the sign ordinance?
Uh and also, are there any changes to
the sign ordinance that are going to be
made in the near future?
Other than that, thank you very much. If
you have any questions, I'll be glad to
talk to you.
» Thank you, sir.
» You're welcome.
» Is there any further public comment?
» All right.
» Uh seeing none, we will adjourn to
executive session. Thank you, everyone.