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Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania

Elizabethtown public meetings in 2025

26 substantive meetings from 2025, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.

Thu Dec 18, 2025

Council Mayor

Council to consider zoning amendment and fee schedule changes

The Elizabethtown Borough Council will discuss a draft zoning ordinance amendment prepared by Catalyst Development Group and a resolution to amend the fee schedule. They will also review several old‑business items, including bridge improvement change orders and floodplain restoration payment requests. Monthly bills for multiple funds will be approved, and an appointment to the Civil Service Commission will be considered.

zoningtransportationfinanceinfrastructurefloodplainpublic-safety
✓ Decided: Council accepts draft zoning amendment for review by planning bodies

At the December 18, 2025 meeting, the borough council voted 4‑2 to accept the draft zoning ordinance amendment prepared by Catalyst Development Group for formal review by the Borough Planning Commission and Lancaster County Planning Department. The council also approved several financial items, including a $3,076.56 reduction to the 2025 Bridge Improvements Project, a $116,738.64 payment to CriLon Corp, and multiple pay applications for the Train Station Parking Management and Hickory Lane Floodplain projects. Additional actions included adopting Ordinance No. 1028 to allow off‑street parking via mobile app (6‑0), approving Change Order No. 3 for the parking project, and confirming Resolution 2025‑26 appointing two members to the Civil Service Commission (unanimous).

Thu Dec 4, 2025

Council Mayor

Council to adopt the FY 2026 budget for all borough funds

The Elizabethtown Borough Council will consider and vote on several items, including the adoption of the Fiscal Year 2026 budget for all borough funds. The council will also review two ordinances that set the 2026‑2027 sewer rental increase and the 2026 real estate tax rate for the borough. Additional items include a condemnation action for 156 W High Street and a bid solicitation for an IDIQ emergency sewer repair contract.

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✓ Decided: Council unanimously approves the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget for all funds

The council unanimously approved the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget for all funds and accounts. It also adopted Ordinance No. 1026 setting sewer rental increases and Ordinance No. 1027 setting the 2026 real‑estate tax rate at 6.6 mils. Additional resolutions were approved covering fire‑department workers‑comp coverage, capital‑reserve allocations, and other budget items, and the council authorized condemnation of the dwelling at 156 W High Street and instructed staff to begin an IDIQ emergency‑sewer‑repair bidding process.

Thu Nov 20, 2025

Council Mayor

Council will consider a resolution to submit a Local Share Application with Elizabethtown College.

The Elizabethtown Borough Council will consider Resolution 2025-18 to authorize a Local Share Application in partnership with Elizabethtown College, several payment applications and change orders for the Hickory Lane Stream and Floodplain Restoration Project, the South Poplar Street Sewer Improvements Project, and the 2025 Sanitary Sewer Improvements Project, and a condemnation action for 306 W High Street. The council will also approve the listed monthly bills and budgeted transfers for the General Fund, Sewer Fund, Debt Service Fund, and other accounts.

financeinfrastructuresewerstreetspublic-safety
✓ Decided: Council unanimously condemned 306 West High Street property as unfit for occupancy

The borough council approved a resolution to condemn the dwelling at 306 West High Street and authorized the Code Enforcement Officer and Solicitor to pursue enforcement if needed. It also adopted Resolution 2025-18 to submit a Local Share Application with Elizabethtown College and approved several payment requests and change orders for ongoing infrastructure projects. The council approved the monthly bills for all funds and adopted the September 2025 Financial Report.

Mon Nov 17, 2025

Council Mayor

Council to consider debt ordinance for sewer project

The Elizabethtown Borough Council will convene to consider an ordinance authorizing PENNVEST financing for the Radio Road Interceptor Replacement Project Phase 2. The meeting includes standard procedural items and a public comment period.

sewerfinancingordinancepublic-comment
✓ Decided: Council approved Ordinance #1023 for PENNVEST financing

The borough council approved Ordinance #1023 to secure PENNVEST financing and meet Debt Act requirements, passing unanimously with a 5-0 vote. No other substantive actions were taken during the meeting. The meeting adjourned at 4:08 PM.

Thu Nov 13, 2025

Council Mayor

Elizabethtown Borough Council to discuss FY2026 draft budget

The Borough Council is holding a special public meeting to review the budget. The primary focus of the meeting is the third version of the draft FY2026 Budget.

budgetfinancepublic-meeting
✓ Decided: Council approved advertising a 6.8‑mil real estate tax increase and budget inspection

The council voted unanimously to advertise an ordinance that would set the 2026 real estate tax rate at a maximum of 6.8 mils. It also unanimously approved advertising that the FY 2026 budget will be available for public inspection at the borough office. Additionally, the council reduced the transfer to the Vehicle Sinking Fund and directed a $600,000 transfer from the Sewer Revenue Fund to the Sewer Capital Fund.

Thu Nov 6, 2025

Council Mayor

Council to consider variance application for 502 S Market Street

The Elizabethtown Borough Council will review a variance application for 502 S Market Street. The meeting includes a presentation on wastewater treatment plant capital projects and a review of payments for the parking management project.

zoningwastewaterparkingpublic-works
✓ Decided: Council approved $35,976.60 and $25,874.13 payments for parking project

The borough council unanimously approved Payment Request No. 6 for $35,976.60 and Payment Request No. 7 for $25,874.13 to SECCO Electric for the Parking Management Project. The council also decided to take no position on a variance application for 502 S Market Street. Earlier, the council unanimously approved the minutes from three prior meetings and then adjourned.

Thu Oct 30, 2025

Council Mayor

Regional officials to discuss watershed planning and community service agreements

The Regional Elected Officials Meeting will cover updates from MESA and municipal reports. The body will discuss agreements regarding the Elizabethtown Area Community Services Authority and GEARS, as well as regional watershed planning.

regional-planningwatershedwaste-managementintergovernmental-agreements
Thu Oct 23, 2025

Council Mayor

Council will consider funding support for the regional EMA Coordinator

The Elizabethtown Borough Council held a special budget public meeting on October 23, 2025. The council considered Resolution 2025-17 to provide funding support for the regional EMA Coordinator. They also reviewed Version 2 of the draft FY2026 Budget. No other decisions were noted.

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✓ Decided: Council directed trash and sewer rate increases in 2026 budget

The council unanimously approved Resolution 2025-17 to fund the Regional EMA Coordinator position. It removed a $75,000 allocation for the design of 56 N Market Street. The council directed staff to raise the trash rate by $8.00 to $344 per unit and to increase the sanitary sewer rate by about 10% in 2026, with a projected 5% increase in 2027. Version 3 of the 2026 budget will be discussed at a future meeting.

Thu Oct 16, 2025

Council Mayor

Council considers police hiring and Radio Road project reimbursement

The Elizabethtown Borough Council will meet to discuss the hiring of a second police lieutenant and the reimbursement of funds for the Radio Road Phase 2 Project. The body will also consider the sale of borough equipment and a special event permit for December 31, 2025.

policepublic-worksland-developmentbudgetequipment-sale
✓ Decided: Council unanimously approved key financial, personnel, and community actions

The borough council approved a reduction of financial security for a development plan, adopted Resolution 2025-16 to reimburse sewer capital funds, and authorized the sale of several pieces of equipment. It also authorized the manager to sign pension‑ETF documentation, appointed Joseph Grego as Patrol Services Division Lieutenant, and granted a special event permit for Welcome2026!. Monthly bills and the September financial report were also approved.

Thu Oct 9, 2025

Council Mayor

Council will introduce the draft FY2026 budget for Elizabethtown.

The council will consider payment applications for the borough parking management project and for the South Poplar Street sewer improvements. They will also introduce the draft fiscal year 2026 budget. No other decisions are listed.

budgetparkingsewerfinance
✓ Decided: Council approved $126,953.55 payment to SECCO Electric

The borough council unanimously approved Payment No. 5 of $126,953.55 to SECCO Electric for the parking management project. It also unanimously approved Change Order No. 1 for $10,657.82 and Application for Payment No. 2 for $85,544.41 to Eagle Contracting & Landscaping for the South Poplar sewer improvements. Council began discussing the FY 2026 budget and asked staff to find at least a 3 % reduction in general‑fund expenditures. An executive‑session meeting was scheduled to address a non‑uniform personnel matter.

Thu Oct 2, 2025

Council Mayor

Conditional use hearing for 449/451 West High Street

The Elizabethtown Borough Council will hold a conditional use hearing for the property at 449/451 West High Street. The council will review several old‑business items, including change orders for the Hickory Lane Stream and Floodplain Restoration Project and the Train Station Parking Management System Project, as well as payment applications for street tree and concrete repairs. New‑business items include agreements for park mobile services at the train station, a request to remove late fees from quarterly utility bills, a low bid for Radio Road Phase 2, and a proposal to allow pension accounts at Charles Schwab to trade ETFs.

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✓ Decided: Council unanimously accepted a $4.16M low bid for Radio Road Phase 2

The borough council approved a $4,159,359 low bid for the Radio Road Phase 2 project. It also adopted the Master Park Plan, denied a request to remove utility late fees, and extended the Railroad Ridge Land Development Plan review to Jan. 15, 2026. Additional approvals included several payment applications and change orders for street‑tree and concrete repair projects, and the council authorized the manager to finalize parking‑system agreements. A decision on the 44‑unit conditional‑use application will be issued within 45 days.

Thu Sep 18, 2025

Council Mayor

Council to approve bills and consider sewer, rental, and event permits

The Elizabethtown Borough Council will approve monthly bills totaling over $1 million and consider change orders for a street light replacement project. The body will also discuss special event permits, a rental license fee revision, and bids for sewer improvements.

budgetsewerstreetspermitsrentallightingevents
✓ Decided: Council approved $191,935 bid for 2025 Sanitary Sewer Improvements Project

The borough council approved several actions, including advertising a parking‑ordinance amendment, authorizing payments for light‑pole replacements, and removing a condemnation action while authorizing a financial incentive for a remaining easement. It also approved special‑event permits, a memorandum of understanding with Lancaster County Planning, the sewer‑project bid, and a resolution to revise the fee schedule. All items were approved by unanimous vote, and the monthly bills list was accepted.

Thu Sep 4, 2025

Council Mayor

✓ Decided: Council approved $135,980.27 reduction in financial security for Mars Chocolate expansion

The borough council unanimously approved a grant request for the Campus Road Pedestrian Safety & Community Fitness Project, several payment applications for local infrastructure projects, and a special event permit for the Winters Heritage House Museum lantern tour. It also rejected all candidates on the civil‑service list and authorized a new hiring process, and reduced the financial security for the Mars Chocolate Expansion Land Development Plan by $135,980.27. Staff were directed to design crosswalk improvements for the 2026 budget and to contact Letterkenny, Ireland to revive the twin‑town partnership.

Thu Aug 21, 2025

Council Mayor

✓ Decided: Council adopted resolution supporting Elizabethtown train station development

The borough council unanimously approved the July 2025 financial report and several payment requests for the Radio Road and Hickory Lane projects. It also approved a $27,025 financial discount for Mars Wrigley Confectionery and closed a related permit, despite one dissenting vote. Additionally, the council adopted Resolution 2025-12 to support the Elizabethtown Train Station as a future investment area.

Tue Aug 12, 2025

Planning Commission

✓ Decided: Planning Commission unanimously approves conditional use for 449 & 451 W High Street

The commission approved the minutes from the July 8, 2025 meeting unanimously. It then recommended approval of the conditional use application for 449 and 451 W High Street, which would create 44 apartment units in the Mixed-Use Zoning District. The motion passed unanimously. No public comment was received.

Thu Aug 7, 2025

Council Mayor

✓ Decided: Council approved police hiring agreement and several special event permits

The borough council unanimously approved the minutes from the July 17 meeting and authorized payments to Secco for the train station parking lot project. It adopted a letter of agreement allowing the hiring of experienced police officers at a higher salary step, approved two special event permits and denied one, and set a new natural gas rate of $6.67 for 30 months while adding the MESA building to the rate coverage.

Thu Jul 17, 2025

Council Mayor

✓ Decided: Council unanimously approved major bridge maintenance contract and multiple city projects

Elizabethtown Borough Council approved a series of ordinances, contract extensions, and payment applications, including a $121,815.20 bridge maintenance bid. The council also adopted a new Workplace Safety Policy, revised the fee schedule, and renewed the snow‑removal agreement with PennDOT. All actions passed unanimously except Ordinance No. 1024, which passed 6‑0.

Tue Jul 8, 2025

Planning Commission

✓ Decided: Planning Commission unanimously approved waivers and lot add‑on plan for two sites

The commission unanimously approved the minutes from the June 10, 2025 meeting. It also unanimously approved the requested Chapter 22, 17, and 21 waivers for the Lot Add-On Plan at 115 S Chestnut Street and 500 E Park Street. The commission then unanimously approved the Lot Add-On Plan for those two properties. No other business was discussed.

Thu Jun 19, 2025

Council Mayor

✓ Decided: Council unanimously approved conditional use for 214 N Cherry Alley

The borough council approved the applicant’s request to create a ground‑floor dwelling unit at 214 N Cherry Alley. It also approved several payment requests, appointed a regional EMA coordinator, adopted the Emergency Operating Plan, extended a land‑development plan review, reduced a financial security, cancelled the July 3 public meeting, and approved the monthly bills list.

Tue Jun 10, 2025

Planning Commission

✓ Decided: Planning Commission approved a conditional use for 214 N Cherry Alley

The commission unanimously approved the conditional use application for 214 N Cherry Alley, allowing a ground‑floor dwelling unit. It also voted to send letters of support for United Churches' CDBG renovation project and for the PennDOT Multimodal Transportation Grant. The lot add‑on plan for 115 S Chestnut Street and 500 E Park Street was accepted for review, and the February 11 minutes were approved.

Thu Jun 5, 2025

Council Mayor

✓ Decided: Council approved Ordinance No. 1023 for PENNVEST financing (5‑0 vote)

The borough council approved Ordinance No. 1023 to secure PENNVEST financing and meet Debt Act requirements. It also approved two grant applications, several special event permits, and denied a fee‑waiver request for a storage shed permit. Additionally, the council authorized advertising a draft condemnation ordinance for the Radio Road Interceptor Project and adopted the May 15 meeting minutes.

Thu May 15, 2025

Council Mayor

✓ Decided: Council unanimously approved applying for two college grant programs

The borough council voted unanimously to act as the applicant for Elizabethtown College’s PA Multimodal Grant and Local Share Account Grant. It also approved a special event permit for the Go Church Revival, the sale of a 2015 Bobcat utility vehicle, and the bagging of downtown parking meters for the winter period. Additional unanimous approvals were given for several contract payments and a resolution authorizing the manager to review fire‑police service requests.

Thu May 1, 2025

Council Mayor

✓ Decided: Council approves $584K parking lot system bid and waives fees for Strawberry Social

The borough council unanimously approved the minutes from the April meetings, accepted a $584,000 bid from SECCO Electric for the Train Station Parking Lot Management System, and approved the Strawberry Social event permit while waiving venue rental fees. The council also approved Elizabethtown Fire Police traffic control for the Mount Joy Memorial Day Parade. The utility‑abandonment ordinance draft was sent for further review.

Thu Apr 17, 2025

Council Mayor

✓ Decided: Council approved multiple payments, contracts and budget adjustments unanimously

The council unanimously approved the financial report and extended the Railroad Ridge plan review deadline to July 3, 2025. It adopted a payment agreement with Willowood Swim Club and approved two payment applications totaling $246,832.51. The council also authorized special event permits, budget line‑item overages, and a change order extending a WWTP contract. All votes were unanimous.

Thu Apr 3, 2025

Council Mayor

✓ Decided: Council approved $200,000 CDBG grant application for sewer improvements

The council unanimously approved a Letter of Intent to apply for $200,000 of CDBG funds for sanitary and storm‑water upgrades. It also approved payment of $56,609.55 to PACT One, LLC for the Radio Road Interceptor Phase 1, established a checking account for the Elizabethtown Regional EMA, and authorized several special event permits and a traffic‑control request.

Thu Mar 20, 2025

Council Mayor

✓ Decided: Council unanimously approved $243,097.50 CDBG contract for S Poplar St. work

The borough council approved several low‑bid contracts, accepted the 2024 annual audit, and authorized payment requests for infrastructure projects. All actions were approved by unanimous vote. The council also adopted a resolution allowing the borough manager to sign documents for the Train Station Parking Lot Improvements.