Williamsburg Borough Council Regular Meeting Minutes

Meeting Overview

The Williamsburg Borough Council held its regular meeting on Monday, May 4, 2026. The session began at 7:00 p. m. , called to order by Dakota Biddle, and concluded with an adjournment motion at 8:45 p. m.

Attendees:

• Council Members Present: Karyn Shaw, Mathew Webb, Ed Patterson, Maggie Merritts, Steve Niebauer, Jim Price, Dakota Biddle, and Ted Hyle.
• Others Present: Myranda Isenberg, Adam Hauser, Natalie Gorsuch, Scott Bush, and Nathan Karn.

Financial Reports

• Treasurer’s Report: The council approved the Treasurer’s Report for April and ratified all bills and intervening payroll in accordance with Resolution #2018-2.
• Bills Due: A motion was made to pay all bills due, which passed unanimously.
• Blair County Liquid Fuels Grant: The Borough is eligible for a grant of $7,299. 82 to reimburse the general fund for street lights and road salt expenses. The council approved signing the application.
• Leaf Vac: Council member Lansberry inquired about using liquid fuel funds to purchase a leaf vacuum from Catharine Township. This was deemed impossible due to the application deadline and lack of a set price, though he plans to approach the Township directly.

Public Safety & Infrastructure

• Police Vehicle: Chief Hauser requested a new 2026 Ford Explorer. The quote from TriStar was $49,845 (valid until May 1st). The council discussed engine availability and potential USDA grants to offset costs.
• Garbage Totes: Paul Kane proposed placing garbage totes on High Street for parades and general use. The council approved the motion to place them on the streets, with weekly emptying and removal if issues arise.
• WMA Discharge Permit: The Municipal Authority must apply for a new sewer plant discharge permit every five years.
• Rental Inspections: Nathan Karn stated that the Borough cannot offer 3-year inspection cycles for compliant landlords; a uniform term is required.
• Skills Machines: The council discussed charging businesses for skills machines. Nathan Karn noted the Borough lacks code authorization to charge a tax, though fees based on inspection costs might be possible.

Community Events & Unfinished Business

• America 250 Celebration: The committee requested a donation for the June 27th celebration. Council member Hyle suggested using funds from the bicentennial account. The council approved donating 80% of the bicentennial funds toward the America 250 celebration.
• Farm Show Parade: The council approved a letter of support for the Farm Show parade scheduled for August 27, 2026.
• Ambulance Meeting: The Hollidaysburg American Legion Ambulance Service will hold a meeting on May 11, 2026.
• Ellis Property Demolition: The council accepted Bill Stotler’s demolition bid of $8,500 (lower than G&R Excavation’s quote of $17,766).
• Pickleball Court: The pickleball system has been received but not yet installed.
• EPA Samples: The EPA is scheduled to take samples from the ash pile at the Penelec property next week.

New Business & Committee Reports

• AI Data Centers: Council member Shaw raised concerns regarding potential AI data centers in Blair County, citing high water usage and the need for ordinances to limit placement.
• Planning Commission: An announcement was made for a Planning Commission meeting on May 18th in Altoona.
• Ordinance Codification: The Property, Equipment, and Streets committee discussed the difficulty of accessing current ordinances. It was suggested that instead of expensive codification, the Borough could create a Word document listing topics and related ordinances.
• Community Clean-ups: The Recreation committee discussed organizing clean-ups, noting that Catharine Township was unable to contribute financially in the past.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p. m. The next council meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 1, 2026, at 7:00 p. m.