LEWISTOWN — The Lewistown Borough Council met Monday to discuss the use of 2023 through 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for updated breathing apparatuses for the Lewistown Fire Department, in addition to other business.

When all CDBG funds are released for the 2023 through 2024 fiscal years, the roughly $240,000 in funding that the Borough “tied together” in CDBG budget modifications will help fund replacements of some of the breathing apparatuses for the Lewistown Fire Department.

Council members, in Jim Steele’s absence, approved the $141,962 in 2025 CDBG funds to go toward replacing more of the fire department’s breathing apparatuses.

Carol Kearney-High, project coordinator for SEDA-Council of Governments, will then present the 2025 fiscal year project details in a CDBG public hearing during the Sept. 18 Mifflin County Commissioners meeting.

Alley paving project

Borough Council members also discussed a project bid to pave both the alley between North Pine and North Walnut Street and the South Pine Street alley. Council members added the recommendation to approve the project bid and the contractor to the agenda.

The Borough received and approved a roughly $100,000 project bid for paving work. Council members approved Glenn O. Hawbaker Inc., of State College, as the paving contractor.

Borough employee compensation

Council members discussed Pennsylvania’s Act 131, specifically House Bill 2265, which passed Oct. 22, 2024, and sets maximum allowed compensation for borough employees.

Councilman Scott Gutshall said that the current compensation plan was last adjusted 30 years ago on Dec. 28, 1995.

In 1995, the Borough capped council member yearly compensation at $1,800, council president compensation at $2,100, and mayor compensation at $2,400.

The House Bill set maximum yearly compensation for council at $4,190 and $8,385 for the mayor.

The proposed yearly compensation for council members is $4,190, the council president is $4,190, and the mayor is $4,790.

Council members did not decide compensation at the time of the meeting, but will revisit the topic at a later date.

Public comment

Loving Care Cat Rescue Founder Lisa K. Snyder spoke during the first public comment portion of the meeting to ask the council for financial support in her rescue’s mission to trap, neuter, vaccinate, and return homeless domesticated and feral cats and kittens.

This rescue is a network of foster homes throughout central Pennsylvania.

Snyder said the Spay Neuter Assistance Program has been funding her and her volunteers’ work, but with the Borough’s help, her rescue could better sustain its mission.

Snyder added that there is “not a whole lot” in terms of ordinances to protect cats and kittens from abuse and more.

Borough President Matthew Moore said the Borough can send Snyder’s presentation regarding her program to rescue cats and kittens to the law and ordinance committee.

Other business

Council members also:

Approved a letter of support for Downtown Lewistown for their submission of a PA DCED Business Improvement Mini Grant Program. Moore voted against this motion;

Approved the City Hook and Ladder quarterly allocation of $11,250;

Approved the FAME EMS quarterly allocation of $6,000;

Approved to add the recommendation for the Abuse Network to place purple flags and purple lights at Fountain Square in recognition of domestic violence awareness month. Council approved the motion to accept this recommendation.