LEWISTOWN — The Lewistown Borough Council met Monday to discuss a proposed rental ordinance, which requires a series of meetings to gather public input and to finalize the terms of the ordinance.

Borough Manager Tyler Fink said, “We just want to ensure rental housing units meet certain standards (and) regulations to protect (the) health, safety, (and) welfare of the tenants.”

Fink said that the Borough could create a hybrid rental ordinance to reduce the Borough employees’ inspection workload.

This model provides a self-certification option for compliant landlords who do not have unpaid sewer bills, refuse bills, taxes, or code violations. Landlords could potentially sign off on an affidavit certifying that their property does not violate inspection requirements.

Inspection requirements focus on life and fire safety, doors, windows, heating, plumbing, GFCI outlets, and exterior safety and cleanliness.

The second part of this hybrid model includes regular inspections on a three-year cycle based on street location and number of rental units.

This inspection cycle could look like a January implementation on Valley Street, a February implementation on Logan Street/Shaw Avenue, and later implementations to follow.

The rental ordinance would cost the Borough about $40,000 to $45,000 for rental license software, a part-time office worker, mailing materials, and other needs.

Fink stated that the revenue projection of inspections is $57,825 annually, but he believes revenue could be higher based on the number of rentals.

Fink said that the law and ordinance committee will potentially hold a Sept. 24 meeting and invite the public to gather feedback. The Borough will tentatively discuss findings from this meeting during the regular meeting on Oct. 6.

In council member Larry “Heavy” Searer’s absence, Borough council members voted to add two items to new business on the agenda, which were later approved:

• Recommend approval of Resolution of 2025-9 for the semi-quincentennial resolution. This resolution asks that Pennsylvania municipalities and townships participate in the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States;

• Recommend approval of trick or treat from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25.

Borough council later tabled a recommendation for approval to purchase the Work Management Module for IWORK as an add-on to the current subscription. The cost is prorated at $4,100 from July 1, 2025, with an additional $1,000 implementation fee for the module.

Council members will discuss the cost of this module and weigh options before revisiting this item.

In new business, the Borough council:

• Approved resolution 2025-8 to appoint and authorize a Finance Team for the PENNVEST Project and allow accounts to be reimbursed from interim financing funds;

• Approved to lease a 2025 Pelican Street Sweeper at a Co-Stars Cost of $264,491.27 over five years to be paid out of State Liquid Fuels. Council President Matthew Moore voted against this motion in a roll call vote;

• Approved to enter a five-year Buy Back Program Agreement with A&H Equipment for the Pelican Street Sweeper to have a guaranteed 50% Trade-In Value with the purchase of a new Elgin Pelican;

• Approved to advertise Chapter 200-1 for definition updates in refuse collection;

• Approved to advertise the Act 131 Ordinance regarding council member and mayor compensation packages for newly elected officials;

• Approved to certify the FFY 2023 CDBG Budget Modification request to abandon the West Fourth, Fifth, and North Grand Street reconstruction project to create “Lewistown FD Fire Safety Equipment Phase 1”;

• Approved to switch the Broker of Record from USI Insurance to Nittany Brokerage.