Sentinel photo by BROOKE CROUSE
The Lewistown Borough Council met Monday for its regular meeting at the Lewistown Community Center.

LEWISTOWN — The Lewistown Borough Council committed to investing in equipment for the Lewistown Fire Department, but fire safety equipment replacements are on hold until grant funding becomes available.

Council members explained Monday that the 2023-24 Community Development Block Grant funding has not yet been released, so the council cannot order the first round of self-contained breathing apparatuses for the Lewistown Fire Department.

This clarification came in response to a communication error between the borough and the fire department regarding whether the full amount of the 2023-24 and 2025 grant funding would be used to replace the fire department’s safety equipment.

Council President Matthew Moore said that when funding is released, the council will order 24 of the 35 apparatuses that must be replaced.

Moore added that the remaining apparatuses will be ordered when the 2025 grant funds are released.

Moore said that Lewistown Borough Treasurer/Deputy Manager Somer Weiss will correspond with those in charge of grant funding to later update the fire department regarding the first round of apparatus replacements.