Fleetwood Borough

Fleetwood Borough is the local government office serving the Borough of Fleetwood in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Administrative offices are located at 110 West Arch Street, Suite 104, inside the Fleetwood Community Center, and the main phone line is 610-944-8220. The borough handles the day-to-day municipal functions residents and property owners interact with most often: water and sewer billing, building and zoning permits, rental and commercial property registration, codes enforcement, seasonal public works programs, and oversight of the community park and swimming pool. The Fleetwood Police Department also operates out of the Community Center at the same address.

Fleetwood is a suburban community of roughly 5,000 residents in northeastern Berks County, surrounded by the farmland of Richmond and Ruscombmanor townships. The borough retains a visible connection to its agricultural and industrial past, with F.M. Brown's Sons flour mill and the Sunsweet Bottling Works among the longstanding local operations.

History

The town was laid out in 1868 and was known in its earliest years as Crowstown, and later Coxtown. The name Fleetwood came from a director of the Reading Railroad, who borrowed it from an English resort town. The community was formally incorporated as a borough in 1873, and the arrival of the railroad shaped much of its early growth, linking local mills, farms and manufacturers to markets in Reading and beyond. More than 150 years later, the borough continues to operate under Pennsylvania's borough code with an elected Mayor and Borough Council.

Government Structure and Meetings

Borough operations are directed by Mayor Suzanne Pittella-Touch, a Borough Council led by President Ralph Touch, and Borough Manager Chris Young, who oversees daily administration. Borough Council meets on the second Monday of each month at 6:30 PM in the Community Center, with workshop sessions held on the fourth Monday as needed. Meetings are open to the public and are the primary forum for ordinance adoption, budget decisions, and discussion of local projects.

Water and Sewer Billing

The borough bills residents and businesses for water and sewer service. Payments can be made online through Xpress Bill Pay, which the office recommends, or placed in the mail slot on the front wall of the Community Center along Arch Street. Low income households may qualify for LIHWAP, the state's water assistance program, and borough staff can point applicants toward that resource. Related to water system upkeep, the borough conducts scheduled hydrant flushing in the evenings, generally between 4 and 8 PM on announced dates.

Permits and Property Services

Building and zoning permits are required for a wide range of residential and commercial projects, including new construction, additions, sheds, fences, signs, patios, decks, driveways and pools deeper than 24 inches.

Other property-related services include:

• Rental property inspection and registration, with landlords registering online through the borough's Survey123 form or by submitting the paper application tied to Ordinance 613.
• Commercial property inspection and registration, with online registration preferred and a PDF application available under Ordinance 626.
• The Property Change Information Form, formerly known as the moving permit, required when moving into, out of, or within borough limits.
• Subdivision and land development review under the SALDO, processed through Ordinance 349 and its amendments. Fee resolutions adopted in 2024 cover zoning, variances, subdivision and stormwater management applications.

Event, Yard Sale and Alcohol Permits

Residents planning a yard sale can obtain a free permit, with a limit of two sales per household per year. Registration is handled by emailing YardSale@FleetwoodBoro.com with the address and date, and the police department monitors the list. Larger gatherings, block parties and street closures fall under Ordinance 603 and require a special event permit. A separate alcohol permit is available for events held at the Community Center. Alcohol is not permitted in Fleetwood Park.

Police Protection

The Fleetwood Police Department is based in the Community Center at 110 West Arch Street and is staffed by nine full-time officers along with several part-time officers. The department patrols Fleetwood Borough and Richmond Township and provides contract coverage for Ruscombmanor Township. The non-emergency line is (610) 655-4911.

The department offers vacation and security checks for residents who will be away from home. A downloadable form can be emailed to the chief's attention or dropped off at the station. The borough also maintains a safe exchange location: two reserved parking spaces in the lot across from the Community Center set aside as a monitored meeting spot for online marketplace transactions.

Public Works and Emergency Notification

Seasonal curbside leaf collection begins in mid-October and continues through November, weather permitting, with leaves placed at the curb for pickup. The borough handles snow removal and designates snow emergency routes during winter storms. Codes enforcement addresses complaints involving blight, weeds taller than ten inches, sidewalk snow clearing (a 48 inch width within 24 hours), vehicle parking and storage, and vector control. Complaints are accepted by email.

CodeRed is the borough's official reverse 9-1-1 notification system and is used for both emergency alerts and general announcements, including snow emergency declarations. Residents are encouraged to sign up so they receive messages throughout the year.

Community Programs and Recreation

Fleetwood Park serves as the borough's main recreational space, with restrooms open from dawn to dusk and a community swimming pool that can be reached at 610-944-7814. The park hosts community gatherings during the year, including the Homecoming Festival and Bonfire.

The borough also administers TIGERS, short for Tax Incentives Generate Empowered Residents and Seniors, a local tax incentive program with a downloadable application for qualifying residents.

Visiting the Office

The Community Center at 110 West Arch Street functions as the hub for borough business, bringing administrative offices, the police department and the Council meeting room under one roof. Many forms, applications and payment options are available, and staff can be reached by phone at 610-944-8220 for questions about permits, utility accounts, codes matters or upcoming meetings.