Mohnton Borough

Mohnton Borough is the municipal government serving the residents and property owners of Mohnton, Pennsylvania, a small community in southern Berks County. Borough Hall is located at 21 North O'Neil Street, where administrative staff handle sewer billing, permits, rental registrations, public records requests and the day-to-day business of local government. The office can be reached at 610-775-0660.

The borough was formally incorporated in 1907. Before and after incorporation, the local economy was shaped by milling, gun-making and the manufacture of wool hats, industries that left a visible mark on the community's building stock and street layout. Mohnton is also home to the historic C.D. Hornberger Carriage, Wheelwright, and Blacksmith shop, a surviving reminder of the trades that supported everyday life in a nineteenth and early twentieth century Pennsylvania mill town.

Government Structure and Public Meetings

Mohnton operates under a borough council form of government. Council holds two regular monthly sessions: a workshop meeting on the first Wednesday of each month and a general meeting on the second Wednesday, both beginning at 7PM. The Planning Commission meets on the fourth Monday of the month at 6:30PM. The Zoning Hearing Board and the Civil Service Commission convene as needed, typically when an application, appeal or hiring process requires their attention.

Agendas and approved minutes are archived online going back to 2018, which gives residents, researchers and prospective property owners a searchable record of council decisions, budget discussions and ordinance changes over several years. Residents who wish to address council or follow a specific issue can review the agenda in advance of a meeting.

Utility Billing and Tax Collection

The borough bills sewer service for most, though not all, properties within its boundaries. Certain sections of Mohnton are billed through Shillington Borough instead, so residents should confirm which entity issues their statement.

Real estate tax collection is handled separately by Tax Collector Aimee Kercher, who receives payments at P.O. Box 97, Mohnton, PA 19540. County tax bills are mailed on March 1 with a discount period running through April 30. Trash billing is now consolidated onto the county real estate tax bill rather than issued as a separate invoice. Payment is accepted by check only; cash and money orders are not accepted. The tax collector holds sitting hours at Borough Hall during April for residents who prefer to pay in person.

Parking tickets issued by the borough police department can also be paid online. The system handles borough parking citations only and does not process state citations. A ticket number is required, payment is due within 10 days of issuance, and cash is not accepted.

Permits, Codes and Rental Property Registration

Building and zoning applications are submitted at Borough Hall and reviewed by the borough's codes engineer, Great Valley Consultants of Wyomissing. All applications must be submitted with three copies of plans, and commercial submissions require signed and sealed drawings. Applicants planning construction, additions, accessory structures or change-of-use projects should factor the review timeline into their schedules.

Landlords who rent property in Mohnton participate in an annual rental registration and licensing program. The borough publishes separate payment forms for single-unit and multiple-unit properties, along with inspection guidelines and a fee calculation chart so owners can determine their obligations before filing. Anyone conducting door-to-door sales or canvassing in the borough must obtain a solicitation permit; applications are available online and at Borough Hall, and currently valid permits are posted publicly so residents can verify whether a solicitor is authorized.

Public Safety

Mohnton maintains its own police department, led by Chief Tom Focht and staffed by a combination of full time and part time officers. Emergencies should be reported through 911, while non-emergency matters are routed through dispatch at (610) 655-4911. The department offers vacation property checks for residents who will be away from home and publishes crime statistics through the Pennsylvania state reporting portal. Fire protection is provided in cooperation with the Mohnton Fire Company, also known as Friendship Fire Company #2.

Residents can enroll at no cost in CodeRED, an emergency notification service delivered through the OnSolve platform. Registration allows the borough to send alerts about severe weather, utility interruptions, road closures and other community notifications by phone, text or email.

Public Works, Trash and Stormwater

The borough's public works crew handles street maintenance, snow removal and upkeep of municipal property. Curbside trash and recycling collection is provided under contract with Whitetail Disposal. The current contract does not include Saturday pickup. Yard waste and metal dumpsters are stationed in the borough parking lot for the use of Mohnton residents only and are emptied every Thursday.

Mohnton participates in the MS4 program, the federal and state framework governing Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems. The borough's stormwater infrastructure includes retention basins, drainage ditches, roadside inlets and underground piping. The borough publishes TMDL documentation, an overall storm systems map and public education materials on topics such as responsible fertilizer application and proper swimming pool draining, all of which affect water quality in local waterways.

Mohnton Memorial Park

Mohnton Memorial Park is the borough's primary recreational facility and includes a baseball field regarded as one of the better playing surfaces in the area. The park also contains the "Magic in Mohnton" children's playground, rental pavilions, a walking trail, picnic areas, volleyball and basketball courts and an outdoor stage.

Facility rentals run seasonally from April 12 through October 15. The reservation process begins with a phone call to Borough Hall, followed by submission of the Park Reservation Form and a Hold Harmless Form. Two separate checks are required: one covering rental and insurance costs and one for a security deposit, which is held rather than deposited and returned following a post-event inspection. A separate rental form is available for non-profit organizations.

Public Records

Under Pennsylvania's open records law, the borough accepts Right to Know requests using its official request form. Residents, journalists and other interested parties can use the process to obtain copies of public documents maintained by the municipality. Complaint forms are likewise available at Borough Hall.