Mt. Penn Borough

Mt. Penn Borough is the municipal government for the Borough of Mount Penn, a small community of roughly 3,100 residents in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Borough Hall is located at 200 North 25th Street, Mount Penn, PA 19606, and serves as the administrative center for permits, tax matters, public records, zoning questions and council business. The main office line is 610-779-5151.

The borough takes its name from Mount Penn itself, the 1,120-foot mountain that rises to the north and overlooks the city of Reading. The community sits immediately east of Reading in the Antietam Valley area, a densely built residential borough of row homes, twins and single-family houses on a compact street grid. Because of its size, the borough coordinates several core services through regional partners and authorities, an arrangement that shapes much of how local government functions here.

Government and Leadership

Mount Penn operates under Pennsylvania's borough code, with an elected Borough Council and an elected mayor. Council is currently led by President Rick Lombardo, with Christine Dise serving as Vice President. Ryan Maurer serves as Mayor. Day-to-day administration is handled by Borough Manager Hunter L. Ahrens, MPA, SHRM-SCP, who oversees borough operations, staff and the implementation of council policy.

Council meets monthly for both a workshop session and a business meeting at Mt. Penn Borough Hall, with meetings generally running from about 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Agendas, approved minutes, annual budgets and the borough's DCED municipal audits are posted online for public review, and official minutes and agendas are also maintained in hard copy at Borough Hall for residents who prefer to review documents in person.

Services Handled at Borough Hall

Borough Hall is where residents, landlords, contractors and prospective buyers handle most municipal transactions. Services administered at the office include:

• Building permits for construction, alteration and related work within the borough
• Residential rental registration and inspection under the borough's rental program
• Residential on-street permit parking in designated permit areas
• Handicap parking permits for qualifying residents
• Property transfer inspections and certification prior to a sale or transfer
• Zoning information, including the zoning map and zoning ordinance
• Subdivision and land development (SALDO) administration
• Right to Know requests filed under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law
• Property maintenance code enforcement
• Trash, recycling and bulk item pickup coordination
• Real estate tax payments and related questions

Permits, Inspections and Code Enforcement

Construction permitting is administered through Borough Hall, with plumbing and mechanical inspections performed by certified inspector Brian Sands. A master plumber with 63 years of experience in the trade, Sands has served Mount Penn since 2001, giving the borough an unusually long-tenured inspector familiar with the older housing stock common throughout the community. The same inspector handles property transfer inspections, which are required before a property is sold or transferred in the borough. Buyers, sellers and real estate agents working in Mount Penn should factor this inspection and certification step into their closing timelines.

The borough also runs a rental program covering residential rental registration and inspection for landlords and tenants, administered under the borough fee schedule adopted by Resolution No. 66. Property maintenance code enforcement rounds out this area of borough work, focusing on neighborhood appearance, resident safety and the protection of property values across the borough's residential blocks.

Zoning, Planning and Procurement

Zoning and subdivision administration is supported by the Borough Planning Committee, which reviews land use and development proposals. Residents and developers can consult the zoning map and zoning ordinance through the borough office when evaluating permitted uses, setbacks or proposed improvements. For vendors and contractors, the borough publishes Requests for Proposals and bid opportunities as procurement needs arise, with notices posted for public review.

Tax Collection

Real estate taxes are collected by Tax Collector Alfred Worrall Jr., who can be reached at (610) 779-1116. Expanded collection hours are offered during the last two weeks of March, April, June and December: Tuesdays from 3 PM to 6 PM, and Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 AM to noon. For residents who cannot make those windows, a 24/7 dropbox is located to the left of the front glass doors at the borough office, allowing payments to be submitted at any time.

Public Safety and Utilities

Mount Penn works with several regional and authority partners to deliver essential services:

• Police coverage is provided by the Central Berks Regional Police Department
• Fire protection is provided by the Mount Penn Fire Company
• Sewer service is handled by the Antietam Valley Municipal Authority
• Water service is provided by the Mount Penn Borough Municipal Authority
• Students who live in the borough attend the Antietam School District

Current Initiatives

The borough is advancing a conveyance-leaseback proposal involving the Mount Penn Borough Municipal Authority, a financial and infrastructure measure intended to strengthen long-term fiscal stability while protecting the borough's water system. Mount Penn maintains a dedicated public information hub for the proposal that includes frequently asked questions, water rate projection studies, a draft asset preservation (no-sale) covenant and Ordinance No. 910, adopted April 29, 2026. The borough has also taken part in merger discussions with neighboring Lower Alsace Township, a conversation that has recurred among Antietam Valley municipalities exploring shared services and consolidation.

Community Programs

Beyond administrative functions, the borough runs the Hometown Hero Banners program, which honors local veterans and active duty service members with personalized banners displayed along borough streets. Residents can sponsor a banner recognizing a family member or neighbor, and the displays have become a visible feature of the community during the warmer months.

Visiting Borough Hall

Borough Hall at 200 North 25th Street is the first point of contact for most municipal questions, from pulling a permit to understanding trash and recycling collection to filing a public records request. Residents are encouraged to call 610-779-5151 to confirm office hours, fee amounts and document requirements before visiting, particularly for inspections and permits that may require scheduling with the borough's inspector. Meeting dates, agendas, budget documents and audit reports are available online for anyone who wants to follow council business between visits.