Ontelaunee Township

Ontelaunee Township is a municipal government serving residents and property owners in northern Berks County, Pennsylvania. The township building is located at 35 Ontelaunee Drive, Reading, PA 19605, and the main office line is 610-926-4240. From this location, township staff and elected officials administer water and sewer utility service, zoning and building permits, code enforcement, stormwater management, emergency management, public records requests, and the ordinances that govern land use and daily life within the township's boundaries.

Like other second class townships in Pennsylvania, Ontelaunee operates under a Board of Supervisors rather than a mayoral system. The board is currently composed of Jeremy Hoagland, Josh Steingraber and Ron Tobias. A Planning Commission and a Zoning Hearing Board support the board's work on development and land use matters. Kim Y. Berger serves in several roles at once, acting as Secretary/Treasurer, Open Records Officer and Emergency Management Coordinator, a common arrangement in smaller Pennsylvania municipalities where administrative functions are consolidated.

History

The township's name comes from the Native American word "Ontelaunee," generally translated as "little daughter," which referred to the branch of the Schuylkill River now known as Maiden Creek. Quaker families first settled the area around 1720. More than a century later, on April 2, 1849, a petition was filed seeking the division of Maiden Creek Township. The court approved the division and named the resulting municipality Ontelaunee. It was erected into a separate election district by an act passed February 28, 1850, which is generally cited as the township's founding date. The Borough of Leesport was originally part of Ontelaunee Township before separating.

Water and Sewer Service

Ontelaunee Township operates its own water and sewer utility, and billing is one of the services residents interact with most frequently. Accounts can be managed online through Xpress Bill Pay, which supports one time payments, paperless billing and automatic recurring payments. Customers paying by check should make them payable to Ontelaunee Twp Water and Sewer (OTWS). Property owners are responsible for keeping meter pits clear and accessible so that township personnel can read and service the meters.

Routine system maintenance includes seasonal fire hydrant flushing, generally conducted between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., with fall flushing scheduled during the week of October 5. Customers in affected areas may notice cloudy or discolored water during and shortly after flushing. The recommended response is to run a tap for a few minutes until the water clears. The water remains safe for all normal household uses throughout the process.

Zoning, Permits and Code Enforcement

Zoning and building permits are handled by Zoning and Code Enforcement Officer Ryan Wessner, who can be reached at 484-220-4017. Permit appointments are scheduled rather than handled during walk in office hours. Applications can be downloaded from the township website and returned either to the township office or placed in the green curbside drop box, accompanied by a plot plan and the applicable fee. Published fee schedules for 2026 zoning and building permits are available for review before an application is submitted.

Property owners seeking a variance or special exception apply to the Zoning Hearing Board, which meets as needed rather than on a fixed monthly schedule. Current member terms expire in 2026 and 2028.

Ordinances and Stormwater

The township maintains a full set of codified ordinances, updated through December 31, 2025, organized into 27 chapters. Topics covered include animals, code enforcement, conduct, fire and open burning, flood plain regulation, housing and rentals, lighting, motor vehicles and snow emergency routes, parks and recreation, sewers, solid waste, stormwater, subdivision and land development (SALDO), taxation, water and zoning. A downloadable zoning map accompanies the code.

Stormwater is administered under Chapter 21 of the code. Residents who observe improper discharges into the storm system can submit an illicit discharge complaint form. The township also runs a Fats, Oil and Grease (FOG) program aimed at protecting the sewer collection system. Businesses that prepare or serve food and drinks, including convenience stores, restaurants, fast food establishments, daycares and churches, submit required information through an online ArcGIS Survey123 questionnaire.

Public Safety and Emergency Management

Police, fire and ambulance coverage is provided through the Northern Berks Regional Police Department (NBRPD), Northern Berks EMS and the Union Fire Company of Leesport. Emergency management is coordinated by Kim Berger, who can be reached at 484-219-5155, and the township publishes resident guidance on building disaster preparedness kits, developing evacuation plans, and preparing for hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes and fires.

Ontelaunee Township participates in the Rave Alert emergency notification program, a free service that replaced the former Swift 911 platform. Rave Alert delivers notifications by phone, text and email, with messages tailored to a resident's location and stated needs. Residents previously enrolled in Swift 911 were transferred automatically. New enrollment forms can be emailed to otws@comcast.net, mailed to the township, or placed in the drop box.

Public Records and Reporting

Right to Know requests are processed under Act 3 of 2008 by Open Records Officer Kim Y. Berger. Records may be inspected at the Municipal Building on weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Responses are issued within five business days.

For non emergency concerns such as broken street lights, damaged street signs, low water pressure or fallen trees, the township accepts reports through an online form. Genuine emergencies should always be directed to 911.

Parks, Programs and Resident Services

• Pavilion rental at Willow Glen Playground, 11 Nantucket Drive, Reading, PA 19605, with soccer, basketball and baseball facilities on site
• Ontelaunee Fields at 93 Calais Drive, offering soccer, baseball and basketball
• Trash and recycling guidance supported by Chapter 20 of the ordinances
• A list of approved septic haulers serving the township, plus a downloadable pump out certification form
• Soliciting permits for door to door activity, governed by Chapter 5 (Conduct)
• Tax collection resources, including Berks EIT local earned income tax information. The township office does not accept cash
• Published snow emergency routes and a winter maintenance policy. The township hires part time snow plow drivers seasonally, with resumes accepted at ontelauneetownship@comcast.net
• A free community shredding event for residents, held October 17 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Public Meetings

The Board of Supervisors meets on the first Thursday of each month from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The Planning Commission meets the third Thursday from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and the Police Commission meets the second Monday from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Agendas are posted online in advance. Additional information on all township services is available at ontelauneetwp.net.