Rockland Township

Rockland Township is a second class township in Berks County, Pennsylvania, with a municipal building located at 41 Deysher Road, Fleetwood, PA 19522. The township has a population of approximately 3,778 residents and lies within the boundaries of the Brandywine Heights Area School District. Like other second class townships in Pennsylvania, Rockland operates under the Second Class Township Code, which establishes the structure of its elected government and defines the scope of municipal authority over roads, land use, public safety coordination and fiscal management.

The township office can be reached at 610-682-6311.

Board of Supervisors

Rockland Township is governed by a three-member elected Board of Supervisors. The current board consists of Chairman David Wartzenluft, Vice Chairman Nathan Ohlinger and Supervisor Ericka Thomas-Ernst. The supervisors hold both legislative and executive authority: they adopt and enforce ordinances, approve the annual budget, set tax rates, oversee township staff and contracted professionals, and make decisions intended to protect the health, safety and welfare of residents.

Regular public meetings are held at the Township Municipal Building at 41 Deysher Road, typically on the second Monday of each month at 7:00 PM. The annual calendar also includes a reorganization meeting in January, a budget meeting in October and a year-end meeting in December. All sessions are open to the public, and approved minutes are posted with an archive extending back to 2020, allowing residents to follow the history of decisions on road projects, land development applications, ordinances and spending.

Planning Commission and Land Use

A five-member Planning Commission reviews subdivision and land development proposals and advises the Board of Supervisors on planning matters. The commission meets on the last Wednesday of each month at 7:00 PM. From June through November, joint workshop meetings are scheduled, and notices for those sessions are published alongside other township announcements.

The Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors are supported by professional consultants. LTL Consultants, Ltd. of Oley, Pennsylvania serves as township engineer, and the law firm of Hartman, Valeriano, Magovern & Lutz, P.C. of Wyomissing serves as solicitor. In addition to the Planning Commission, the township maintains a Zoning Hearing Board, a board of Auditors, an Agricultural Security Area Committee and a Vacancy Board.

Zoning, Codes and Permits

Zoning administration and code enforcement are handled by LTL Consultants, Ltd., with Cheryl Franckowiak and Paul Labe serving as contacts. Property owners and contractors can reach the consultant office at 610-987-9290 for questions about permitted uses, setbacks, zoning permits and enforcement matters. Appeals, variance requests and special exception applications are heard by the Zoning Hearing Board, which is represented by solicitor David S. Sobotka, Esq. of Smith Bukowski.

Building code official services are also provided through LTL Consultants, with inspection work performed by Jim Franey of Mohnton, Pennsylvania, reachable at 610-775-2269. Residents planning construction, additions, accessory structures or significant renovations are directed to confirm permit requirements before beginning work.

Because much of the township relies on on-lot sewage disposal, the Sewage Enforcement Officers play a significant role in residential projects. Charyn Ayoub and Paul Labe of LTL Consultants handle septic system permitting, site testing and related approvals. The township also distributes the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection homeowner guide titled "The Ins and Outs of Septic Systems in Pennsylvania," which explains routine pumping, system care and the warning signs of malfunction.

Public Works and Road Maintenance

Township roads and infrastructure are maintained by an in-house work crew led by Roadmaster Michael Pott, with crew members Andrew Turner and William Kurtz, Jr. Their responsibilities include general road maintenance, drainage, winter operations and coordination with outside agencies on larger projects.

One ongoing project of note is the replacement of the Smoketown Road Bridge, a PennDOT initiative designated Project #116478, with construction scheduled for 2027.

Emergency Management and Public Safety

Emergency planning is coordinated by Township Emergency Management Coordinator Derick Wartzenluft, who can be reached at 610-621-8198. The coordinator develops emergency plans and procedures and, following storms or other disasters, collects Berks County Individual Damage Assessment Reports with supporting photographs. Residents who sustain damage are reminded that filing a damage assessment report does not replace contacting their own insurance carrier.

Fire and ambulance coverage for the township is provided by Fleetwood Volunteer Fire Company Ambulance, Lyons Fire Company, Ruscombmanor Fire Company and Topton Ambulance Service. The township also promotes Berks Alert, a free opt-in mass notification system that sends residents messages about emergencies, severe weather, road closures and other time-sensitive local information by cell phone or email.

Taxes, Records and Resident Services

Township tax collection is handled by elected Tax Collector Angela Utley, located at 68 Deysher Road, Fleetwood, PA 19522. She can be reached by phone at 484-638-3008 or by email at angelautley13@gmail.com.

Karen Krall serves as Secretary, Treasurer and Open Records Officer. In the Right-to-Know role, she processes public records requests and provides access to ordinances, resolutions, budget documents, pension information and other financial records.

Agriculture, Conservation and Community Information

Farmland remains an important part of the township's landscape. The Agricultural Security Area Committee, made up of local landowners Bryan Grube, Norman Burkholder, Shane Snyder, Ericka Thomas-Ernst and David Nace, supports farmland preservation efforts within Rockland Township.

The township also maintains a resource library on spotted lanternfly management, an issue affecting much of southeastern Pennsylvania. Materials cover compliance agreements, quarantine regulations, proper placement of sticky bands, control methods for adult insects, a seasonal management calendar and guidance on handling yard waste originating in quarantined areas.

Semiannual newsletters are published in March and September, supplemented by public notices covering items such as joint workshop meeting schedules and surplus equipment sales. Past listings have included municipal equipment sold through Municibid, among them a 2009 Chevy dump truck with plow.

Visiting the Township

Residents, property owners, contractors and prospective buyers are encouraged to contact the township office at 610-682-6311 with questions about meetings, permits, ordinances or municipal services.