Shillington Borough

Shillington Borough is the municipal government serving the residents, property owners and businesses of Shillington, Pennsylvania, a roughly one square mile community in Berks County just southwest of Reading. Town Hall sits at 2 East Lancaster Avenue, where administrative staff handle utility accounts, permits, records and general inquiries at 610-777-1338.

The Borough was incorporated on August 18, 1908. The name itself predates incorporation by nearly half a century: the town was named in 1860 in honor of Samuel Shilling, who completed the first survey of the area and laid out the original street plan. More than a century later, that compact grid still defines the community, and the Borough's small geographic footprint means most municipal services are delivered within a few minutes' drive of Town Hall.

Form of Government

Shillington operates under a Council/Manager form of government. Seven elected Council members and a Mayor each serve four year terms, setting policy, adopting the annual budget and passing ordinances. An appointed Borough Manager oversees day to day administration, supervises departments and carries out the directives of Council. This structure separates elected policymaking from professional administration, a model used by many Pennsylvania boroughs of similar size.

Several appointed boards and commissions round out local governance, including the Shillington Municipal Authority, the Zoning Hearing Board, the Planning Commission, the Civil Service Commission and the Recreation Board. Agendas, meeting schedules and minutes for all of these bodies are posted as downloadable PDF documents, allowing residents to review items in advance of public meetings.

Utility Billing and Payments

The Borough bills residents quarterly for water, sewer and refuse service. Payments can be made online through the PAYMENTUS portal, either as a one time transaction or through a customer account portal that supports scheduled recurring payments. Residents who prefer to pay by telephone can call 1-888-977-8724. For those who would rather not receive paper statements, the Borough offers electronic billing: submitting a request form switches quarterly bills from U.S. Mail to email delivery.

Emergency Services and Notifications

Police protection is provided by the Shillington Police Department at 999 East Broad Street under Chief Brett A. Hivner. Emergencies should always be directed to 9-1-1, while the non-emergency line is 610-777-3947. Fire protection comes from the Shillington Fire Company at 221 Catherine Street, led by Fire Chief David M. Bentz, with a non-emergency number of 610-777-7284.

The Borough participates in CodeRED, now administered by CodeRED by Crisis24, a free and confidential rapid notification service. Residents and water consumers can register home, business and mobile numbers to receive alerts about emergencies, utility interruptions and other time sensitive community information. The Borough advises registrants to save 206-536-3695 in their contacts so that incoming emergency calls are not mistaken for spam.

For water or sewer problems that occur after Town Hall has closed, residents should call the Berks County Radio System at 610-655-4911. A Shillington Police Officer or Borough representative is then dispatched to follow up on the reported issue.

Public Works and Infrastructure

Public Works operations are based at 999 East Broad Street and can be reached at 610-777-8436. The department is overseen by Supervisor Douglas J. Weiss, with Assistant Supervisor Jeffrey S. Balthaser and Water Coordinator Leonard E. Bilger. Crews handle street maintenance, water system operations, sewer infrastructure and the daily upkeep that keeps municipal services running.

Trees, Recycling and Stormwater

The Shillington Tree Advisory Committee manages the Borough's curb line tree program. Residents may request a tree for the strip between the sidewalk and the street, with plantings carried out each fall. The deadline for the fall 2026 planting is September 18, 2026, and the committee can be reached at 484-265-1749 or shillingtontrees@gmail.com. Separately, a Borough permit is required before any curb line tree is trimmed or removed.

Recycling guidance, including the Borough recycling flyer and information on Pennsylvania's Covered Device Recycling Act, is posted online. Discarded electronics can be dropped off at the Berks County Solid Waste Authority Recycling Center at 1316 Hilltop Road in Bern Township, open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

Stormwater management resources include the Home Owners Guide to Stormwater BMP Maintenance, county level stormwater information, and fertilizer guidance distributed under the title Be Wise When You Fertilize. The Borough also provides a citizen reporting form for suspected illicit discharges, which can be returned to Town Hall in person or emailed to info@shillingtonboro.net.

Zoning, Building Codes and Planning

Land use in the Borough is administered through the Zoning Hearing Board and the Planning Commission, which hold public hearings on variances, special exceptions and development proposals. Building code enforcement and health officer services are handled by Terrance Naugle of Great Valley Consultants, reachable at 610-375-8822. Property owners planning construction, renovations or a change of use should contact the Borough early to confirm permit requirements. Downloadable street and zoning maps are available in PDF and TIF formats.

Real Estate Taxes

Effective June 1, 2026, Borough real estate taxes are collected by the Berks County Treasurer, Mitchell R. Darcourt, at 633 Court Street, 2nd Floor, Reading, PA 19601. Payments may be submitted online or by check, and tax questions should be directed to 610-478-6640 or treasurer@berkspa.gov.

Recreation

Recreation programming is guided by the Recreation Board and coordinated by Recreation Director Kyle Kuser, who can be contacted at kkuser@shillingtonboro.net. Board meetings take place at the Municipal Building and are open to the public, giving residents a direct avenue for suggesting programs and improvements to recreational facilities.

Visiting and Contact

Town Hall is located at 2 East Lancaster Avenue, Shillington, PA 19607. The Police Department and Public Works share a facility at 999 East Broad Street, and the Fire Company operates from 221 Catherine Street. General inquiries can be directed to 610-777-1338.