Spring Township

Spring Township is a second class township government in Berks County, Pennsylvania, with its administration building located at 2850 Windmill Road in Sinking Spring. The township office serves as the central point of contact for residents, property owners and businesses seeking municipal services, from refuse collection and road maintenance to building permits, zoning questions and parks programming. The main telephone number for township administration is 610-678-5393.

As a municipal government rather than a private business, Spring Township's role is to deliver the day to day services that keep a community functioning: paving and plowing roads, enforcing building and property maintenance codes, reviewing land development plans, managing stormwater infrastructure, operating parks and providing police and fire protection. The township's stated mission is to provide residents and the business community with municipal leadership and services in a cost effective and professional manner, so that Spring Township remains an affordable, safe and enjoyable place to live, work and play.

History

Spring Township was formed in 1850, when Cumru Township was divided by court order. The western portion of the former Cumru was designated as a separate municipality and given the name "Spring," a reference to the large freshwater spring, known as the Sinking Spring, located in the central portion of the area. That same natural feature gave its name to the borough of Sinking Spring, which the township surrounds, and the spring remains part of the local identity more than a century and a half later. Today the township sits in the western suburbs of Reading and includes a mix of established residential neighborhoods, newer subdivisions, commercial corridors and remaining open space.

Government and Public Meetings

The township is governed by a five member Board of Supervisors, which meets on the second and fourth Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in Public Meeting Room 1 at the administration building. Meeting agendas are posted at least 24 hours in advance, and archived minutes are available dating back to 2023, giving residents a written record of board actions, ordinance votes and budget decisions.

Several appointed boards and committees support the supervisors:

• Planning Commission: a seven member body made up of residents appointed to four year terms, which reviews subdivision and land development proposals and meets on the first and last Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m.
• Zoning Hearing Board: a three member board that hears appeals of zoning determinations, variance requests and special exception applications.
• Parks and Recreation Board: oversees park facilities, recreation programming and special projects, meeting the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m.
• Infrastructure Committee, Transportation Advisory Committee and Greenways and Trails Committee: advisory groups that study roadway, pedestrian, trail and capital infrastructure issues and make recommendations to the board.

Residents are generally welcome to attend these public meetings, and the committee structure provides multiple avenues for community input on planning, traffic safety and recreation matters.

Township Departments

Spring Township operates a full complement of municipal departments, each handling a distinct area of service:

• Business Office: handles general administration, billing, records and resident inquiries.
• Building and Codes: issues permits, performs inspections and enforces township ordinances, property maintenance standards and the zoning code.
• Engineering and Planning: reviews land development and subdivision applications, coordinates capital projects and works alongside the Planning Commission.
• Fire and Rescue and the Fire Marshal's Office: provide fire protection and rescue response, along with fire inspections, code review and origin and cause investigation.
• Parks and Recreation: maintains township parks and organizes recreation programs, events and community activities.
• Police Department: led by Chief of Police Steve Brock, the department can be reached at 610-678-3431. The chief also serves as Vice Chair of the Transportation Advisory Committee, linking law enforcement perspective to local traffic planning.
• Public Works: directed by Craig Conrad, this department handles road maintenance and paving, signage, drainage and general infrastructure work. Recent projects have included paving on Charlotte Avenue and Sunset Avenue and new stop sign installations on Old Fritztown Road.

Resident Services

Among the services most frequently used by households in the township:

• Trash and recycling collection: the township coordinates residential refuse and recycling service.
• Yard waste sites: designated drop off locations allow residents to dispose of grass clippings, brush and similar material rather than piling it at the curb or in the street.
• Leaf collection: a seasonal curbside program that begins in October. Before the program starts, residents are asked to bring leaves to the yard waste sites.
• Township permits: building, zoning and related permits are issued through the Building and Codes department.
• Right to Know requests: residents may request public township documents through the process established under Pennsylvania's Right to Know Law.

One point that often causes confusion is tax collection. The Tax Collector's Office handles township taxes, but Wilson School District taxes are not collected by the township and must be paid directly to the school district.

Stormwater and Environmental Programs

Spring Township administers an MS4 program, referring to the municipal separate storm sewer system requirements set by state and federal regulators. Activities under the program include public education materials such as storm drain awareness posters produced in both English and Spanish, a municipal guide explaining how to contact PennDOT regarding state roadway drainage, and the retrofitting of existing stormwater basins to improve water quality and reduce runoff. The Greenways and Trails Committee complements this work by looking at open space connections and pedestrian and bicycle routes across the township.

Visiting the Township Building

The administration building at 2850 Windmill Road houses the business office and public meeting rooms and is the location for permit applications, records requests, code questions and attendance at board and committee meetings. Residents planning a visit for a specific department matter are encouraged to call ahead at 610-678-5393 to confirm office hours and determine which forms or documentation to bring. For police matters that are not emergencies, the department's direct line is 610-678-3431.