Womelsdorf Borough

Womelsdorf Borough is the municipal government serving the borough of Womelsdorf in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Borough Hall sits at 101 West High Street, in the center of town, and functions as the administrative hub for council business, code enforcement, tax and utility matters, public records requests, and the day-to-day services residents rely on. The office can be reached at 610-589-4725.

Womelsdorf recorded a population of 2,810 at the 2010 census. The town is laid out along High Street, the main east-west thoroughfare, with Pennsylvania Route 419 running north-south through the borough and U.S. Route 422 passing along the northern edge of town. That road network places Womelsdorf within easy reach of Robesonia, Wernersville, Myerstown and the greater Reading area, while the borough itself retains the compact, walkable scale of a small western Berks County community.

Refuse and Recycling Collection

Trash and recycling collection is one of the most visible services the Borough administers. Under Ordinance 2019-01, participation in the municipal trash program is mandatory for served properties. Collection in Womelsdorf takes place on Wednesdays, with a limit of four 35-gallon bags or cans per household per week. Residents supply their own containers, which must have tight-fitting lids.

Rather than contracting independently, Womelsdorf participates in the Robesonia-Wernersville-Womelsdorf Council of Governments, a cooperative arrangement that pools the purchasing power of three neighboring boroughs to negotiate a single hauling contract. Collection is currently performed by Casella. This regional approach has allowed the participating municipalities to secure rates that would be difficult for any one small borough to obtain on its own.

Single stream recycling is collected on the same Wednesday schedule and is mandatory for both residents and businesses. Two rules draw frequent questions: glass is no longer accepted in the curbside program, and plastic bags may neither be used as containers nor placed inside recycling bins. Properties that are not served by the Borough program, including commercial, industrial and institutional sites as well as rental properties with more than eight units, are required to operate their own private recycling programs. Those programs must cover aluminum cans, corrugated paper, high-grade office paper and leaf waste, and the responsible parties must submit annual tonnage reports to the Borough by January 15.

Bulk items and construction debris are not accepted in the weekly curbside collection. Residents who need to dispose of furniture, appliances or renovation materials arrange pickup directly with the hauler for a fee, using 570-305-2125, 570-305-2127 or 570-668-4515.

Brush and Yard Waste

The Borough collects woody brush on the first and third Monday of every month. To qualify, brush must be shorter than four feet in length, less than two inches in diameter, and either bundled or placed in a container. Grass clippings, non-woody weeds and spent flowers are not part of the brush program and should be placed in household trash. Keeping these materials separated helps the collection crew work efficiently and keeps the program running on schedule through the growing season.

Stormwater Management and the MS4 Program

Womelsdorf administers a stormwater management program under the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) requirements. The program is aimed at protecting local streams and waterways by identifying illicit discharges into the storm sewer system and reducing the pollutants carried by runoff. The Borough publishes guidance for property owners on practical steps that reduce runoff volume and contamination, including disconnecting downspouts from paved surfaces, installing rain barrels, establishing riparian buffers along waterways, planting rain gardens, and disposing of household hazardous waste properly rather than pouring it into drains or onto the ground. Residents who notice a suspected illicit discharge, such as an unexplained flow or discoloration entering a storm drain, are asked to report it to the Borough office.

Sewer Service

Sanitary sewer service is handled by the Womelsdorf Sewer Authority, which holds regular monthly public meetings with agendas posted in advance. The Authority offers an ACH authorization form for customers who prefer to have sewer payments drafted automatically, an option that removes the need to track quarterly due dates.

Codes, Permits and Zoning

The Borough's code enforcement function covers a broad range of property matters. Staff process property transfer inspection applications, which are required when real estate changes hands, along with general permit applications for construction and improvement work. The office also handles zoning map requests and applications for variances, special exceptions and appeals, as well as appeals filed under the International Property Maintenance Code. Property owners, contractors and real estate professionals working in Womelsdorf typically begin at Borough Hall to confirm which approvals a given project requires before work starts.

Borough Secretary and Public Records

The Borough Secretary serves as the point of contact for administrative requests, including Right-To-Know requests filed under Pennsylvania's open records law, employment applications for municipal positions, and citizen complaint forms. Council meeting agendas and minutes are posted publicly in the Agenda Center, and records from before 2025 are archived in the Document Center, giving residents a searchable record of past council actions.

Recreation and Community Programs

Womelsdorf operates a municipal swimming pool that offers season memberships, private rentals for parties and gatherings, and a swim team. General pool rules and membership applications are published each season. Beyond the pool, the Recreation Board manages the use of borough recreation facilities through a Use of Facilities application paired with a Facilities Use Hold Harmless and Release Agreement, a process that allows local groups, sports organizations and families to reserve space for organized activities.

Two community initiatives round out the Borough's programming. The Hometown Heroes banner program honors local service members with banners displayed in town, with applications available through the Borough document center. The Borough also participates in a Trap, Neuter, Release program in partnership with No Nonsense Neutering, a humane approach to managing the local community cat population.

Payments and Meetings

Borough bills, including trash accounts, can be paid through a secure online payment portal. A 3% convenience fee is added to the total for transactions processed through the portal. Borough Council holds both regular meetings and workshop meetings, with agendas and minutes made available to the public, giving residents a direct path to follow municipal decisions and participate in them.