Ruscombmanor Weighs $200K Mower, Data Center Hearing

Ruscombmanor Township's supervisors will vote tonight on a $199,834.81 tractor-and-mower package, on sending a data center ordinance to a public hearing next month, and on opening the 2027 budget for public inspection. The board meets Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 7 p.m. at the municipal building, 204 Oak Lane, per the township's meetings page; the agenda was posted Tuesday afternoon.

Ruscombmanor, incorporated in 1752 according to its website, is a Berks County township with a Fleetwood mailing address and a municipal building in Pricetown, per the meetings page. The township posts agendas shortly before each meeting but does not post minutes.

A new reach mower for $199,834.81

The agenda asks the board "to accept the quote from Deere & Company to purchase a 6M 105 cab tractor in the amount of $127,532.25 and a 21' mid mount mower system w/44" flail head in the amount of $112,302.56." The price "includes the trade in summary for the 2016 John Deere 6130M reach mower in the amount of ($40,000.00)," and "the total amount = $199,834.81."

The agenda calls the purchase a "new reach mower" and the 2016 unit a "reach mower" too, and the quote counts a $40,000 trade-in of the township's 2016 machine toward the price. It does not say which fund pays, whether other quotes were sought, or when delivery is expected.

The data center ordinance heads to a hearing

The board will vote "to authorize Atty. Magovern to advertise the Data Center Ordinance for a public hearing and enactment at the November 25, 2026, regular meeting." The subject first appears on the board's June 24 agenda as a discussion item under the solicitor's report; on July 22 the agenda carried a motion "to authorize Attorney Magovern to draft a Data Center Ordinance to be reviewed by the Township Planning Commission and the Berks County Planning Commission," and the township Planning Commission had the ordinance on its Sept. 10 agenda. The Sept. 23 agenda carried a motion to authorize the solicitor to send the ordinance "to the Berks County Planning Commission for review"; the township posts no minutes, so the outcome is not on record. The Oct. 27 workshop agenda listed a "Data Center Ordinance Update."

The township has not posted the draft. A search of ruscombmanor.org for "data center" returns nothing, and the posted zoning ordinance, adopted in 2013 and amended through March 2025, does not use the term. The agenda does not say which zoning districts the ordinance would cover or what limits it would set.

Where other Berks municipalities stand is in our data center tracker. Elsewhere in northern Berks, Maidencreek Township holds its hearing Nov. 12, Richmond Township listed a draft for review on its Oct. 12 agenda, and Greenwich Township voted Sept. 8 to advertise its draft for a hearing.

The 2027 budget goes on display, with no numbers yet

The board will vote "to authorize the township secretary to advertise that the proposed budget for fiscal year 2027 is available for public inspection in the municipal building." Under Section 3202 of the Second Class Township Code, the board must advertise once in a newspaper that the proposed budget can be inspected, leave it on display for 20 days, then adopt a final budget by Dec. 31. The agenda gives no budget total, no tax rate and no adoption date. The office is open Monday through Wednesday from 10 a.m. to noon and will be closed Nov. 4 and Nov. 17.

Liens for unpaid sewer bills on six properties

The board will vote "to authorize Atty. Magovern to file liens / update liens for the unpaid sewer charges" on six properties, as the agenda lists them: 14 Augusta Lane, 59 Augusta Lane, 3448 Pricetown Road, 3706 Pricetown Road, 3711 Pricetown Road and 3735 Pricetown Road. A lien is a legal claim recorded against a property for an unpaid debt. The agenda does not say how much is owed; the township's sewer use charge has been $60 per EDU, or equivalent dwelling unit, since Jan. 1, 2025, per its news page, which does not say how often that is billed.

Also on the agenda

• Resolution 2026-11 would appoint Julie Mull, the township secretary and treasurer per the Boards & Commissions page, as Open Records Officer and adopt "an updated open records policy." The Right-to-Know Law requires every agency to name an officer who receives and answers records requests. The township's Right to Know page currently reads, in full, "This information is coming." Our records-request guide explains the process.
• A well isolation waiver at 462 Memorial Highway. State rules keep a septic system's absorption area 100 feet from a private well (25 Pa. Code § 73.13); the local agency may waive that on the same lot if it finds no pollution threat (§ 72.33). LTL Consultants, the township's sewage enforcement officer, "reviewed the request and supports" it.
• A $3.14 refund to the taxpayer at 444 Orchard Road, whose assessment was reduced "per the July 2026 final report."
• Resolution 2026-12 for BW Training Stables, "for plan revision for new land development." The agenda marks it "need motion" and leaves the resolution text blank.
• A 90-day time extension for the Emerick Annexation Subdivision, which tonight's agenda says the Planning Commission recommended at its Oct. 8 meeting, requested by agent John W. Hoffert "to address concerns from the municipal / engineer review letter." Under the Municipalities Planning Code, a plan not decided within 90 days is deemed approved unless the applicant agrees in writing to more time.
• The supervisors' Oct. 6 road inspection, and minutes of the Sept. 23 regular meeting, the Oct. 14 budget workshop and the Oct. 27 workshop.

Not on tonight's agenda: a Berks County Department of Emergency Services "radio management / financing supported end user agencies" agreement, which the Oct. 27 workshop agenda listed under bills, along with 2027 meeting dates and a memorial re-dedication ceremony the workshop agenda lists for Nov. 21. The agenda's announcements note that polls are open Nov. 3 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

How to attend, and what comes next

Ruscombmanor Township Municipal Building, 204 Oak Lane, Fleetwood, PA 19522; (610) 944-7242, ext. 1, per the meetings page. The supervisors are Brian Hart, Don Miller and David Bleiler II, per the Boards & Commissions page.

The Planning Commission meets Thursday, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m., with the Emerick plan on its agenda. The next regular supervisors meeting is Wednesday, Nov. 25, at 7 p.m.; if tonight's motion passes, that meeting includes the data center hearing and enactment vote. See also the township and borough meeting schedule and how Berks County government works.