Windsor Township Weighs Fire Dispatch Change, Park Fees

Which fire company is sent first when a Windsor Township resident calls 911 for a fire could change tonight. The Board of Supervisors meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, at the township municipal building, 110 Haas Rd., Hamburg, the location the township's 2026 meeting notice gives for all of its meetings, with an agenda that also includes higher rental rates at Edenburg Park, two resignations, and the first formal steps toward the 2027 budget.

Fire response order

Under its fire and EMS report, the board lists a request from Union Fire Co. No. 1 of Hamburg to "authorize by motion that Windsor Township will change the emergency services run cards to have Union Fire Co #1 as the first response to all fire calls covering the entire township." Run cards are the lists dispatchers use to decide which fire company is sent first to a given address.

The request sits beneath a standing line, "Hamburg Fire – Virginville Fire," that has appeared under the fire report on every regular agenda since at least July 14, including the Sept. 8 agenda, per the township's agendas page. None of the agendas says which company is sent first today or to which parts of the township. If the board grants the request, Union Fire Co. No. 1 would become first response everywhere in the township, including any area where another company is now dispatched first; the agenda does not say why the change is being sought, and no position from Virginville is listed. The request asks the board to act "by motion." The Aug. 11 minutes record a "Discussion on contributions and budgeting" under the fire report, and the agenda for a 7 a.m. special meeting on Sept. 26 listed "Emergency Services funding and coverage" next to "Budget 2027." No minutes of either September meeting have been posted on the township's minutes page, so what was discussed is not public yet.

Park rental rates

The board is set to vote on Resolution No. 2026-11, "increasing the rental rates at Edenburg Park." The agenda gives no current or proposed figures, so residents who rent the park for events will have to ask for the new rates. A separate motion would close the township's PLGIT park account and move its balance into the general fund. The agenda does not list the balance.

The Sept. 26 special meeting agenda also listed an "Edenburg Park Stage Building" item without detail.

Two resignations

Under new business, the board will consider a motion to accept a "Resignation email" from Ben Sonon. The agenda does not state his position or a reason. The Aug. 11 minutes identify Ben Sonon as the township roadmaster, and on Oct. 2 the township posted a "Hiring Part-time Roadmaster" notice on its website, updated Oct. 4, with pay "based on experience." The August minutes also note that the roadmaster "could use three (3) additional part-time drivers" for snow removal this winter.

A second motion would accept a resignation letter from Michael and Laura Palahnuk. The agenda does not say what they are resigning from.

The agenda announces that the board held a closed-door executive session on Sept. 29 from 6 to 8:10 p.m. "to discuss personnel matters."

2027 budget

The financial report asks the board to authorize advertising the 2027 budget 20 days before adoption, and notes that it must be adopted by Dec. 31, 2026. No draft budget or figures have been posted. The board also plans to set a date for a 2026 year-end close-out meeting and authorize advertising it.

The Sept. 26 special meeting agenda listed "Budget 2027" along with a vote to apply for an LSA grant for an F-550 pickup truck with bed, quoted by approved COSTARS vendors at $132,500, and Resolution No. 2026-10 to go with that application. With no minutes posted, it is not yet public whether the board approved the application.

Snowplowing with Greenwich

Resolution No. 2026-12 would approve a winter maintenance agreement with Greenwich Township. Greenwich's side of the deal appeared on its Oct. 5 agenda as an intergovernmental agreement with Windsor "for salting and plowing of Hein, Yeager, and Hill Top Roads." Neither agenda says which township's crews will do the work or what it costs. The board also plans to cancel its BMO credit card account.

Also on the agenda

• Orin Moyer is asking for a waiver of the land development process to build a cattle barn, a request first listed on the Sept. 8 agenda.
• Approval of minutes from the Sept. 8 regular meeting and the Sept. 26 special meeting.

In August the board enacted a data-center zoning ordinance, which we previewed in August. For how township decisions fit with county government, see our guide to how Berks County government works.

How to comment

The agenda lists two public comment periods, one near the start and one near the end of the meeting. The township office is at 110 Haas Rd., Hamburg, PA 19526, and can be reached at 610-562-3769, according to the township website. We will report what the board decides once minutes or a recording are posted.

Corrections: corrections@berksbeat.com.