Township of Mount Joy

The Township Manager's Activities Report for February 2026 detailed several key operational areas. Discussions were held with Penn Waste to establish a new process for reporting and following up on missed trash pickups. Road projects were reviewed, including scoping meetings for the 2026 Paving Projects. Meetings occurred with Commonwealth Code Inspection and the Fairview Municipal Complex Building Committee, focusing on planning efforts and the woody waste issue. Discussions covered recreational field tournament use with GEARS, an introductory meeting with the Health Insurance Company representative (Benecon), and a meeting with the IT vendor. Design elements and next steps for Phase 3 of Old Trolley Line Park were discussed with YSM Landscape Architects. The report also noted attendance at the January 29 Planning Commission Meeting, work on Pension provisions with PMRS, and the initiation of monthly staff meetings with the Road Crew. Furthermore, the Township presented at the Elizabethtown Chamber of Commerce Lunch & Learn meeting. The Codes Summary Report for January 2026 indicated inspections of 90 rental properties, handling complaints regarding property conditions, mud/stones on roadways, and snow removal failures, along with issuing letters for required rental licenses. The Zoning Officer Report detailed conditional approvals by the Planning Commission for multiple Minor Subdivision Plans (Ironwood Real Estate, LLC and Lancaster Farm Sanctuary) and a Preliminary Lot Add-On/Subdivision Plan for Westmount. A recommendation was passed to the Board of Supervisors to adopt proposed Zoning Ordinance amendments. The Zoning Hearing Board had a February 6 meeting cancelled, with upcoming cases scheduled for March 4 concerning special expansion requests and variances for a residential subdivision. Permit issuance data for January 2026 showed various permits issued, including Use & Occupancy, Stormwater, Road Occupancy, and Zoning Permits (SFD, Pole Building, Remodel, etc.). The Northwest Regional Lancaster County Police Commission meeting on December 23, 2025, included approving the Consent Calendar (minutes and treasurer's report), presenting a certificate of promotion to Detective, and conducting the swearing-in ceremony for the new Police Chief. The EAWA Work Session Meeting Minutes from January 7, 2026, covered approving the 2026 Reorganization of Board Officers, receiving reports (Manager noted need for HVAC system decision by February, Operations noted two main breaks), and adopting resolutions authorizing officers to execute documents, approving compensation changes, and adjusting rates and fees. The EAWA Board Meeting Minutes from January 12, 2026, included approving submission of a PENNVEST Payment Request, directing staff to investigate transferring the pension plan, and approving a proposal from Hydrocorp to prepare a Cross Connection Control (CCC) plan. Financial reports for December were accepted, and bills totaling $123,087.63 were authorized for payment. The Elizabethtown Regional Sewer Authority (ERSA) meeting on December 9, 2025, approved 2026 Board Meeting Dates, authorized financial security reductions for Campus Rd Subdivision Phase 1B and Meridian Heights Subdivision, approved a proposal for the Sheaffer Road Sanitary Sewer Relocation Project, adopted an amended resolution increasing the minimum commercial user fee, and approved the 2026 Budget. The Municipal Emergency Services Authority of Lancaster County (MESA) meeting on December 17, 2025, approved consent calendar items, reported on staffing orientation progress, discussed the new County Communications Center 'Call Box' designation, noted building renovations starting in January 2026, and the transition to the DIGITECH billing vendor. Old Business included an update on 2025 parcel billing collections and mailing of 2026 parcel bills, and New Business approved the Letter of Agreement for Architectural Services for the Norlanco Building. Finally, January 2026 incident reports were provided for MESA and the Rheems Fire Department, detailing call volumes by municipality and incident type.

The meeting commenced with the election of officers, resulting in the appointment of Gregory R. Hitz Sr. as Chairman, James E. Hershey as Vice Chairman, Robert F. Newton Jr. as Secretary, and Roni K. Clark as Alternate Member. Following the election, the Board addressed Zoning Case #260002, submitted by applicant Reem Al-Athary of Green Gate Auto, concerning property located at 467 Hershey Road in the Mixed Use District. The application involved requests for special exceptions related to vehicular sales/rental and service/repair establishments, and variances for operating without public water and sewer service for both uses. The applicant presented details regarding on-site parking, indoor repair bay setup, bottled water usage, and plans for handling used oil and junked vehicles. The application was approved, as amended by the testimony, subject to several conditions, including obtaining a Use & Occupancy Permit and adherence to all ordinance provisions for which relief was not sought or granted.

The documents compiled for Mount Joy Township cover several distinct board/authority meetings from late 2025, including reports from the Code Compliance Official regarding November inspections and enforcement notices for vehicle violations, property issues, and unpermitted fences. The Zoning Officer Report detailed upcoming Planning Commission agenda items for December 2025, including consideration of subdivision plans for residential, commercial, and agricultural properties, as well as petitions to amend the Zoning Ordinance and rezone a property. The Zoning Hearing Board held a meeting in September 2025, granting approvals subject to conditions for a solar array principal use application and an industrial use expansion, and approved a variance to increase home day care enrollment from six to ten children. The Northwest Regional Lancaster County Police Commission meeting focused on public concerns regarding speeding, adoption of the 2026 budget, introduction of new officers, and updates on equipment and training. The EAWA (Elizabethtown Regional Water Authority) board met twice in November 2025, addressing a request for leak relief denial, approval of an updated Personnel Policy Manual, water capacity for future developments, completion of infrastructure projects, decisions on Well 6/7 building types, submission of a PENNVEST application, review of October financial reports, and discussion of the 2026 O+M Budget and Capital Improvement Plan. The Elizabethtown Regional Sewer Authority (ERSA) meeting in October 2025 approved infrastructure upgrade proposals, a stormwater agreement, procurement of pump station equipment, a financial security reduction request, a rate study proposal, the 2025 Audit proposal, and refined the 2026 Draft Budget. The Municipal Emergency Services Authority (MESA) meeting in October 2025 accepted the 2024 Audit Report and noted progress on equipment installation, recruiting, policy updates, and FEMA grant utilization for PPE.

The meeting addressed two primary zoning cases. Case #250018 involved a request for a Special Exception and Variance regarding an echo housing unit at 2422 Cloverleaf Road, necessary to care for a family member with health issues. The Board granted approval subject to specific compliance conditions. Case #250019 concerned a request for a Variance for maximum impervious coverage related to the subdivision of a property at 1551 S. Market Street, which currently exceeds zoning limits. The Board accepted testimony from an expert land surveyor and granted approval for the subdivision plan contingent upon obtaining approval from the Mount Joy Township Planning Commission and adhering to all presented testimony and conditions.

The agenda for the meeting included standard items such as roll call and public comment. Key discussions under the Consent Calendar involved the ratification of the Treasurer's Report for January through November 2025, approval of bill payments totaling $105,709.88, and ratification of November 2025 payrolls amounting to $237,240.98. New Business focused on the promotion of Officer Brad Redinger to Detective, effective January 2nd, 2026, and the swearing-in of Sergeant Mike Bryant as Chief of Police, effective January 1, 2026. Advisements covered participation in a joint DUI Enforcement Detail in November 2025, an update on 2026 hiring, and the completion of specialized training by Officers Myers and Redinger. Correspondence included reports for November 2025 such as Calls for Service, Police Activity, Overtime, and Cruiser Mileage.