East Petersburg Borough Council to consider registry to help inform EMS
When: East Petersburg Borough Council meeting, Nov. 6.
What happened: Council will vote at its next meeting to create a registry to help emergency responders safely evacuate residents who are bedridden, have mobility issues, require medical support equipment, are visually impaired or use a service animal.
Background: Violet DeStefano, borough emergency management coordinator, suggested the borough compile the list, called a Special Needs Registry. The information would be completely voluntary. East Lampeter, Mechanicsburg, and York County have their own special needs registries in place, DeStefano said.
More: The registry could also interface with the 911 dispatchers' system, so first responders would be better prepared, DeStefano said.
Quotable: "It is beneficial for mass evacuations and for people with limited transportation," Violet DeStefano said of the registry.
What's next: DeStefano said she would consult with the borough's solicitor to ensure the borough follows privacy laws. Debra Miller, council president, asked how people would learn about the program. DeStefano suggested a letter be included in resident water bills, as well as forms on the borough's website.
Budget: Council approved a motion to advertise the proposed 2025 budget. It is available for review at the borough office 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Details: The budget does not include a property tax hike, but it does include a water rate increase.
Property taxes: The borough's millage rate of 5.527 will remain the same. To calculate your property tax bill, multiply the millage rate by the number of thousands of the assessed value of your property. For a homeowner with a property assessed at $100,000, the annual tax bill would be $552.70.
Water rates: The water operating fund will need to show a 3% increase, Borough Manager Karen St. Clair said at the Oct. 24 meeting. Residents' water rates will increase by $2.32, making the cost $79.45 for the first 5,000 gallons and $7.10 more for every 1,000 gallons above that, St. Clair said by email.
By the numbers: The borough's general operating fund for 2025 is projected at $2.53 million, St. Clair said. Projected expenses are $2.48 million. Resident trash rates with Good's Disposal will remain the same at $73 per quarter.
