Northumberland Borough to apply for strategic management program

NORTHUMBERLAND — Northumberland Borough Council at Tuesday night’s meeting approved a resolution to apply for a strategic management planning program.

Administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, STMP provides matching grant funds to local governments experiencing fiscal difficulties to develop comprehensive multi-year financial plans and long-term fiscal goals. The program helps municipalities build sound financial management strategies, achieve fiscal strength, and ultimately avoid financial distress.

“Regarding the STMP itself, the resolution is to simply apply for the program,” borough interim manager Lucas Martsolf said. “I have had an early discussion with DCED officials who encouraged the borough to apply to the program. Typically, it is a 50/50 grant, but DCED said they may decide to fund it fully. That decision will be made later.”

This was the first full voting council meeting attended by Martsolf, who replaced the former borough manager/secretary Ann Zartman last month. Zartman left office due to health issues.

The borough council then discussed work at the WellSpan EMS building at 135 Water St. The renovation plan is to take two bathrooms and convert them to bedrooms, and add two emergency doors on the outside. The total cost for the work will be $9,850, Councilman Frank Wetzel said.

Council President Paul Ruane noted that the borough has not received any payments from WellSpan EMS for use of the building. Wetzel noted that Zartman had told WellSpan that no rent money had to be paid until the final work was done and approved by WellSpan.

“We have a contract with WellSpan for leasing of the building, but it was never signed,” Wetzel said.

“It doesn’t make sense to me that WellSpan can operate their business in the borough and not pay a rental fee,” Martsolf said. “We wouldn’t treat any other business this way.”

No action was taken on this subject. “It wasn’t that they haven’t paid for using the building,” Wetzel said. “They were told they didn’t have to pay until the renovation was completed to their satisfaction.”

Work on the 2026 budget continues, and there will be finance committee meetings at 6 p.m. on Monday and Oct. 27 at the borough building, said Councilman Timothy Botts.

Halloween trick-or-treating in the borough is 6 to 8 p.m., Oct. 31. The Halloween parade will be held on Oct. 29.

After a brief executive session, the council said, Todd Snyder, a member of the borough’s street crew, has resigned after 29 years working for the borough.