Jonestown Borough to advertise updated firearms ordinance, reviews 2026 budget

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Jonestown Borough Council voted to advertise an updated firearms ordinance at the Oct. 8 meeting that, if approved, would take some responsibility away from the mayor and increase the instances when residents can discharge weapons.

The current ordinance makes it unlawful for a person to discharge a firearm within borough limits unless they get a prior written permit that outlines the time and purpose. This does not apply to law enforcement officers.

Council member Jeffrey Schott said the ordinance hasn’t been updated in several years.

“The current, passed in 2008, version we had of a firearms discharge ordinance basically banned all discharge of firearms unless you get a permit from the mayor, which is highly dangerous because it leaves it discretionary to the mayor,” Schott said. “We worked on fixing that, and in the course of that, it occurred to me that in the words itself, there was no exemption for things you would typically use a firearm for.”

If adopted, the new ordinance will give additional allowed firearm uses — defense of person or property, burials or funerals, shooting ranges, and take the Right to Farm Act into account.

“I think we’re basically doing the bare minimum exceptions that are required of us,” council president Daniel Shuman said.

Council members expect to vote on the ordinance at the November meeting.

First reading of the 2026 budget

Council also approved the first reading of the 2026 budget, which doesn’t necessitate a tax increase but also might not include all expenses for the year.

Total estimated income is at $508,534, and total estimated expenses are at $505,405.

Council is also considering adding a borough manager. This would require an ordinance, according to solicitor Colleen Gallo, who recommended they make a decision at an upcoming meeting so they can advertise and approve an ordinance this year, with the position to start in 2026. The position’s salary would add to borough expenses.

Shuman said they have about $170,000 in additional money to cover a slight deficit if numbers change moving forward.

“We don’t have the votes for a tax increase,” Schott said after the budget review.

The borough will go through another reading of the budget before a vote to advertise. After it has been publicly advertised and available for public review, they can vote to adopt it before the end of 2025.

In other business, council:

• Voted to pay $395 to sponsor the Friends of Jonestown’s last movie night of the season.
• Increased the pavilion rental fee from $100 per day to $150 per day. Council member Amber White said the borough considered doing two different prices — a lower cost for borough residents and a higher one for nonresidents — but decided to find a consistent number in the middle to cut down on administrative work associated with confirming addresses. The increased fee will start on new rentals scheduled for 2026.
• Voted to donate $12,500 to Northern Lebanon Fire and Emergency Services.

Jonestown Borough Council will have a planning workshop on Oct. 27 at 6:30 p.m. and its next regular meeting on Nov. 5 at 6:30 p.m. All meetings will be at 295 S. Mill St.