Mount Gretna Borough approves labor time study, short term rental renewals

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Mount Gretna Borough Council approved a new labor time study at its Jan. 12 meeting.

Council president Deborah Simpson explained the study is a time tracking effort that will begin in January and continue for the duration of the 2026 cycle. 

Staff will keep detailed records of times for projects, said director of public works Bill Care, in order for results to be assessed when next year’s budget is being determined.

Based on discussions from last year, solicitor Keith Kilgore prepared a draft resolution regarding a form for applications for handicapped parking spaces. Members plan to further assess the resolution and return to it next month.

Kilgore made a motion that was confirmed to reappoint Mount Gretna Authority board member Mike Sherman for a five-year term. 

Cornwall Borough Police Chief Brett Hopkins shared the December police report, which recorded 75 incidents for 2025, with five in December. Beginning in mid-January, Cornwall police will be equipped with body cameras. They also added a new track citation system so citations can be printed in their vehicles. “It will allow us to streamline the citations and make it quicker for the stops,” Hopkins said.

Police also plan to add education sessions in an effort to remediate the uptick in area residents being affected by scams online and by phone in 2025, with losses in the $300,000 to $400,000 range.

In other business, council unanimously approved three short-term rentals in the borough – 7 Muhlenberg Ave., 418 Yale Ave., and 216 Pennsylvania Ave., which are all renewals. The borough has a cap of 18 short-term rentals, with these renewals bringing the total to 15.

Members also approved a clarification to the 2026 budget. Originally the millage had been computed based on values given on Sept. 9 from the Lebanon County Board of Assessment. However, an overlooked Nov. 13 followup showed a reduction of approximately $3,100 in real estate income. To adjust the budget, that decrease was reflected in the road repairs and storm sewers total.

Care noted the borough is currently under a drought watch currently affecting 39 counties in the commonwealth.

Mount Gretna Borough Council will meet again at 6 p.m. on Feb. 9 in the firehall on Boulevard Avenue.