Richland Borough receives council member’s resignation

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Richland Borough Council approved a motion to table councilman Mark Brubaker’s resignation letter at their Feb. 10 meeting.

Brubaker, who was absent, had been set to continue serving through 2029.

Council president Kelly Bricker read Brubaker’s formal letter of recognition to those present: “Dear Council, Please accept this letter as my formal resignation from my position as council member at Richland Borough. It was a great privilege to serve this community as well as sit beside you all during my term. I have had the opportunity to work with a team of dedicated individuals and contribute to the growth and success of our community. I look forward to seeing what this town will become in the coming years and I am proud to know I am leaving it a better place than it was before I was sworn in.”

Solicitor Andy George said once Brubaker’s resignation is officially accepted, council will have 30 days to appoint a replacement to serve the remainder of the term.

Council members also discussed the Lebanon County Tax Collection Committee delegation and approved a motion for the appointment of Thomas Houtz as the voting delegate and reappointment of Warren Weaver as the alternate voting delegate.

George said the TCC was set up in 2018 or 2019 so that each school district within a county has one representative appointed, along with an alternate. 

“Since the inception of this committee, there has only been one municipality that has appointed someone and that is Jackson Township,” said George. Since none of the other municipalities in ELCO – Richland, Myerstown, Millcreek, and Heidelberg – had submitted a name for the TCC delegation, it was suggested they put a rotational schedule into place with a delegate from each municipality rotating each year. 

Cornwall-Lebanon School District already operates in a rotational schedule among its municipalities for its TCC delegates. The TCC meets quarterly.

In other business:

• Council members approved a donation of $250 toward the America 250 Lebanon County parade planned for July 4 in Jonestown.
• Richland Borough was awarded a PA Small Water Grant for $200,000, which will they will use to extend the Millbach water main.

• Engineer James Kinney of HRG reported that the variable frequency drive arrived from Texas for the Well No. 9 project. Borough employees will receive training on the system, but the well cannot be utilized until DEP inspects it. The DEP inspection had to be rescheduled.
• A resident enquired during public comment about roadwork on Linden Street. Borough technician Ben Becker said the sewer company is installing a new force main. 

Richland Borough Council will meet again on Tuesday, March 10, at 7 p.m. in the conference room at the borough building at 5 Pine St., Richland.