Myerstown advances rental ordinance changes

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Myerstown Borough Council directed solicitor Amy Leonard to draft an amendment to the residential license ordinance, with councilman Gregg Kemp opposed and all other present council members in favor, at its monthly meeting June 9.

Council president Daniel Ebling said the goal of revisions is to simplify requirements and reduce impact on landlords through changes including the elimination of a mandatory systematic inspection and associated $75 per unit annual inspection fee. The revised application, councilman Mark Kirsch said, would be shorter and no longer require a site plan.

The current Residential Rental Licensing ordinance took effect Jan. 1, 2025, explained borough manager Michael McKenna in an email. It requires that all rental units be inspected at least once every three years to meet fire safety, electrical, plumbing, exterior, and other requirements, and it establishes a $75 annual fee per unit (covering inspection costs), a $50 fee for follow-up inspections, appeal fees, and fines for noncompliance.

“The purpose of the proposed change, as discussed by Council, is to maintain an accurate registry of residential rental units and reliable owner contact information for emergencies and required notices, while reducing the administrative burden of a systematic inspection program,” McKenna wrote. “The Borough would still retain enforcement tools for code violations identified through complaint-based response.”

According to an FAQ posted to the borough’s website (PDF), the current ordinance was initially established to prevent an increasing amount of rental properties (500-600 estimated by the census at the time) in the borough from offering “housing that is unsafe, unsanitary, and in many instances, not maintained to the minimum standards required by the various applicable codes in effect in the borough.”

“This program aims to set and enforce minimum standards for the maintenance of residential rental properties in an attempt to promote public health, safety, and welfare,” the FAQ says.

In 2025, 430 rental licenses were issued and around 250 units were inspected, McKenna said, with 366 licenses issued and 60 units inspected through May 2026.

Changes to the ordinance, he said, would include a re-evaluation of the annual fee (amount to be determined), elimination of systematic inspections, inspections set only to occur in response to a complaint or request, and revisions to the penalty section.

“It would continue to collect information needed to maintain an accurate rental registry and reliable contact information, including owner contact information, local agent information where required, the number and type of rental units, bedroom and bathroom counts, tenant counts, and the licensed refuse and recycling hauler serving the property,” said McKenna. “Two items remain under discussion: whether to retain the current insurance documentation requirement, and how to structure applications for owners of multiple properties.”

Council has requested these changes in part based on feedback received at workshop meetings the fourth Wednesday of each month. At council’s April 22 workshop, according to minutes (PDF), three rental property owners expressed support for modifications to the ordinance and one resident voiced concerns whether tenants would be protected under a changed ordinance.

Council now awaits a draft of the amendment from Leonard, at which point it may decide to advertise it for adoption. Prior to a vote for adoption, council will hold a public hearing.

In other news, council:

• Unanimously agreed to authorize the borough engineer to advertise and receive bids for a sewer main interceptor lining project, with 85% of the project to be paid for with a $352,256 PA Small Water and Sewer grant and the rest to be paid with borough funds.
• Unanimously authorized the borough engineer to solicit bids for the Walnut Alley drainage improvements project.
• Unanimously accepted a $2,720 proposal from Rick Bouchette Computer Consultants for the purchase and installation of live-streaming equipment. The equipment, McKenna said, will be installed and put to use as soon as possible, with council meetings possibly being livestreamed to YouTube.
• Discussed a letter from resident Mike Davis, who was concerned that a letter he had sent nominating a neighbor for the recent council vacancy had not been mentioned at the meeting (at which Kemp was appointed with no other letters of interest submitted). However, borough policy requires residents to submit their own names in a letter of interest and does not allow residents to nominate others for vacant council seats.
• Unanimously authorized the wastewater treatment facility to participate in a voluntary Pennsylvania Department of Health wastewater monitoring program.
• Unanimously approved the use of the front lawn of the community center by Forte Piano Music Studio for a performance Sept. 25.
• Unanimously authorized the placement of the ELCO Bookmobile at the pool July 29.
• Unanimously authorized a renewal agreement for community center use by SMRTGUYS LLC.
• Heard that Ebling was submitting a $400 check to the borough on behalf of the Elmer C. Ebling Memorial Charity for utilities and borough labor associated with the carnival.
• Unanimously approved an on-street handicapped parking space application for 711 S. Railroad St.
• Heard updates and unanimously approved minutes and the payment of bills.

Myerstown Borough Council holds its voting session the second Tuesday of each month and a work session the fourth Wednesday of each month. These meetings are open to the public and do not require prior registration.