Summary of August 2026 Carlisle Borough Council Meeting | Thursday, August 13, 2026: New Trash Trucks, Cleaner Water, and a 275th Birthday
Have you ever wondered where your local tax dollars go or how the Borough keeps our town running smoothly day in and day out? From the clean water coming out of your kitchen tap to the trash trucks rolling down your alley, decisions made by local leaders shape daily life in Carlisle. On Thursday, August 13, 2026, at 6:00 PM, the Carlisle Borough Council met to review town finances, invest in essential services, debate grant rules, and listen to neighborhood concerns.
Meeting Highlights at a Glance
- New Trash Trucks: Approving a $1.3 million purchase of five collection vehicles and setting up internal financing to transition trash services in-house.
- PFAS Water Treatment: Authorizing a design contract to filter out PFAS chemicals from our drinking water supply.
- Second Quarter Finances: Tracking strong revenue growth from building permits and expanding utility support for local families.
- Non-Profit Grant Guidelines: Pausing proposed rule changes for community grant funding until September.
- Neighborhood Safety and Blight: Hearing resident feedback regarding Garrison Lane traffic, North Street parking, geese at Letort Park, and an unsafe South Street property.
- Back-to-School Safety: Reminding drivers to watch out for students walking and biking to school.
- Carlisle’s 275th Celebration: Unveiling plans for a September 11 memorial kickoff and sharing sister-city connections.
Rolling Out New Trash Trucks and In-House Waste Management
To prepare for bringing trash collection directly under borough management, Council approved spending $1,337,590 to buy five new rear-load garbage trucks from A&H Equipment, including three 27-yard trucks and two smaller 20-yard trucks for narrow roads. Startup costs will be funded through an internal loan from the capital projects fund to the Solid Waste Fund. Capital expenses will be repaid over five years at 5% interest, while operating expenses will be repaid over twenty years with an interest-free grace period for the first five years. Deputy Mayor Perry noted that bringing services in-house transforms the Solid Waste Fund into an active operating account rather than just a pass-through fund for outside contractors.
Filtering Out PFAS for Safe Drinking Water
Council approved an engineering design and permitting contract not to exceed $738,000 with GFT Inc. and Gannett Fleming to eliminate PFAS chemicals at the Carlisle Water Treatment Plant. The system will use Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) vessels because they provide reliable long-term filtration and handle backwashing efficiently. The project also includes installing high-service pumps to move water to the Basin Hill storage tanks, which will receive upgrades to improve disinfection. The target completion window runs between 2029 and 2031, and because of existing storage on Basin Hill, residents won’t experience any water service disruptions during construction.
Mid-Year Finances and Utility Support
Finance Director Jason Cohen presented the borough’s financial report through June 30, 2026, showing a positive budget outlook. While salary lines showed a 5% decrease, this was due to an accounting change in how health savings accounts are tracked rather than any loss of borough staff. Meanwhile, revenue from building, electrical, and plumbing permits surged by 127%, pointing to steady local development. The borough is also officially including its co-responder team in the utility shut-off process to connect struggling residents with financial assistance programs before their utilities are disconnected.
Pausing the Debate on Non-Profit Funding Rules
Council held a lively discussion on proposed updates to the borough’s annual $10,000 grant pool for outside non-profit organizations. Proposed changes included requiring groups to hold official 501(c)(3) status, show a one-year operating history, and observe a 24-month cooling-off period between grants. Councilor Melon pushed back against these requirements, stating that the extra barriers would “discourage those neighborhood groups that might want to do a project in their neighborhood”. To find a compromise that supports grassroots community projects without creating unnecessary hurdles, Council voted to table the policy until September.
Neighbors Voice Concerns on Traffic, Blight, and Parks
Public comments brought passionate feedback from residents on safety and maintenance around town. Heather Mitchell, president of the Park View Homeowners Association, shared a diagram of Garrison Lane to highlight narrow roads crowded with parked vehicles, warning that “there’s going to be an accident” and adding, “I have a lot of children in the neighborhood and I don’t want them to have to worry about it”. Betty S. of North Street reported an out-of-town plumbing truck parked on her street for a full week, noting, “I come down and bring other people’s problems down not mine,” which prompted borough management to dispatch a police check. Resident Maldo voiced frustration that Letort Park is “horrible” due to geese droppings and called attention to a dangerous property at 156 South Street with rotting wood and a tree on the roof where folks are “afraid to walk past”. Staff confirmed the South Street house is under active investigation and noted that a wildlife permit is being secured for professional geese control starting in 2027.
School Season Safety Reminders
Councilor Roose reminded residents that the new school year is starting and asked drivers to use extra caution when navigating neighborhoods. She encouraged everyone to keep a close eye out for students walking, riding scooters, and bicycling. Roose also expressed gratitude for local teachers and reflected on her own experience in the community, noting, “I received a Carlisle Area School District education and I know that I feel as though I received a great education that I was well prepared for college”.
Celebrating Carlisle’s 275th Milestone and Sister City Ties
Carlisle turns 275 years old this year, making our borough 25 years older than the nation itself! Official anniversary events kick off on September 11 at Carlisle Fire and Rescue with a memorial honoring first responders and victims of the September 11 attacks before launching into a weekend of celebration. The Mayor also shared an update on recent “international diplomacy” at the Market Cross Pub, where he spent five hours watching a World Cup match and discussing local government with a visiting council member from Carlisle, England, who wants to renew sister-city ties. Deputy Mayor Perry added that she had lunch with a visiting council member from Carlisle, Ohio, who was passing through town and “really wanted a hot dog”.
Moving Forward
The August meeting highlighted Carlisle’s focus on long-term investments, neighborhood safety, and community connections. From upgrading our drinking water and modernizing trash collection to supporting neighbors and honoring our history, the borough continues to move forward. If you want to help shape the future of our local parks, you can share your thoughts by completing the borough’s recreation survey at carlislepa.gov/parkssurvey.
