Bath Borough Council was expected to vote on the 2024 budget at the Dec. 18 meeting. A tax hike is included in the budget draft with a portion of the tax hike blamed on MS4 costs to update the stormwater sewer system.

MS4 (the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System) is the national mandate from the Clean Water Act that flows from the federal government to the states down to local municipalities. Its regulations are required and can be costly.

At the Dec. 4 Bath Borough Council meeting, Councilman Emanuel Mirabito, chair of the MS4 committee, reported grant funding assistance from the state to manage the MS4 costs will be difficult to achieve. Mirabito noted the grants in Pennsylvania are very competitive.

Even if successful in receiving grant awards, Mirabito said it will not cover all of Bath’s MS4 costs. Costs have been estimated as being as high as $500,000. Mirabito added the borough may have to borrow funds for the MS4 project.

Mirabito said the borough may have to seek low-interest loans from the Pennsylvania PennVest program, which may be a minimum loan of $200,000. PennVest was founded March 1, 1988, and serves the communities and citizens of Pennsylvania by funding sewer, stormwater and drinking water projects through low-interest loans and some grants.

The Bath MS4 committee is tasked with examining avenues for funding MS4 and keeping track of progress made in the effort to remain in compliance with the MS4 regulations.

In other business, council members who will be departing borough council at the close of this year are Barry Fenstermaker and Phyllis Andrews. Fenstermaker has 16 years experience on council, and Andrews’ service spans eight years.

Fenstermaker said it was a privilege to serve 16 years on council. He noted he always wanted to see increased attendance at council meetings so residents really know what is going on.

He added wryly after he is gone from council, “I can squawk (at council) and sit out there (in the audience) at the meetings.”

Andrews said it was a privilege to serve eight years, and she looks forward to serving the community on other volunteer committees. Both plan to assist the community wherever they can.

Council members, Mayor Fiorella Reginelli-Mirabito and others gave Fenstermaker and Andrews a standing ovation for their service on council and best wishes for their future. A cake-cutting celebration was held after the meeting in their honor.

Bath Republican Club presented council with a $1,500 check for the development of a wild flower garden along the creek by the club’s social building at 146 N. Chestnut St. This donation prompted Reginelli-Mirabito to say Bath Republican Club has given much to Bath.

“I incredibly, humbly extend my thanks,” she said.

Bath council’s community and economic development committee requested residents consider patronizing borough businesses throughout the holiday season to purchase holiday gifts.

Fenstermaker said the parks and recreation comprehensive plan is completed. The committee looks forward to using the plan as a guide for parks during 2024 and beyond.

In her environmental steering committee report, Andrews said the recycling options survey is in progress. She noted a combination tire pickup, shredding and electronic recycling event might occur on the same day to be determined in 2024. More information on the recycling event is forthcoming.

Reginelli-Mirabito thanked all who attended and participated in the recent holiday tree-lighting ceremony. She also said she plans to met the new leader of Pennsylvania State Police-Troop M as soon as possible. Troop M provides police services to Bath.

Council President Michele Ehrgott distributed numerous thanks to council and all of the borough staff for their collective hard work throughout 2023 and wished all a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

The next Bath Borough Council meeting is planned for 6 p.m. Jan. 2, 2024, at borough hall, 121 S. Walnut St., for its reorganization meeting. It is a hybrid meeting, with both in-person and virtual options. Visit bathbrough.org for the call-in numbers to view virtually.