Lansdowne meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Lansdowne Council to vote on 287(g) ban, streetscape contract

The Lansdowne Borough Council is scheduled to vote on an ordinance that would prohibit the borough from participating in federal 287(g) immigration agreements, along with a $75,400 contract for streetscape design and a $53,050 bid for paving, at its Aug. 19 meeting. The council also will authorize a public hearing on a gun shop zoning ordinance and change its regular meeting start time to 6 p.m. starting in September.

All recent meetings listed below were held on agendas only; minutes have not yet been published, so the details reflect what was scheduled for discussion or action.

Borough Council (Aug. 19)

The council will consider adopting Ordinance 2026-___ to prohibit the borough from participating in 287(g) agreements and related federal immigration enforcement programs. It also will vote on a $75,400 contract with Derck & Edson for Central Business District streetscape design and a $53,050 bid from AF Damon for Highland Avenue paving, contingent on county approval. The council will authorize advertising a public hearing on the Firearm Retail Establishment (Gun Shop) Zoning Ordinance, and will change its regular meeting time from 7 p.m. to 6 p.m., effective September 2026.

Council Committees (Aug. 11–12)

Finance, Administration Committee (Aug. 11): Reviewed preliminary 2026 budget figures, health insurance administration, ambulance service revenue from the COG, a grant monitoring system, and a resolution update on the non-uniformed pension plan. The tax collector's report was also on the agenda.

Health & Public Safety Committee (Aug. 11): Discussed a proposed zoning ordinance for firearm retail establishments, traffic calming requests for the 100 block of Powelton Avenue and the 200 block of Maple Avenue (received July 24), and the retroactive hiring of Officer Christopher Brolley full-time as of July 21, 2026, with a swearing-in ceremony on Aug. 19. The committee also reviewed an ambulance service cost analysis and an immigration policy ordinance scheduled for the council vote.

Infrastructure, Codes, and Public Works Committee (Aug. 12): Covered capital projects, stormwater inlet markers, EV charging stations at Veteran's Landing, alley trash pickup, and sanitary sewer issues (including wipes). No final votes were listed.

Environment, Parks, and Trees Committee (Aug. 12): Discussed updates on Veterans Landing play equipment, native plant signs, memorial bench donations, and the Wabash Road property. New business included a resolution for a “Lights out Lansdowne!” program, an application to Birdtown PA for a stormwater grant, and a review of 2026 goals.

Boards and Commissions (Aug. 12–20)

Shade Tree Commission (Aug. 12): Performed hands-on maintenance, weeding tree pits and pruning PHS-planted trees along Baltimore Pike. The next meeting is Sept. 9 at the 20th Century Club.

Parks and Recreation Board (Aug. 17): Planned a Hays Park cleanup for Sept. 5 (10 a.m.–12 p.m.), discussed play area equipment for Veterans' Landing, and scheduled a Movie Night for Oct. 16 at 8 p.m. Park bench donations and maintenance were also on the agenda.

Environmental Advisory Council (Aug. 20): Discussed a grant application for the South Lansdowne Stormwater Detention Basin, a bird migration lighting resolution (“Lights Out Lansdowne”), and upcoming volunteer events: Free the Trees (Aug. 26, 6–7:30 p.m.), Bird Day at the Farmers’ Market (Aug. 22), and maintenance of the Rap Curry Pollinator Garden (Aug. 28, 9 a.m.–noon).

Coming up

• **Aug. 27:** Historic Architectural Review Board will review a facade change at the Dunkin' Donuts at 23 E Baltimore Ave and a roof replacement for the St. Phil's school building, plus a community education discussion.

All meetings are open to the public. Check the borough's website for agendas and any changes.

Lansdowne boards set agendas for parks, library, and human relations — but no decisions confirmed yet

Lansdowne's advisory boards and commissions met the week of July 20, 2026, but residents should note: all three gatherings are listed as agenda-only, with minutes not yet published. That means the items below reflect what was scheduled for discussion or action — not confirmed outcomes. No votes, dollar amounts, or final decisions are available in the public record at this time.

Parks and Recreation Board — July 20

The Lansdowne Parks and Recreation Board was set to review old business, including a recap of the Pennock Woods cleanup and plans for a Belmont Park cleanup on August 1, 2026. The agenda also listed discussion of upcoming events such as a movie night and Mayor's Park Day, plus potential equipment and maintenance for Veterans' Landing. Additional items included park benches and maintenance topics and a list of upcoming committee meetings.

Because minutes have not been published, it is not yet known which items resulted in action and which remained discussion only.

Lansdowne Public Library Board — July 21

The library board agenda included a guest speaker, Lise Detwiler, scheduled to speak for 30 minutes on roles and responsibilities. The board planned to elect a new treasurer — identified on the agenda as Daniella — and to approve the June meeting minutes. A treasurer's report covering April and June bills was listed for 10 minutes, followed by governance updates and strategic-plan goal setting for 30 minutes. John Green was scheduled to deliver a council report for 10 minutes. Public comments on library issues were to follow the regular agenda items.

The election of a treasurer and approval of June minutes are listed as agenda items; without published minutes, the results of those actions cannot be confirmed.

Human Relation Commission — July 28

The Lansdowne Human Relation Commission was scheduled to meet to review past activities, including training updates and LGBTQ events, and to discuss turnover within the commission. The meeting summary describes it as procedural with limited concrete decisions. No specific agenda items were listed in the provided record.

Coming up

No meetings are listed in the provided record for the next 14 days (August 3–17, 2026). Residents who want to confirm outcomes from the July 20, 21, and 28 sessions should watch for published minutes from the Parks and Recreation Board, the Library Board, and the Human Relation Commission.

Lansdowne committees weigh budget, accessibility software, and park improvements in busy July slate

Lansdowne's borough committees and advisory boards held a packed schedule of meetings over the past two weeks, but residents should note that minutes have not yet been published for any of the sessions. What follows is drawn from the agendas only; no votes or final decisions can be confirmed from the available record.

Budget and finance discussion on the table

The Borough Council's July 14 committee meeting agenda included a review of the preliminary 2026 budget treasurer's report before it would go to the full council. Also listed: a monthly ambulance service revenue report with anticipated changes, a grant monitoring system update, consideration of a non-uniformed pension plan, and discussion of a proposed William Penn School District tax increase. No vote tallies or dollar amounts are available because minutes have not been published.

Website accessibility software proposed

The Tech Board's July 6 agenda listed a proposal to purchase three software tools — DocAccess, AudioEye, and Acquia Web Governance — to bring the borough's website into WCAG compliance. The board was also scheduled to review policy board camera features and costs, discuss navigation menu changes for the parking information page, and review a manifest of Borough Hall computers. Approval of May 4, 2026 meeting minutes was also on the agenda.

Economic development and streetscapes

The Economic Development and Technology Committee met July 7 to review the LEDC report and the Streetscape Plan. Agenda items included the TOPS Grant, Veterans Landing playground equipment and EV chargers, bench donations, variances for Callahan Ward properties for sale, and a property next to 130 W Essex.

Parks, trees, and environment

Several bodies focused on parks and green infrastructure:

• The Shade Tree Commission (July 8) listed a PHS Spring 2026 Tree Planting wrap-up, weeding tree pits along Baltimore Avenue, ivy removal at Marlyn Park, saplings at Belmont Park, and a meeting with Orsi Lazar PA.Gov regarding "Plant a Trillion Trees."
• The Environment, Parks, and Trees Committee (July 8) discussed Veterans Landing play equipment budget, memorial bench donations, native plant signage, a Wabash Road property update, and a review of 2026 goals.
• The Infrastructure, Codes, and Public Works Committee (July 8) listed a capital projects update, stormwater inlet markers, a proposal for EV charging stations at Veteran's Landing, code and problem-property review, and sanitation topics including alley trash pickup and sewer wipe issues.
• The Environmental Advisory Council (July 16) listed maintenance of the Rap Curry Pollinator Garden on July 25, recycling bin management for National Night Out on August 4, a public information sign for the South Lansdowne Stormwater Detention Basin, a water-quality activity for Park Day at Reservoir Park on September 26, and drafting of a Lights Out Resolution for Borough Council review.

Coming up

Two meetings are scheduled in the next two weeks:

• **July 20 — Parks and Recreation Board:** Agenda includes a Belmont Park cleanup planned for August 1, 2026, a proposed August movie night, Veterans' Landing play area equipment, and park bench and maintenance topics.
• **July 21 — Lansdowne Public Library Board:** Guest speaker Lise Detwiler will discuss roles and responsibilities. The board is scheduled to elect a new treasurer, Daniella, review the treasurer's report covering April and June bills, hold a strategic-plan goal-setting discussion, and hear a council report from John Green.

All recent meeting summaries above are based on agendas only; minutes have not been published. Residents seeking confirmed outcomes should watch for posted minutes on the borough's official channels.