Martinsburg Borough Council Minutes

Meeting Overview

The regular meeting of the Martinsburg Borough Council was held on Monday, February 2, 2026, at the municipal building. The meeting began at 7:00 p. m. with a prayer by Richard Brantner, Jr. , and the Pledge of Allegiance.

Elected Officials Present:

• Mayor Richard Brantner
• President P. Robert Dickson
• Vice-President Darin B. Meck
• Pro-tem Neil E. Gartland
• Councilmen James C. Dell, Mark K. Gartland, and Charles E. Kensinger
• (Note: Ed Bennett was absent)

Other Attendees: Borough Manager Richard Brantner, Jr. , Secretary/Treasurer Jane Staily, Chief Justin Davis, Attorney Nathan Karn, and various residents and representatives from AMED and the Morristons Cove Herald were also present.

Financial Reports and Approvals

Secretary/Treasurer Jane Staily presented financial reports for two periods. The council approved the following bills via unanimous motion:

• December 21–31, 2025:

  • Check numbers 12026–12044.
  • Total amount: $19,847. 92.
  • Motion by Neil Gartland, seconded by Mark Gartland.

• January 1–20, 2026:

  • Check numbers 12045–12066.
  • Total amount: $63,139. 29.
  • This total includes a transfer of $35,000 to the Reserve Fund.
  • Motion by Charles Kensinger, seconded by James Dell.

Departmental Reports

AMED (Ambulance Service)

Gary Watters reported on the first month of operations. Key points included:

• Relocation: AMED transitioned into the firehall on January 1, 2026, pending repairs to their own building.
• Repairs: $23,753. 28 was spent on repairs to make the ambulance building habitable.
• Response Time: The average response time in the 16662 area was 6. 75 minutes.
• Volunteers: AMED is working with Saxton to train volunteers and address issues regarding canceled calls.

Police Department

Chief Justin Davis reported that the department handled 127 complaints in January 2026. Notable incidents included:

• Two assists to AMED for cardiac arrests with fast response times.
• An attempted homicide around 5:17 p. m. on a Monday, which resulted in a quick arrest and denial of bail for the suspect.

Borough Manager

Borough Manager Rich Brantner provided a summary of January activities:

• Jan 2: Christmas lights were taken down.
• Jan 15 & 20: Meetings regarding the municipal authority's 2026 budget.
• Jan 16: Meeting with the American 250 Committee.
• Weather Events: The borough received 4–5 inches of snow on Jan 21–22 and 12–14 inches on Jan 25. Crews worked nearly 24 hours to plow and haul snow from the town center.
• Jan 31 Incident: A water meter froze at the Family Dollar Store. Staff worked in frigid conditions to shut off the water, receiving commendation from management.

Municipal Authority

Neil Gartland reported on the January 20th meeting of the Martinsburg Municipal Authority. They adopted their 2026 budget with the following figures:

• Water: Revenues of $1,041,157 and Expenditures of $638,006.
• Sewer: Revenues of $597,321 and Expenditures of $576,110.
• Upcoming Projects: Elevated water storage tank, waterline replacement on Christiana Street, additional water treatment, and the Hershberger Well transmission line.

Council Actions and Motions

• Ambulance Building Painting: The council authorized payment of $4,700 to Brent Baker for painting the interior of the ambulance building. The cost exceeded the original $3,000 estimate due to unforeseen labor requirements for wall preparation and ceiling painting.
• New Hire: The council approved advertising for a Full-Time Laborer position. The starting wage is estimated at $15–$16 per hour plus benefits, with hiring expected in the spring.
• Executive Session: An executive session was scheduled following adjournment to discuss legal matters with Kevin Smith. Manager Brantner noted the insurance attorney cost is approximately $2,700.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:41 p. m. on a motion by James Dell, seconded by Mark Gartland.