Martinsburg Borough Council Minutes
Meeting Overview
The regular meeting of the Martinsburg Borough Council was held on Monday, July 7, 2025, at the municipal building. The session began at 7:00 p. m. with a prayer by Richard Brantner, Jr. , and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Elected Officials Present:
- Mayor Richard A. Brantner
- President P. Robert Dickson
- Vice-President Edward L. Bennett
- Pro-Tem Charles E. Kensinger
- Councilman James C. Dell
- Councilman Mark K. Gartland
- Neil E. Gartland
- Councilman Darin B. Meck
Other Attendees: Borough Manager Richard Brantner, Jr. , Secretary/Treasurer Jane Staily, Chief Justin Davis, Attorney Nathan Karn, Amy Hockenberry, Dustin Russell, and Cati Keith (Morrisons Cove Herald).
Administrative Actions
- Minutes Approval: The minutes for the regular meeting of June 2, 2025, and the special meeting of June 27, 2025, were both approved unanimously on a motion by Charles Kensinger, seconded by James Dell.
- Financial Reports: Secretary/Treasurer Jane Staily presented the Financial and Treasurer’s Reports for June 2025.
- List of Bills: A motion by James Dell, seconded by Neil Gartland, approved the List of Bills for June 2025 (check nos. 11774-11810). The total amount was $169,425. 34, which included transfers to the Reserve Fund totaling $85,000. The motion passed unanimously.
Departmental Reports
Police Report
Chief Justin Davis reported that the department handled 110 complaints totaling 315 man-hours in June 2025. He noted an increase in domestic incidents, including three handled in a single day the previous week.
- Acknowledgments: Chief Davis thanked the borough crew, specifically Todd Bookhammer, for installing 150 sign posts for the parade. He also thanked the personnel committee and council for their work in hiring Troy Jarrett.
- Community Note: The family of the late Janet Blattenberger expressed gratitude to Councilman Neil Gartland for Officer Justin Davis’s compassionate support as a neighbor.
Borough Manager Report
Borough Manager Rich Brantner provided the following updates regarding maintenance and operations:
- Water Leaks: The borough is currently experiencing a water leak, resulting in higher-than-usual pumping. This is attributed to recent construction work hitting and breaking water lines. However, daily gallonage is beginning to decrease.
- Maintenance Log:
- June 4: Addressed a water leak on the 6-inch main line behind Long’s Outpost.
- June 11: Ran the street sweeper.
- June 17: Dusty attended a class; approximately 2. 5 inches of rain fell in a two-hour period.
- June 23: Addressed a water leak on a service line at 209 S. Market Street.
- June 30: Addressed a water leak on a service line at 405 E. Julian Street.
- July 1: Sprayed weeds along the curbs.
- July 7: Swept streets in preparation for the parade scheduled for the following day.
- Weed Control: Mayor Brantner commended the crew for spraying weeds. Manager Brantner thanked the Gartlands for allowing the borough to spray under their license.
New Business & Resolutions
- Delinquent Tax Collection: Following a recommendation from the Spring Cove School District, the Borough entered an agreement with Keystone Collections Group to collect delinquent Per Capita Tax.
- Resolution 2025-0707-01: The Council adopted a resolution establishing reasonable costs of collection and imposing these costs on delinquent taxpayers. This motion was made by Charles Kensinger, seconded by James Dell, and passed unanimously.
Other Information
- Firemen’s OX ROAST: Manager Brantner reported the sale was a success, with over 4,000 sandwiches sold.
- Infrastructure Updates: An informational sheet from engineering firm Lennon, Smith, Souleret Engineering, Inc. was included in the agenda packet regarding future projects:
- PFAS treatment system
- New water tank
- Water transmission line to the nitrate plant (to be erected over the next few years)
The meeting adjourned at 7:22 p. m. on a motion by Neil Gartland, seconded by James Dell.
Respectfully submitted, M. Jane Staily Borough Secretary