Bally Borough Council continued its search for an alternative water source. On Tuesday, the members voted to approve the signing of a termination of a land purchase from Kenneth Ehst. They also approved a land access agreement with James Longacre.

            Municipal officials are seeking an alternate well, according to Solicitor Richard T. Curley. He said after the meeting that the borough and the state government are working together. Bally supplies water to its residents as well as some others in Washington Township.

            According to council President Glenn Mutter, the borough abandoned its plan to purchase the Ehst property in the north end of the municipality because it could not meet the required flow level of between 200 and 300 gallons per minute.

            Municipal officials are just beginning to investigate the Longacre property, located off Route 100 in the southern end of the borough. Discussions with the property owner are in the early stages, according to Curley.

            A business in the borough may be forced to close. Manager Wendy Mutter told council that a storage unit facility, located between Front Street and Old Route 100, received a notice of violation from the municipality's zoning officer.
            Mutter did not discuss the nature of the violations or when the notice was issued.  She said the business, which will have time to address certain issues, also received a cease and desist letter.
            The members agreed to sell a 2007 Ford F-550 truck, a tailgate salt spreader, a snow blower and a gas-powered tamper. President Glenn Mutter expects the truck to retrieve between $20,000 and $25,000.
            "It has relatively low mileage, and it's not beat up," he said.
            Council voted to spend $7,900 to contract with a Pittsburgh law firm to renegotiate its Comcast Cable Franchise Agreement and join the Berks County Cable Consortium. According to Wendy Mutter, that cost would be reduced if additional communities join the group.
            The manager told the members that allowing Cohen Law Group – which specializes in representing public and private sector clients in cable, telecommunications, and broadband matters – to negotiate on the borough's behalf would increase its odds for a favorable agreement. Its current franchise agreement runs out at the end of 2027. The municipality receives approximately $19, cable franchise fees, according to Wendy Mutter.
            "Everyone gets better leverage when you go together as a group," she said. "We're waiting for other communities to join."

            Member Joshua Sloan announced that the Bally Area Recreational Development Society will soon advertise to hire employees at the Bally Community Pool. He said the goal is to hire lifeguards and snack shack employees.
            Council agreed to schedule the community yard sale for May 17-19 in the municipal parking lot. Sloan said he would like to hold some kind of fundraiser for BARDS during the event.
            Residents could be able to purchase the borough's current road signs during the event. Glenn Mutter suggested that they be offered for sale after they are removed and replaced.
            The members agreed to spend $2,512 to purchase 62 new road signs.

            Some missing signs sparked the issue, according to Nathan Heffner, the borough's public works superintendent. He told council that some of the signs the municipality is currently holding are faded.
            The members were given the option of spending $1,147 to purchase 31 signs. However Vice President Michael Moll expressed a preference for uniform signage.

            Member Matthew Gehman did not attend the meeting. Council held an executive session immediately following the public meeting to discuss an issue of personnel.