Lisa Peel Named First Manager of Roaring Spring Borough

For 24 years, Lisa Peel has served Roaring Spring Borough, starting her career in 1994 as a part-time administrative assistant in the borough office before moving into the role of borough secretary.

After more than two decades of handling the duties of the borough and its municipal authority, Peel has been promoted to a new position.

Effective Jan. 1, Peel assumed the newly created title of borough manager.

Peel becomes the first borough manager in Roaring Spring's 131-year history, since its incorporation in 1888.

Council member Sue Ann Feather said creating the position of borough manager was a "huge step" that was needed and said Peel was the obvious choice for the position.

"I want to publicly extend my congratulations to Lisa," she said. "Lisa does a fantastic job. This should make life a lot easier at the borough for everybody."

Feather also noted the significance of naming a female to the position.

"I do want to point out that it's the first borough manager of Roaring Spring, and it's a female," she said.

Council said having a borough manager will allow the borough to run more efficiently, with the borough manager handling day-to-day operations of the borough business and being able to make decisions on its behalf without having to go through channels, effectively streamlining the chain of command in order to address issues in a more timely manner.

Peel said she is honored and excited to be named the first manager of Roaring Spring and is humbled by council's faith in her.

"It's overwhelming," she said. "It makes me very happy and shows that the last 24 years have been very productive."

Peel said that throughout the years, she and council have always worked as a team to do the best they can for borough residents, and credits them for the cohesiveness that exists in the borough.

"Council comes into every meeting with the goal of doing what's best for the borough," she said. "There are no egos and that makes my job easier."

Peel also gives credit to the staff at the borough office, saying that they all work well together.

"We take a lot of pride in our work and every day we are trying to improve the borough," she said.

Council Action

At its regular meeting on Monday, Feb. 11, council was informed that there have been complaints about sidewalks not being shoveled after a snow fall.

It was brought up that sidewalks at some of the bus stops have not been cleared of snow and ice, forcing kids to stand out on the street while waiting for their bus, putting them in potential danger.

Although statistics for the entire year are not yet available, last year there were six accidents in a three-day span at bus stops across the country, injuring six students and killing four.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, from 2006 to 2015, 102 school-aged pedestrians were killed in school transportation accidents, with 36 percent of those being hit by cars at bus stops.

With these dangers in mind, council reminds residents that there is an ordinance that requires all sidewalks be cleared of ice and snow within 24 hours of a snow event. Council member Kevin Snowberger said residents and businesses that are located at school bus stops need to be more diligent about clearing the walks.

"As a matter of safety, clearing the snow from the walks where kids wait for the bus is critical," he said.

In other action:

Council gave approval for the Roaring Spring Police Department to participate in the "Buckle Up" program. Coordinated through the Highway Safety Network, borough police will do checks to make sure people are wearing their seatbelts and checking to see if child safety seats are installed properly.

Council gave its approval to the Friendship Volunteer Fire Company to proceed with its application to host the 2023 Central District Volunteer Firemen's convention.

Council said that although it gave their approval to submit the application, they said the make-up of council will likely be different by the time the convention rolls around and that future councils will have to give its approval for any permits or licenses they may need at the time.

The Roaring Spring Mennonite Church sent a letter to council informing them of its intention to remedy the situation of the retaining wall in front of the church, which collapsed on Dec. 15. The church said that work will begin as soon as weather permits.

Council appointed Elmer "Dean" Berkheimer, of Roaring Spring, to a seat on the Roaring Spring Municipal Authority. Berkheimer takes over for Terry Glunt, who retired at the end of last year.

The snow storm of Jan. 25 and 26 forced the borough to declare a state of emergency and for the most part things went smoothly.

Council members Dennis Igou and Rodney Green commended the residents of the borough for their cooperation in helping the borough implement and carry out the clean-up efforts during the snow emergency. They said the maintenance department was able to get borough roads cleared through a cooperative effort with borough residents.

The next meeting of the Roaring Spring Borough Council is scheduled for Monday, March 11. at the 6 p.m. at the borough building.