Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Baldwin public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
24 issues with high priority
Tri-community fire services regionalization
Baldwin, Brentwood, and Whitehall are deep into a joint fire services study, with manager interviews underway and substantial findings expected by March or April.
Colwood Park improvements and LSA grant application
Officials floated a big wishlist for Colwood Park — amphitheater, U7 soccer fields, turf, parking, concession stand — estimated at $1.5–2 million. A county grant application for up to $1 million is planned for November, but the scope is still being worked out.
Volunteer fire department funding and stipend program
Baldwin EMS has only 22.14% subscription participation, and the fire company's call volume is heading toward 1,000 for the year. Council asked for a combined revenue-and-expense report before the mid-year budget review, noting borough contributions have grown from $173,000 in 2018 to $687,000 in 2026.
2027 budget deficit and EMS contribution
EMS business costs rose 13.4 percent from 2020 to 2025, but the service is financially stable with reserves. Council will study how to boost support for both EMS and fire service this year.
Rental property registration ordinance
Baldwin has no short-term rental or Airbnb rules, so the Planning Commission is rushing a draft ordinance modeled on Scott and Whitehall — targeting February adoption before April's NFL Draft brings rental demand.
Repeat vehicle break-ins and firearm theft on Penn Street
Resident George Hunt says a masked suspect has hit his Penn Street neighborhood four times since September, stealing a gun and cash from cars, and says police haven't followed up. The chief says the cases are active and will arrange a detective call.
2025 and 2026 Road and Storm Sewer Improvements
Six months into the new flow-based sewage billing baseline, Baldwin's share is running at 34 percent — good news for the 2027 budget. Streets Run Phase 2 lining is done and Missionary Drive storm sewer is half built.
Rescue from Penn Street-area house fire
Firefighters, police, and EMS rescued a woman trapped on the second floor of a burning Baldwin home on Monday. Officials credited the borough's fire stipend staffing program for the fast response.
Pool Water Line Repair
A four-inch water service line broke outside the pool bathhouse, forcing an early closure and winter drainage of the pool. Crews are locating the break and learning shutdown procedures for the first time.
Failed Emergency Generator at Municipal Building
The municipal building's backup generator no longer works — and it barely powered anything anyway. Without power, police can't process arrests because their computers run off the borough network. Officials applied for a grant through the state senator's office to replace it with a diesel unit that powers the whole building.
Winter Salt Supply Strategy
After a record snowy, cold winter (14 inches over normal), the borough is rationing road salt for the next six weeks due to a regional supply shortage. Crews earned broad praise for the storm response.
Tri-Community Fire Study
A firefighter questionnaire goes live March 2 for the tri-community fire services study, and the state flagged two compliance issues with the firefighters' relief association — mostly slow check deposits and an old restitution matter.
Rising fire call volume and annual fund drive
Baldwin Fire Rescue is on pace for over 1,000 calls this year versus roughly 750 in 2025, and its annual fund drive starts this month — volunteer resources are being stretched.
Brentwood Pool management and safety complaints
A resident detailed vaping near children, unsafe slide behavior, explicit language, cleanliness problems, and unanswered complaints at the borough pool. The borough will raise everything with the third-party pool management company at its year-end review, and the manager will personally follow up with her.
Salt storage building cost increase
Fifty years of salt exposure rotted walls engineers didn't know about — the rear wall turns out to have zero reinforcement. Council approved $38,100 in change orders immediately rather than waiting a week, since delays jeopardize filling the building before winter.
EMS ambulances and state licensure
Baldwin EMS gets two new ambulances going into service after an August 30 dedication, and faces its every-three-years state licensure review August 19. Response times ran 7.1 minutes in July.
Encampment clearing policy on borough property
Council adopted guidelines for clearing tents and encampments occupied by unhoused individuals on borough property. It sets the ground rules for how the borough handles these situations going forward.
May 2026 Finances
The borough's projected deficit dropped from $876K to $588K thanks to the road program coming in under budget and insurance dividends. Council also discussed but declined to add funding for the volunteer fire company, saying they're still in deficit territory.
GAP Trail Encampments
Police have confirmed squatter encampments on the GAP Trail but currently lack legal authority to remove them. Solicitor Wagner will draft a resolution creating a removal protocol for next week's vote.
Emergency services capacity and costs
Baldwin EMS goes live with blood products in the field on February 23 — a capability only about 1% of the nation's 11,000 EMS agencies have. It could be lifesaving for trauma, severe bleeding, and obstetric emergencies.
Elm Leaf Park Field Lighting
Baldwin scored a $417,000 grant from the Greenways, Trails, and Recreation Program to replace the aging field lights at the municipal (Wheeler) field with modern LED lighting controlled remotely.
Baldwin Swimming Pool Improvements
The rebuilt pool opens around Memorial Day with a $133K management contract and proposed higher fees — $8 resident daily passes, up from $6. Council floated a free resident "Welcome Back" weekend May 23–25 and wants to squeeze costs where possible.
Baptist Road PennDOT Project
PennDOT will rebuild Baptist Road from Hamilton to Provost starting spring 2026 through 2028 — with detours — overlapping Streets Run Road work and the Route 51 corridor project. Expect traffic headaches.
Loss of Newspaper of General Circulation
The Post-Gazette closes in May, and Baldwin has no print paper left to legally publish notices. Council must pass a workaround resolution by April while lobbying Harrisburg for digital-notice legislation.