Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Baldwin public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
50 issues
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.
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.
Revised Zoning Ordinance Timeline
The Planning Commission has begun a full overhaul of the borough's zoning ordinance with the borough's planning director and engineers, aiming for completion by November and council consideration by December.
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.
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.
Three-municipality fire study
A fire study covering three municipalities is in progress with surveys complete and council interviews scheduled for May 11; findings are expected within a few months.
Switch from PlateSmart to Viper contract
After a closed-door session, council terminated the PlateSmart agreement and signed on with Viper instead — likely tied to traffic/speed-enforcement camera technology.
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.
Public Works Staffing Before Winter
A new five-year deal pays Baldwin for salting state roadways in winter. It brings in state compensation for work crews were doing anyway.
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.
Municipal Building Walkway Improvements
The county finally authorized the municipal building walkway project; bidding should be out and awarded before October.
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.
2027 Budget Preparation
Budget sessions are set for October 26, November 2, and November 24, with most numbers ready pending final sanitation figures.
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.
Wood Fence LLC Zoning Variance
A consolidated 80-foot-wide commercial lot needs a variance from the borough's 100-foot minimum; the zoning hearing board takes it up October 29, with land development approval possibly following in November.
Colwood Park Master Plan and LSA Grant
The borough is splitting the Colwood Park improvements into two phases to chase the $1 million maximum LSA grant twice — phase one (fields and parking) goes before council as a resolution in November.
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.
Vex Right Road lot consolidation and steel building proposal
A business owner wants to merge two lots on Vex Right Road and put up a steel building, but the merged lot won't meet the 100-foot minimum width for the C-1 commercial district. He'll seek a variance from the zoning hearing board in October.
Comprehensive plan update kickoff
The Planning Commission is making progress on the borough's comprehensive plan and hopes to have updates ready to present to council by year's end, possibly at the October meeting.
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.
Baldwin Borough Library Programs
September is the 11th annual Love Your Library month — the library's biggest fundraiser, with donations matched by the Jack Buncher Foundation. The library also welcomed a Pitt social work intern helping patrons and seniors.
School zone safety improvements
Crews added stop bars, crosswalks, and fresh signage around the main school route — Manhasset, Wallace, Kathleen, Pleasantview, Marianne — to keep kids and bus stops safe.
ALCOSAN Regional Transfer Agreement
Baldwin met with ALCOSAN and Whitehall about transferring its regional sewer permits to ALCOSAN. Template resolutions are coming this fall for council to consider.
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.
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.
Trunk or Treat time change dispute
Volunteers pushed back on moving Trunk or Treat from 2–4 p.m. to 4–6 p.m. Council will revisit the change in September with input from Councilman Brown and the volunteers — the food truck booking may be affected.
Love Your Library Month and library strength
The library is financially healthy, fine-free, and busy — 12% of Baldwin residents have checked out a book this year. September donations get matched by the Jack Buncher Foundation.
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.
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.
E-bike safety at Churchview Gardens
A resident reported unsafe e-bike riding through the apartment complex, worried about kids and pedestrians. The chief's advice: call 911 when spotted, and ask the property manager to post no-e-bike signs.
GESA Energy Upgrades for Borough Building
TEN pitched a Guaranteed Energy Savings Act program to modernize the 70-year-old borough building — lighting, roof, HVAC, water — with savings funding the work and no upfront cost until signing. Council will weigh whether to pursue it or consider a new building entirely.
Holiday Celebration Moves to Saturday
Council backed moving the annual Kiwanis holiday festival from Friday, December 11 to Saturday, December 12, rebranding it as 'Light Up Baldwin' with LED luminaries and a courtyard light tunnel to boost attendance.
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.
Sewer Rate Impacts from Pleasant Hills Authority
The borough's share of Pleasant Hills Authority wastewater costs will tick up from about 33–35% to 36% under metered flows, and a revived Lewis Run station project (~$3 million total) could cost Baldwin roughly $1 million amortized starting in 2027.
Community Day Review
A big turnout is expected Saturday, with the 50-year-old time capsule unveiling (dug up from six feet under a concrete sarcophagus) as the star attraction. With volunteer help scarce, two paid substitute teachers will staff parking and logistics.
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.
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.
Contractor payments and bond release
Council closed out two Jet Jack water-flow repair contracts and paid Stonemile Group for early salt building work, plus trimmed the J. Poli bond to $2,200 pending stormwater documents.
Girls' wrestling program at Baldwin High School
A parent-led push to add a PIAA girls' wrestling team at Baldwin High School is gathering interest — about 16 responses so far. Council agreed to share the interest form, and the group will speak at school board meetings in August and September.
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.
Pool concession freezer failures
Dead exhaust fans have made the snack shack so hot the freezers can't keep ice cream frozen — no frozen treats at the pool until further notice. Replacement fans will be bid for next year.
Public Safety Awards and Performance
EMS medical director Dr. Michael Turturro won the county Champion Award, and Baldwin EMS earned the American Heart Association's Gold Standard for stroke and heart attack care. The fire department's new pumper truck, UTV, and grant-funded drone were stars of Community Day.
EMS Billing and Insurance Reimbursement
Council discussed a problem where insurers like Highmark pay patients directly instead of the ambulance service, and some patients pocket the money — a case in Shaler allegedly kept $30,000 from EMS. Dee said his own family had to forward a $1,200 check to Baldwin EMS.
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.
E-bike safety and enforcement
Council member Rambo raised the growing e-bike problem as nearby towns ban them. Chief Cortazzo said an education-first approach is working — no repeat offenders yet — and he opposes a borough ordinance that would force citing kids on first contact.
Springdale Park vandalism
Vandals trashed Springdale Park — playground equipment had to be repaired, backboards repainted, and a drainage pipe fixed. With no cameras or power at the hidden neighborhood park, catching culprits is tough, though a similar Elm Leaf case recently went to court successfully.
Municipal building energy upgrades (GESA)
The borough building is aging — old boiler, failing HVAC, a 15–20-year-old roof, and asbestos concerns. Council agreed to hear an August presentation on a Guaranteed Energy Savings Act program that could fund efficiency upgrades paid back through energy savings.