From modest beginnings in the wilderness more than 150 years ago,  Brookville has grown to be a community of 4,600 characterized by pleasant neighborhoods with tree-lined streets, well-maintained homes, and an excellent school system.

Brookville is a community proud of its history and excited and optimistic about its future.

The Dr. Walter Dick Memorial Park was destroyed in the 7/19/96 flood. However, the park has been restored to its former beauty. It contains a swimming area, picnic facilities and also fishing.

The Brookville Municipal Authority is a five member body appointed by Borough Council to staggered five-year terms. The Authority and its personnel are responsible for the water and waste water treatment operations of the Borough and for overseeing the maintenance and repair of the system’s extensive infrastructure. The Authority is also charged with the financial management of the water and sewer system and with the establishment of the water and sewer rates.

The Brookville Municipal Building is located at 18 Western Ave. and contains the offices of the Borough and the Brookville Municipal Authority. The Police Department is also located at the complex off of 2nd Street. The Borough and Municipal Authority offices are open from 8:00 A.M. until 4:30 P.M., Monday through Friday, and are closed on most major holidays.

BOROUGH COUNCIL MEMBERS

John Blazosky, President
Phil Hynes, Vice President
David Ferringer
James B. Sarvey
Karen Allgeier
Steve Hoak
William Kutz

MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY MEMBERS

Bradley Miller, Chairman
David Love
Tom Dinger
Robert Moss
Herb Landes

Additional Borough Officials

Mayor
Chip Wonderling

Borough Manager
Borough Manager

Administrative Manager, Municipal Authority
Charles R. Gable, MPA

Borough Engineer and CDBG Projects
Nichols and Slagle Engineering, Inc.

Authority Engineering
Gwin, Dobson & Foreman, Inc.

Zoning and Code Enforcement Officer
Matt Hasselback
Phone 715-4822

Emergency Management Director
Steve Hoak

Borough Solicitor
James Dennison, Esq.

Municipal Authority Solicitor
James Dennison, Esq.

Police Chief
Kenneth J. Dworek

Borough Street Superintendent
Robert V. Receski

Borough Tax Collector
Vicki Storey

Borough Health Officer
Emerson Turnbull, RN

Fire Chief
Chief David Miller

Boards and Commissions

A number of volunteer boards and commissions are appointed by Borough Council and play an important part of the local government process. These bodies provide guidance and direction in various aspects of the Borough’s operations. Major regulatory boards and commissions include the following:

PLANNING COMMISSION
Bill Kutz, Chairman
Dr. Edward Richards, Vice Chairman
Robert Radaker
Rick Park
Wayne Smith

SHADE TREE COMMISSION
Ken Dworek
Barbara Grove
Rick Park

ZONING HEARING BOARD
Wendy Nichamin, Chairperson
Judi Anthony
Marcia Barr
Beth Ammerman Gerg, Solicitor

CODE ENFORCEMENT APPEAL BOARD
Greg Bazylak
Eric Zents
Matt Smith

POLICE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
Eric Zents
Lucy Ames
Judi Anthony

COUNCIL VACANY BOARD
Judi Anthony

COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION REPRESENTATIVE
Judi Anthony

LIBRARY BOARD REPRESENTATIVE
Library Board Will Appoint

Brookville’s early growth can be attributed to its location along the Susquehanna and Waterford Pike, a toll road completed in 1822 between the Susquehanna River in Clearfield County and Waterford, in Erie County. By 1832, just two years after the town was planned, there were forty dwellings, a brick Courthouse, four stores, and four taverns.

Without a doubt, Brookville’s greatest nineteenth-century growth was the result of the lumber industry. In the 1830s the areas rich timber tracts were identified and mills were erected up and down the watersheds. By the 1850s, there were twenty-two mills on the North Fork and twenty each on Sandy Lick and Redbank. Large rafts were made of timber or sawn boards, and the high water seasons of the fall and spring in Brookville saw raftsmen plying the waters between the growing town and the lumber markets of Pittsburgh.

During the Civil War, Brookville was well represented in the Union Army. Local militia companies were called into service and new military units were formed. The most famous of these was the 105th Regiment of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, popularly known as the “Wildcat Regiment.” The 105th was recruited in September, 1861, under the command of a Brookville attorney-soldier, Annor A. McKnight, who was killed in battle at Chancellorville. At the time of his death, President Lincoln had agreed to promote the 31-year-old Brookville soldier to brigadier general.

In 1873 the railroad came to Brookville, and prospects soared for industrial and commercial development. During the late 19th and early 20th century, Brookville had a number of diverse industries most of which faded from the scene as new technologies developed. There was an ax factory with the capacity of 250 axes per day, two breweries, furniture and glass factories, carriage manufacturers, foundries, a woolen mill and ladder factory, and the Twyford Motor Car Co., which operated from 1905 to 1907 and produced the world’s first 4-wheel drive automobile.

Development has spread from the center core of the town to include new residential developments and expanded commercial and industrial development at the periphery. The town’s ongoing downtown revitalization program has become an award-winning national model for such activity and has been featured in state and national media coverage.

Brookville Borough Council:
Regular Meetings @ 7:00 P.M., 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month. Citizens should call 849-5321 to be placed on Council meeting agenda.

Municipal Authority:
@ 4:00 P.M. – 2nd Tuesday of Month. Authority customers should call 849-5320 to be placed on meeting agenda.

Planning Commission:
@ 6:00 P.M. – 2nd Monday of Month. Please note: Any business to be brought before the Planning Commission is to be presented to the Borough office 1 week before the scheduled meeting or there will be no meeting.

Shade Tree Commission:
@ 6:15 P.M. – 3rd Tuesday of Month.

All meetings are held in the Borough Council Chamber at 18 Western Ave., Suite A. All times are prevailing time. No regular meetings will be held on a legal holiday, but shall be held on the succeeding day. None of the meeting dates, times or locations listed above will be changed without proper public notification.

The public is welcome to attend any of these meetings.

The Borough’s boards and commissions are filled by citizens from the community who are interested in the future of Brookville and who volunteer their time and talents to make Brookville a better town in which to live and work. Anyone interested in participating on a Borough board or commission should contact the Borough office and have his/her name placed on a list which is presented to Borough Council when vacancies must be filled.

Please note that the location and format of this Code has been upgraded to the new eCode360 platform, providing greater access and offering easier, more intuitive use of the online Code.

Be sure to update your bookmarks and online links with the new location:

http://www.ecode360.com/?custId=BR1611

Zoning Permit Application

Building Permit: In 2004, the Brookville Borough elected to option to the provisions of Pa. Act 45 which is the Statewide Uniform Construction Code. All non-residential construction projects are now governed by the International Building Code/2009. All residential construction must now follow the International Residential Code/2009. The National Electrical Code/2008 Edition is now the Electrical Code.

PERMITS REQUIRING BUILDING CODE INSPECTIONS

It is the joint responsibility of the owner, lessee, if any, and the contractor to determine that the permit has been obtained before performing any work. It is unlawful for any contractor or subcontractor to perform any work for which a permit is required unless a permit is obtained and posted as required by the Building Code.

Applications shall be submitted to the Building Official for the following activities, which will require Code inspections:

* Construct or alter a structure
* Construct and addition
* Demolish or move a structure
* Make a change of occupancy
* Installation of equipment

OBLIGATIONS DURING CONSTRUCTION

A condition of a Building Permit is that the applicant completes the work as approved by the municipality in accordance with the Zoning Ordinance and the Building Code and the plans approved by the Zoning Officer and the Building Inspector.

Applicants are required to post their Building Permit in a window or other prominent place on the site and to keep a copy of the building plan on the site.

HOW TO APPLY FOR A PERMIT

Contact the Borough Zoning and Code Enforcement Officer, Mr. Matt Hasselback at 814-715-4822.

WHY BUILDING PERMITS ARE REQUIRED

A Building Permit serves as formal and legal permission to start any construction project. The assurance of a permit indicates that plans for a new structure, addition, renovation, foundation, prefabricated structure, temporary building or mobile home have been approved by the inspector and that plans comply with the municipal Zoning Ordinance and the Statewide Building Code.

PERMIT PROCESS
(Step by Step)

* The APPLICANT completes a BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION for the proposed new construction, remodeling, or accessory structure. EXAMPLES: Including but not limited to:

Dwellings Buildings Manufactured
Garages Decks (homes)
Porches Sheds


* Change is use or occupancy of a property.
Installation of new plumbing, electrical or mechanical equipment.


* The APPLICANT submits the application along with a plot plan drawing or floor plan drawing, and the required fee, to:


PennSafe Building Inspections Services, LLC
175 Beaver Drive
PO Box 486
DuBois, PA 15801
Phone: 814-375-1111
www.PennSafeBIS.com


* The Building Official reviews the application for completeness and compliance with the Building Code and other local requirements. The applicant may request a consultation meeting with the Building Official regarding the submittal. The review period takes a minimum of three days from the date the completed form is received. The maximum review period is 30 days.


* The Building Official issues the Building Permit or denies the application accordingly.


* The APPLICANT completes the project according to the terms outlined in the application.


* The Building Code Inspector performs all required inspections of the project in progress and a final inspection at the end of the project.


* The Building Code Inspector notifies the Inspection Office that the work authorized under the permit is completed and meets all Code requirements for occupancy.


* The Building Official checks the completed project. If the project is a principal dwelling unit, an addition to the dwelling, or an accessory structure, which required Building Code Inspections, the Building Official issues an Occupancy Permit. After the Occupancy Permit is issued, the property owner may then move personal items into the newly constructed area.


* All other construction projects will receive a Final Inspection Approval certificate at the completion of the project.

CONSTRUCTION EXEMPT FROM PERMITS

Repair and replacement projects, which do NOT involve structural changes to a building, do not require a permit. Siding and gutters are such an example.

For example, shingle replacement will not require a permit. Replacement windows or doors do not require a permit, unless the existing opening will be made larger, which is a structural change. Note that there are minimum size requirements for all windows, including replacement. Cosmetic works, such as painting, wallpapering, tiling, carpeting, cabinetry or counter tops, does not require a permit. re-installation of plumbing fixtures, such as tubs, sinks, and toilets, does not require a permit.

ELECTRICAL INSPECTIONS

All construction requiring electrical wiring or services must be inspected by individuals authorized by PennSafe Building Inspections Services, LLC and must conform to the National Electrical Code.

The electrical fee is incorporated into the Building Permit Fee; however, if a project involves ONLY electrical work and no other construction, a special Electrical Permit will be issued.

FACTS ABOUT DEMOLITION

Before any building is demolished, either in part or completely, the applicant is required by the Building Code to obtain a Building Permit for the removal of the structure. This applies to accessory buildings as well. The purpose of this permit is for the removal of the building from your tax records and to document the removal of any non-conforming structures.

SMOKE DETECTORS

Under the Statewide Building Code, all new dwellings, all residential additions and alterations involving living space, must have smoke detectors wired directly into the electrical system of the house and they must have a battery backup. Smoke detectors are required in each bedroom and on each level of the home, including the basement.

In new home construction, the detectors must be interconnected, so that they all sound simultaneously. Any alteration of an existing house, such as a family room addition or finishing a basement, will require the smoke detectors to be installed in these areas as per code. If an alteration of an existing house it to the entire house, then the smoke detectors must be installed in the same manner as new construction requirements.

Special conditions must be met if a building permit is sought for a project within the floodplain; floodplain maps are available from the Borough office. A checklist of specific data required for building permits is provided to applicants. The fee for the permit is determined by the cost of the proposed improvement project. Please call the Borough office at 849-5321 before beginning any construction project.

(Budget, Insurance, Audit, Municipal Authority Liaison)
Phil Hynes, Chairman
James B. Sarvey
Steve Hoak

Personnel

(Labor Relations, Staffing and Waste Management)

Jim Sarvey, Chairman
Karen Allgeier
Bill Kutz

Public Safety
(Police, Fire, EMD/EMS, NIMS)
Phil Hynes, Chairman
John Blazosky
Steve Hoak

Public Works

(Streets, Sidewalks, Stormwater, Street Lighting)
Bill Kutz, Chairman
John Blazosky
Phil Hynes

Community Resources
(Arts Program, Library, Grants, Festivals, Code & Zoning Enforcement, Community Relations)
Steve Hoak, Chairman
Karen Allgeier
Dave Ferringer

Property
(Buildings, Lands, Grounds, Parks)
Karen Allgeier, Chairman
Dave Ferringer
Bill Kutz

Ad-Hoc Committee
(Topics and Tasks by assignment)

By assignment