Bern supervisors approve Penn State Health agreements, deny tax-penalty relief and discuss Comcast locations

Bern Township supervisors approved several administrative and intergovernmental items on Aug. 3, 2021, including a renewal of a public safety agreement with Penn State Health and a related RACP grant project agreement, and they denied a tax-penalty relief request from CHD Reading MOB, LLC.

Manager Brian Potts said the Penn State Health public safety agreement had expired in June and proposed an 18-month extension with the same contribution levels. The board approved the renewal by unanimous vote.

Attorney Keith Mooney reviewed a Penn State Health RACP Grant Project Agreement and said the township is indemnified by the document but questioned the listed $1.00 grant administration fee as insufficient to cover administration costs. Supervisors discussed the fee and agreed not to charge additional fees; the board then voted to approve the RACP agreement.

On taxation matters, the board declined CHD Reading MOB, LLC’s request to extend penalty relief; no extension was granted. Supervisors also discussed Comcast community service locations, noting that removing locations such as Berks DES and the Greenfields Social Club could reduce Comcast franchise fees; Manager Potts was asked to follow up with more information.

All motions in these items were approved by recorded unanimous votes unless otherwise noted in the minutes. The board set its next meeting for Sept. 7, 2021.