Bowmanstown will not pursue a state grant for replacement of the fire company building.

On a 5-2 vote, borough council on Tuesday rejected the request to authorize submittal of a Local Share Assessment statewide fund application for replacement of the fire company as it stands.

Councilmen Rob Moyer and Darren Thomas were in favor.

The LSA statewide grant would have been for $1,074,999 from the Commonwealth Financing Authority. The deadline to apply for the grant is Sept. 30.

Afterward, council did not take any action on a letter of support for the fire company’s application for the grant which was listed on the meeting agenda.

Bowmanstown fire Chief Michael Spairana Jr. said Wednesday morning he wasn’t sure about what the vote means for the project. He had no comment at this time.

Council’s action came after it narrowly voted 4-3 last month to submit a Local Share Account Fund Monroe County grant application by the fire company.

The LSA grant of $1,074,999 from the Commonwealth Financing Authority would be used for replacement of the fire company building.

In May, Bowmanstown borough and fire company officials appeared to be on the same page.

They both would like to be housed together on property earmarked for a new fire station.

Spairana asked council at that time about the possibility of incorporating the borough offices with state Department of Conservation and Economic Development grand funds.

Moyer told Spairana, “Save us a space.”

Spairana said the new building would all be paid for by grants, and added “Our intent is not to spend a dime; it’s all going to be paid for (by a grant).”

The fire company received a $925,000 grant for a new fire company building that came from statewide gaming from DCED.

Also, it was announced at that time that an additional grant was being applied for that would include additional space for the borough as it looks for more modern space for residents, along with added offices and meeting space.

The fire company was hoping to receive a grant from either DCED’s Monroe County Local Share Account, or a Redevelopment Assistance Capital Budget Program grant.

Mayor Zach Snyder previously said he was all for putting borough hall up with the fire station.

Spairana told council the company has a concept design for the new station to be above the picnic grove on Lime Street.

The existing fire station would be torn down and made into a parking lot.

Spairana has said the fire company would not go forward with a new fire station unless it receives 100% funding.

Spairana said the cost to build a new fire station is $1.9 million.

Borough hall plans are undecided. Thomas said he’d love to be able to keep the building, but maintenance would be the issue.

Thomas said borough hall barely meets the needs of what council needs, and what the borough needs. Currently there is no place for zoning.

Moyer said at that time borough hall is “a building we feel somebody else would be better stewards of. “The idea is a win-win.” The borough hall is in the process of being registered as a historic building.

Scott said listing on the national registry would allow the borough more access to grant money.

The borough hall building is a converted school building that was built in 1903.

Council also voted to pursue listing borough hall on the National Register of Historic Places.

Moyer said at that time the borough hall building is lacking because it’s an older building.

Scott said she was concerned about the playgrounds and basketball courts, which she said get a lot of use.

“This building is almost iconic,” she said.