Questions about short-term rental enforcement took center stage during public comment at the Penn Forest Township Board of Supervisors meeting in January, as residents raised concerns about violations and how they are tracked across the township.

Eileen Rugh, a Towamensing Trails resident, asked the board how code enforcement handles short-term rental violations, and said she wanted to “advocate for private property owners.”

Rugh suggested that each short-term rental should have a printed notice outlining how many vehicles and occupants are permitted. Township officials responded that violation data is not currently broken down by individual communities, but said they would look into the request.

Vice Chairman Christian Bartulovich noted that the township maintains 24/7 contact with short-term property owners, who are given a specific number of hours to correct any issues.

Officials also reported there were six official short-term rental complaints in December.

Earlier in the meeting, supervisors approved exemptions for Beltzville Lake Estates and Towamensing Trails from 2026 garbage permit fees.

Other business

• The board also discussed a request from Steven Anderson to waive municipal lien fees totaling $126.40 for a property at 96 Willow Drive.

Anderson said he never received notice of the fees because he believed he had a private trash hauler.

Bartulovich said that Pennsylvania law requires residents to use a licensed trash hauler, which was not the case. Anderson was advised to email the township so the matter could be reviewed further.

• Supervisors approved holding the township’s fireworks display on July 4 at a cost of $17,900. The show will last approximately 18 to 20 minutes.

• Several expenses were ratified by the board, including a $461.57 windshield replacement for a 2019 F-550; a $47.68 tire repair for a 2024 F-350; $1,583.49 to repair backhoe lock rings; $326.65 to repair a circuit board in the transfer station heating system; and up to $400 to repair the running board on an F-550 dump truck.

• Approval was also granted to replace the code enforcement computer with a Lenovo ThinkPad and warranty at a cost of $2,152.89.

• The resignation of township worker John Bukis was accepted, and the position has been posted on the union board.

• Patrick Rogers, the new president of Penn Forest Fire Company No. 1, also introduced himself to the board during the meeting.

• Penn Forest will have a special meeting at 6 p.m. Monday at Penn’s Peak to discuss changes to zoning for data centers.