Bowmanstown borough and fire company officials appear to be on the same page.

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

Bowmanstown fire Chief Michael Spairana Jr. asked borough council on Tuesday about the possibility of incorporating the borough offices with state Department of Conservation and Economic Development grand funds.

Councilman Rob Moyer told Spairana, “Save us a space.”

Spairana said the fire company plans to form a committee, and asked where council is on the matter.

Councilman Darren Thomas said they’ve had a brief discussion.

Spairana said now’s the time for everyone to get their ducks in a row.

Resident Christine Bottcher asked council if borough hall would be going away.

Thomas told Bottcher that’s still part of planning, and that while he’d love to be able to keep the building, maintenance would be the issue.

Moyer added, “We’ve not been good stewards to the building.”

Thomas said borough hall barely meets the needs of what council needs, and what the borough needs, and added they currently do not have an appropriate place for zoning.

Moyer said borough hall is “a building we feel somebody else would be better stewards of. “The idea is a win-win.”

Spairana explained where the fire company is in the process.

“Right now, we’re not doing anything,” Spairana said. “We’re just waiting.”

Further, Spairana said the borough wants to make sure they have ownership of something, and the fire company wants to make sure it has ownership of something.

“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” he said. “There’s no hard feelings either way.”

Spairana added, “Our intent is not to spend a dime; it’s all going to be paid for (by a grant).”

Councilman William Ravert said the borough will start working on the fine details.

“It’s not going to happen overnight,” Ravert said.

Thomas noted it’s on fire company property and on borough property.

Moyer added, “Some of the grants may determine how this would look.”

Spairana noted that the fire company and the borough have slowly come to an agreement.

Resident Joe Civitella asked whether the borough hall is registered as a historic building.

Ravert said it is in the process to become registered.

At last month’s workshop, council agreed to have Thomas and council President Pam Leiby work in conjunction with the fire company on its building project to incorporate the borough facilities in the plans.

It was announced at council’s meeting last month that the fire company received a $925,000 grant for a new fire company building that came from statewide gaming from DCED.

An additional grant is 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.

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

The fire company would still receive a grant from either DCED’s Monroe County Local Share Account, or a Redevelopment Assistance Capital Budget Program (RAC-P) grant.

Mayor Zach Snyder said at that time 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.

In September 2021, council applied for a grant to have its borough building listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Councilwoman Kara Scott said at that time 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.