Legislation currently in the Pennsylvania General Assembly would allow boroughs within the state to decrease or increase council size regardless of population.

Senate Bill 0753, and accompanying House Bill 1384, would revise the borough code to allow boroughs with a population of up to 3,000 residents to change to a council of size of three, five or seven members without a minimum population requirement.

Should a borough’s population increase to exceed 3,000 residents according to most recent U.S. Census data, its council would automatically be increased to seven members.

All five boroughs in Warren County – Bear Lake, Clarendon, Sugar grove, Tidioute and Youngsville — have populations of under 3,000 residents.

If enacted, a petition signed by at least five percent of registered voters in the municipality would trigger a referendum vote on a size change during the next general election.

The legislation would also require the Court of Common Pleas to establish a schedule for election of council members through the following two general elections after a size change.

Council members would serve out the remainder of their terms after a size change.

The bill was crafted by the General Assembly’s Local Government Commission, chaired by state Sen. Scott Hutchinson, R-21, who represents Warren County. The legislation is supported by the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs.