West Mayfield Borough, PA

08/31/2026

SALDO (Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance) is the set of rules that guides how property can be divided and developed in West Mayfield. SALDO helps ensure new development is safe, coordinated, and consistent with the Borough's adopted standards.

In consideration of the data center issues affecting municipalities across the region, especially in Big Beaver Borough, Council is being proactive in reviewing SALDO to ensuring that property owners' rights are upheld consistent with all applicable laws, and to make sure that every application for land use is reviewed according to the same adopted rules for everyone. If a land use proposal meets the requirements of the Borough's ordinances, it has the right to move through the approval process.

Council is also committed to considering the views of concerned citizens of West Mayfield.

This is why Council created a data center task force open to all citizens who want to help shape SALDO so that the community's interests and wellbeing are always front and center when it comes to land development in the Borough.

08/23/2026

PROCEDURES & POLICY MANUAL FOR COUNCILMEMBERS

Council is the elected legislative and governing body of the Borough of West Mayfield, deriving its power from the Pennsylvania Borough Code, which authorizes Council to make and adopt all ordinances, bylaws, rules and regulations deemed necessary for the proper management and control of the borough in order to maintain good government.

Where not specified by state statute, the Borough Code gives Council broad latitude to regulate itself by creating its own administrative and operational policies and procedures--such as written rules of decorum for public meetings; clearly defined descriptions of oversight committees; a set of agreed upon duties, responsibilities, and expectations for each councilmember; and basic job descriptions, professional development and training requirements, and other personnel policies for municipal employees, and elected and appointed municipal officials.

MANAGEMENT REVIEW & COUNCIL LEADERSHIP

A recent study conducted by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development pointed out that the Borough lacked many of these basic managerial and administrative policies and procedures that regulate council and local government. By any measure, this is a critical weakness in local government.

However, the current Council is showing strong leadership on this issue. It is using its power and authority to create proper municipal management controls such as administrative policies and standard operating guidelines "deemed necessary for the proper management and control of the borough in order to maintain good government."

Currently in development is a practical procedures manual for West Mayfield councilmembers.

08/20/2026

COUNCIL COMMITTEE REFORM

Immediately after its January reorganization, Council took action toward improving how it manages Borough affairs (see Res. 2026-01-14-03).

First step: reform its outdated and dysfunctional committee structure.

This initiative takes advantage of Council's monthly work sessions, which began in 2025 to give Council more time to hear reports, listen to citizens, review issues and concerns, and to discuss practical action-plans that may need to be voted on at the business meetings held the following week.

Work sessions and the new council committee structure provide the necessary time and space for an all-council problem-solving approach to addressing issues in the comprehensive areas of 1) budget & finances, 2) culture & recreation, 3) general administration, 4) governance, 5) public safety, and 6) public works.

To encourage leadership and responsibility under the new committee framework, individual council members serve as oversight and accountability chairs with the authority to manage specialized (ad hoc) teams, utilize a small monthly budget for committee needs, and to recruit community volunteers.

The last point is essential for promoting civic engagement--one of council's good governance goals.

The new committee reform does what Council never did before--welcome concerned citizens to serve on municipal committees along side elected and appointed officials to work on the issues and concerns most affecting our community.

08/19/2026

CITIZEN'S GUIDE TO PENNSYLVANIA LOCAL GOVERNMENT

As part of its good governance initiative, Council is actively working toward establishing policies and procedures supporting local government accountability and transparency, fiscal responsibility and oversight, ethics and integrity, and documented municipal operations that are efficient and effective.

Council is also committed to improving civic literacy, promoting citizen engagement, and creating meaningful opportunities for citizens to work along side Borough officials to address our community's most important issues and concerns.

Citizens' involvement in municipal affairs is central to good governance and local democracy, proclaims The Citizen’s Guide to Pennsylvania Local Government, a comprehensive manual outlining the duties of elected and appointed officials, providing a roadmap for residents to understand the municipal services they receive, and encouraging civic participation in local government by detailing how individuals can vote, seek local office, or help local officials work on the many issues and problems facing our communities today.
The Citizen’s Guide to Pennsylvania Local Government and other civic-minded resources related to good governance can be found on the resource library page of the West Mayfield municipal website.

https://www.westmayfieldborough.us/resource-library/

08/18/2026

As part of its traffic and roadway safety initiative, Council is working to bring road signage throughout the Borough into compliance with PennDOT standards.

Breakaway STOP sign designs, as installed at W. 3rd Ave and Patterson Ave, are also consistent with federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) guidelines based nation-wide traffic safety research.

Municipalities that fail to comply with these standards may face a loss of state or federal roadway funding--or worse, face legal and financial liability should improperly installed roadway devices contribute to causing bodily harm or property damage during crashes.

"We don't see many auto accidents in West Mayfield," says Sue Wood, Council's public safety oversight and accountability chair and retired Army and Registered Nurse, "but the risk of harm from improperly installed road signs is real. That's why our shift in thinking around roadway safety has moved concerns like this from public works to public safety--where it belongs."

08/17/2026

08/17/2026

ACCESS TO ORDINANCES & RESOLUTIONS

A primary goal of good governance is to ensure that citizens have access to information such as municipal laws and regulations, as well as Council policies and operational guidelines.

The Borough's municipal website has a resource page where citizens can search, read, and download actual local government legislation and policies created by Council over many years to help manage the Borough.

https://www.westmayfieldborough.us/ordinances/

08/15/2026

2027 MUNICIPAL BUDGET PROCESS

On August 12, 2026, Council approved a timeline for the preparation, public review, and adoption of the 2027 West Mayfield Municipal Budget in accordance with the Pennsylvania Borough Code and the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs (PSAB) 2027 Budget Bulletin. This schedule maximizes administrative efficiency and minimizes costs by utilizing existing publicized meetings for legal actions.

The Borough’s annual budget process must follow all applicable legal and statutory requirements. The preliminary budget must be made available for public inspection for at least 10 calendar days before final adoption, with notice of its availability advertised once in a newspaper of general circulation. The final 2027 Budget, along with the applicable Tax Ordinance or Resolution, must be adopted at a public meeting no later than December 31, 2026. The final adopted budget must also be balanced, with projected revenues and available funds sufficient to cover the Borough’s planned expenditures.

Council welcomes and encourages concerned citizens of West Mayfield to attend public meetings and participate in the 2027 budget construction process to learn about factual and material issues affecting municipal finances.

Budget Construction Calendar

Mid-September: Reconciliation Deadline. Completion of 2025 and 2026 actuals to allow for accurate 2027 projections.

Oct. 7 (Work Session): Initial Budget Meeting/Discussion

Nov. 11 (Business Meeting): Adoption of Proposed Budget. Council votes to adopt the proposed budget and authorizes the secretary to advertise the 10-day public inspection period.

Dec. 9 (Business Meeting): Adoption of Final Budget. Council holds a final vote to adopt the 2027 Budget and the 2027 Tax Resolution (if no property tax increase) or Ordinance (if property tax increase).