EXETER TWP., Pa. – At Monday night’s meeting the Exeter Township Board of Supervisors voted to continue moving forward with the purchase of the former Customer’s Bank property at 1 Hearthstone Court to be used as the township’s administration center.
They approved Resolution No. 2026-12, authorizing the disbursement of $50,000 as down payment for the purchase of the property in Reading.
The $50,000 represents the deposit/down payment in accordance with the executed Agreement of Sale and will be applied toward the total purchase price at settlement. The Agreement of Sale was executed by the township manager, William Heim, dated March 2, 2026.
As reported previously, the board of supervisors unanimously authorized Township Manager William Heim to negotiate and execute a sales contract for the township to purchase 1 Hearthstone Court for a cost not to exceed $1.395 million.
Heim said at the time that the property will be used to house the administrative offices of Exeter Township, the office of the tax collector, and the meeting room of the board of supervisors. The building, which was the former headquarters for Berkshire Bank, was constructed in 2007 and features just over 7,400 square feet.
The site contains 40 parking spaces, with room for more.
The funding source for this purchase, Heim noted, will be the Wastewater Treatment Sale Proceeds Fund.
The acquisition will also allow the Exeter Township Police Department to expand into the township building and eliminate the need for the leased trailer, which costs $19,750 per year in rent, Heim said.
Zoning/ Planning
The supervisors approved an Annexation Plan for 4841, 4841R & 4851 Perkiomen Avenue. The plan pertains to the Brice Villa Mobile Home Community located between Perkiomen Avenue and Demoss Rd.
Heim explained the annexation plan has been seen by the Board of Supervisors in past weeks when the applicant was seeking approval of variances that were included in the plan. The necessary variances have been approved by the Zoning Hearing Board at their meeting held on Jan. 29.
The applicant is in the process of selling the property and will need to clean up a few property lines before the sale may take place. There is no construction of any type included with the plan, simply the creation of new lot lines.
Administration
In a rare move for public officials, a pay cut for the supervisors was approved, setting the supervisor’s compensation to $0.00. The Code of Ordinances of the Township of Exeter was amended so that each supervisor of Exeter Township shall receive no compensation ($0.00) for attending advertised general or special public meetings of the Board of Supervisors after the ordinance’s effective date.
Public Works
Public Works Director Larry Piersol announced that the annual Easter Egg Hunt at Trout Run Sport’s Complex will take place March 21 at 11 a.m. He suggested an arrival time of 10:45 a.m.