On March 25, 2026, the Jenkintown Borough Council, with the assistance of the Jenkintown Environmental Advisory Committee, passed Ordinance No. 2026-2, “Single Use Plastic Regulations.” This new law regulates single-use plastic bags, plastic straws, and stirrers at retail establishments within the Borough.

Effective July 23, 2026, retail establishments in Jenkintown will no longer be permitted to provide single-use plastic bags to customers. Customers are encouraged to bring their own bags. Retail establishments may provide a recycled paper bag or a reusable bag for a minimum fee of $0.10. Persons using SNAP, WIC, or TANF benefits are exempt from the fee, and the fee may be waived for online orders. All proceeds from bag fees are retained by the retail establishment.

Also effective July 23, 2026, retail establishments will only provide compostable straws and stirrers. Single-use plastic straws will still be available upon customer request.

Businesses are required to display signage informing customers of these changes beginning April 22, 2026 through at least September 23, 2026. An example of the required signage is available for download below.

The Jenkintown Environmental Advisory Committee has prepared an information Tool Kit to help businesses understand the law, including a summary of exemptions, frequently asked questions, and enforcement details. Non-compliance will first be addressed through a written notice of violation. Businesses that have recently purchased a supply of single-use plastic bags may apply for a hardship exemption of up to one year by contacting the Borough Manager.

Click here to read the Single-Use Plastic Regulations Tool Kit (PDF).

Click here to download the required business signage (PDF).

Click here to read the letter to Jenkintown businesses regarding this ordinance (PDF).

Click here to read the signed ordinance 2026-2 (PDF).

Questions or concerns may be directed to George Locke, Borough Manager, at glocke@jenkintownboro.com or (215) 885-0700.

On Tuesday, April 14th, learn from local experts about keeping our watersheds clean and healthy. Ryan Neuman from Toocany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed and Jim Riggins, Public Works Foreman in Jenkintown, will talk about habitats in our watersheds, recent grant funding received by the Borough to improve storm drains and sewer lines, and more!  Find out about what lives in neighboring watersheds and how we can support healthy environments for all of us.

Register here today!

Jenkintown Borough has reaffirmed the official statement originally issued on December 10, 2025, by Mayor Gabriel Lerman and Police Chief Thomas M. Scott regarding the role of the Jenkintown Borough Police Department (JPD) as it relates to immigration enforcement.

This re-issuance serves as a formal reminder of the Borough’s established commitment to community trust and public safety. By reaffirming the December 2025 policy, officials are ensuring that the specific legal protections under General Order 1.2.10 remain clear to all residents and visitors to Jenkintown Borough.

Our Mission & Policy

The mission of the Jenkintown Borough Police Department is public safety. The Department provides the same level of service, protection, and respect for all residents, visitors, victims, and witnesses—regardless of immigration status.

Borough officials, including Mayor Lerman and Chief Scott, affirm that local police do not enforce federal immigration laws, nor do they inquire about immigration status during routine interactions or when individuals access Borough services.

Formalized Protections (General Order 1.2.10)

These practices are formalized in JPD General Order 1.2.10, which defines the Department’s procedures and limits of authority.

Key provisions include:

No Administrative Detainers: The Department does not honor administrative ICE detainer requests and has not and will not enter into ICE’s 287(g) program.

Judicial Oversight: The Borough will only cooperate with federal immigration authorities when required by a valid judicial court order or as otherwise required by law.

Community Trust: The policy outlines officer responsibilities and protocols for handling federal requests to ensure everyone feels safe engaging with local law enforcement.

Next Steps & Official Resolution

The Jenkintown Borough Council has directed the Borough Solicitor and Administration to draft a formal Resolution capturing the essence of the Mayor’s statement(s) and associated JPD General Order. A resolution moves this policy from a departmental order to a formal public record, codifying the Borough’s collective intent and ensuring long-term accountability.

This resolution will be presented to the Borough Council for consideration and approval on Wednesday, April 22nd. We encourage all interested community members to attend.

Official Resources:

Click here to read the Borough’s full statement on Local Law Enforcement and Immigration Enforcement (PDF).

Click here to read JPD General Order 1.2.10 — Immigration (PDF).

Read Glenside Local’s coverage of this statement here.

Contact Information:

Residents with questions about Jenkintown Borough’s policies or their rights may contact

Mayor Lerman at glerman@jenkintownboro.com
or
Chief Scott at tscott@jenkintownpd.org.

Bird Town Pennsylvania, a statewide program administered by the Pennsylvania Audubon Council, has awarded  Jenkintown Borough Gold Certification status based on the activity of its program.

Each year, Bird Towns submit an annual report which is evaluated based on suggested actions to engage officials, students and residents of the community and to improve habitat. Those actions include municipal, school and youth, community engagement, organization, collaborations and partnerships, and advocacy.

As a result of Bird Town Jenkintown completing actions in all 5 strategies and achieving over 25 points, it received Gold Certification status. “It’s not a competition between Bird Towns, rather a framework that provides a path of inspiration for doing more,” said Heidi Shiver, President of Bird Town Pennsylvania. There are currently 102 Bird Towns in Pennsylvania most of which work with conservation partners such as Audubon chapters and land trusts. Color rankings in ascending order are; green, bronze, silver, gold.

Bird Towns such as Jenkintown create programming for people to learn about and experience the wonders of birds and nature, often in their very own backyard. Native plants and habitat enhancement play a role in this experience and contribute to an improved ecological “footprint” that yields more birds and butterflies and healthier places for people and pets. For more information on the Bird Town program, see www.birdtownpa.org.

The Borough of Jenkintown is committed to making our virtual Borough meetings as accessible and smooth as possible. We are pleased to announce several updates to our website that will simplify how you find information and join the public Borough meetings.

What’s New:

• Consistent Meeting Links: To reduce confusion, each meeting now has a dedicated link that will remain the same through September (until Committees return from the August hiatus).
• Centralized Meeting Repository: You’ll notice a new image on the upper left of the Borough website homepage (shown below). Meeting links are shown below this image. Clicking the appropriate link for the meeting you would like to attend will take you directly to the virtual meeting when it is in session.
• Streamlined Agendas: You can find the direct meeting link right at the top of each agenda page. Agendas are typically posted the Friday before a meeting.
• Integrated Event Calendar: Every meeting is advertised on our Event Calendar. From there, you can access the meeting link, the official agenda, and all associated documents.
• Agenda & Minutes Page: All meeting materials continue to be available in the Agenda & Minutes section for your convenience.

We hope these changes make it easier for you to stay engaged with your community. We look forward to seeing you at our next virtual meeting!