South Williamsport Borough Police Department will not enforce Gov. Tom Wolf”s recent mandate requiring students, staff and visitors to wear masks in schools.

Steven W. Cappelli, borough manager and public safety director, told borough council this week that borough police will respond to school emergencies and calls placed by the district, but will not enforce the state mandate.

Masks in the state’s schools has evolved as a hot button issue, including in local districts. Within the past week alone, opponents of the mandate have remained vocal in nearby communities Jersey Shore and Montoursville.

In other council news, the South Williamsport Borough will seek a $500,000 state grant to build a community center. The council permits the administration this week to go after the grant through Keystone Communities Program Grant.

If awarded, the grant will go toward the design and construction of a new community building located at the current site of the South Williamsport Pool Complex. .

The new facility is envisioned as holding office, meeting and entertainment space as well as restrooms. It is the hope of the Council that the building would be used for several different events to support the community such as wedding receptions, a meeting place for groups of a non-profit nature and even entertainment events which would ideally be sponsored by the borough.

If funding for the project is secured, the current projections estimate that the building would open in 2023.