One principle sits at the heart of how Tyrone is governed: the public’s business must be done in public. Council cannot decide how to spend your tax dollars, set a rate, or pass an ordinance behind closed doors. The law that guarantees this is Pennsylvania’s Sunshine Act — and Tyrone’s own Home Rule Charter builds the same guarantee right into the Borough’s rules. This guide explains your rights and how to use them.
Last Updated: June 5, 2026
The Pennsylvania Sunshine Act (65 Pa.C.S. §§ 701–716) requires that government bodies — including Borough Council, its committees, and Borough boards and authorities — deliberate and take official action in meetings that are open to the public. “Deliberation” means the discussion of agency business, and “official action” means the votes and decisions. Both must happen in the open. The law exists for a simple reason: a government accountable to its residents cannot make its decisions where those residents can’t see them.
Tyrone’s Charter states the same rule directly: “All meetings and deliberations of the Council shall be open to the public” and “all…matters affecting the public shall be discussed in meetings that are open to the public” (Home Rule Charter, § C-19).
Under the Sunshine Act, every resident has the right to:
A meeting nobody knows about isn’t really open, so the law requires advance public notice. Agencies must advertise their schedule of regular meetings, and give at least 24 hours’ notice of any special or rescheduled meeting. Tyrone’s Charter reinforces this: the agenda must be available in the Borough office at least 24 hours before the meeting and published in a newspaper the day before (§ C-19(B)). Council also sets and publishes its regular meeting schedule each year (§ C-17). Tyrone Council meets the second Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m.
The Sunshine Act guarantees residents a reasonable opportunity to comment on matters of concern before the body takes its vote. Tyrone goes further and spells out exactly how (Administrative Code, § 3-10):
Council sets the ground rules for the public-comment period by resolution and can update them from time to time — if you want to be sure of the current procedure, check the latest meeting agenda or ask the Borough office before the meeting.
The Charter also independently guarantees this right: Council must “provide reasonable opportunity for interested citizens and taxpayers to address the Council” (§ C-24).
Council must keep minutes of its meetings, and those minutes are public record, open for inspection (§ C-18). If you can’t attend a meeting, the minutes tell you what was discussed and how each member voted.
There is exactly one way Council may discuss something privately: a properly announced executive session, and only for a short list of sensitive subjects such as personnel, litigation, and real-estate negotiations. Crucially, no votes or decisions may be made in private — any official action must still happen in the open meeting. Because this exception is so easy to misunderstand, we explain it in detail in Executive Sessions: When Council Can Meet Privately.
The Sunshine Act has teeth. If a body takes action in violation of the Act, a resident can challenge it in court (generally within 30 days), and a court may void the improperly taken action. Transparency isn’t just encouraged — it’s enforceable.
For the statewide rules and educational materials, see the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records (opens in a new tab).
For Tyrone meeting dates, agendas, and minutes, contact the Borough office: 1100 Logan Avenue, Tyrone, PA 16686 · (814) 684-1330 · kgurekovich@tyroneboropa.com
In the Charter & Code: Home Rule Charter, Art. IV (§ C-17 to C-24) · Chapter 3, § 3-6, 3-7, 3-10 · Art. V, § C-23. State law: PA Sunshine Act, 65 Pa.C.S. §§ 701–716. Full code: ecode360.com/TY1357.
The Borough office is glad to point you to the right department or explain how a procedure works.
