This article was funded by LebTown donors as part of our Civic Impact Reporting Project.
The North Cornwall Township Board of Supervisors unanimously agreed to adopt the intermunicipal charter agreement for a regionalized police force Tuesday.
If the charter is also adopted by North Lebanon Township, the townships will continue refining details of regionalization and take steps toward forming a Regional Police Commission to oversee the new department.
“[This charter is] a result of a little over a year’s worth of meetings back and forth between North Lebanon Township and North Cornwall Township,” explained chairman Mike Wahmann. “It is our belief that this is the correct way to handle the future of policing in North Cornwall Township and for North Lebanon Township.”
Supervisors all expressed support for the plan, citing officer and public safety, increased investigative ability, and more opportunities for officer promotion.
“So far the experience [of considering regionalization] from our police department has been positive,” said Sgt. Paul Savini, echoing the benefits extolled by supervisors. “These are all benefits our guys are looking forward to.”
Supervisor Ronald Sell noted that the township has had exceptional difficulty finding officers, at one point being down seven officers. Regionalized departments, he said, have an easier time finding recruits in part due to opportunities for upward mobility.
Labor attorney Michael Miller, who reviewed the charter with North Cornwall, described it as “exceptionally thorough” and voiced his support for the plan.
“The reality is that public safety is a critical service, but it is also the most expensive service a municipality offers,” Miller said, going on to explain how much policing has changed in his around 30 years working with various municipalities. “The ability to spread the cost over more taxpayers would be beneficial to both townships and, frankly, Lebanon County.”
In case you missed it… Background on this story
In late 2023, North Cornwall and North Lebanon townships informally began conversations about merging their respective police departments.
The goal of this regionalization, the North Lebanon police chief said, would be to increase safety for officers who occasionally have to work alone.
A police regionalization study had found the townships to be compatible for regionalization, with comparable populations of 8,511 (NCT) and 12,041 (NLT).
As of the time regionalization talks began, North Cornwall had 11 officers and North Lebanon had 10, though 12 were in the budget. They expected a regional force to include 24 officers.
North Lebanon hosted an informational meeting in September 2023 to present residents with details on possible regionalization and decide whether to continue.
Read more: North Lebanon Township supervisors consider regional police with N. Cornwall
The next month, the townships formed a Regional Police Development Committee consisting of supervisors from both township’s board, their police chiefs, and their township managers. This committee was tasked with creating and reviewing a charter for a prospective regionalized police force.
Read more: N. Lebanon Township creates committee to consider regional police force
Public meetings of the committee were held through this year to review the charter, including ironing out details like a 50/50 budget split, the workings of the governing Regional Police Commission, and what would happen if either township backed out after forming the regionalized police.
Read More:
- Committee begins to review charter for regional police in N. Cornwall, N. Lebanon
- N. Cornwall, N. Lebanon agree to 50/50 split for proposed regional police charter
- Regional police steering committee reviews draft of updated charter
- Former NLT manager airs concerns with police pact, committee reviews budget
- N. Cornwall, N. Lebanon discuss 12-hour, 3-zone proposal for regional police pact
After the draft was completed and reviewed by attorneys on both sides, both townships agreed to hold hearings on the charter.
Read more: North Lebanon Township to take steps toward regional police formation
If, following the hearings, both townships opt to go forward with the charter, the townships will go forward with regionalization, unless either backs out before the Regional Police Commission is formed.
In other news, supervisors:
- Unanimously agreed to sign a letter signifying their opposition to state HB1976 and HB2045, which allow certain types of housing developments in certain non-residential zones. “Zoning issues are local issued, not state-mandated issues,” said Wahmann. “With all due respect to our state legislators, they should keep their nose out of zoning within townships; not only North Cornwall, but every township in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”
- Heard that Neversink Fire Company will host a controlled burn as a training exercise this Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cornwall Road from Isabelle Drive to Springwood Drive will be closed during the burn.
- Issued bond and letter of credit reductions to Landmark Homes and 2040 Quentin Road.
North Cornwall Township meets the first Tuesday and third Tuesday of the month. Meetings are open to the public and do not require prior registration.
Questions about this story? Suggestions for a future LebTown article? Reach our newsroom using this contact form and we’ll do our best to get back to you.
Free news isn’t cheap. If you value the journalism LebTown provides to the community, then help us make it sustainable by becoming a champion of local news. You can unlock additional coverage for the community by supporting our work with a one-time contribution, or joining as a monthly or annual member. You can cancel anytime.
More Top Stories
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
