Cornwall Borough council hears from 3 candidates vying for vacant seat

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Cornwall Borough Council heard speeches from three candidates hoping to fill a vacancy at a special meeting March 24.

Following the resignation of former councilman Tony Fitzgibbons, who moved out of the borough, council must select a resident to fill the vacancy until December.

At that point, the Republican and Democratic parties may submit candidates to the ballot to serve the remaining two years of the term. However, this is fairly uncommon, with Mayor Mark Thomas noting he only remembered it happening once.

Council plans to make a decision at a special meeting April 8. At that time, the fourth resident who submitted a letter of interest, Eric Tobias, will also speak to his qualifications.

Matthew Tsirnikas, John Lux, and Julie Bowman (listed in order letters of interest were filed to the borough) all emphasized careful oversight of development and fiscal responsibility.

Matthew Tsirnikas

Fire department president Matthew Tsirnikas was first to speak at Monday’s hearing.

Tsirnikas, 31, was born in Cornwall before leaving to serve for seven years in the U.S. Coast Guard, he said.

Since returning to the area in 2023, Tsirnikas has become the president of Cornwall’s fire department and has regularly attended council and planning & zoning meetings to speak on behalf of the fire company.

He also runs a drafting a mechanical design business RT Precision LLC, which he said serves customers across the country.

“As a lifelong resident of this community, I am deeply committed to its success and well-being of residents,” said Tsirnikas, reading from his letter of interest. “I believe my diverse background in public service, leadership and business ownership would make me a valuable addition to council.”

Councilman Bruce Conrad asked a question that would be asked of all three candidates: what decisions by the borough does Tsirnikas agree and disagree with over the last few years?

In response, Tsirnikas lauded the borough’s pursuit of funding by allowing a cellphone tower on borough property. He said he supported a slower, more methodical approach to development, with a heavier focus on developer responsibilities.

He said his background in emergency response gives him perspective on potential safety dangers within the layouts of proposed developments. He suggested collaborating with developers to make sure they are familiar with zoning requirements and safety concerns without overstepping their legal right to build.

In response to a question, Tsirnikas said he is not necessarily in favor of mandatory inspections for rental properties, but he believes a code should be enforced. He described the fire prevention of some rentals in the borough as “sub-par,” lacking smoke alarms and other safety protections.

John Lux

Next to speak was 28-year resident and founder of Lebanon business Deluxx Bicycles John Lux.

Lux’s primary goal as councilman, he said, would be to carefully oversee new development in the borough and preserve Cornwall’s character.

“We live in an unbelievable area for outdoor activity, for starting a family,” Lux said. “I see the change coming into this area, and we’ve got to slow it down, because if it’s not slowed down, Cornwall’s gonna get completely washed over. There’s nothing wrong with change, but it’s got to be regulated, it’s got to be watched, it’s got to be controlled as much as something like this can be.”

Cornwall has seen rapid development in recent years, from new housing developments throughout the borough to a hotly contested mixed-use development in consideration at Miner’s Lake.

Lux floated some of the borough’s land being put in trusts to be preserved. He suggested that he would be open to the borough buying land, but only if there was evidence borough ventures on that land would generate enough profits to balance out.

Lux also spoke in favor of infrastructure improvements, in particular to the borough’s winding roads, which have been put under increased duress due to new development. He said he was opposed to a roundabout, something previously suggested by PennDOT, but supports increased attention to disrepair. He said he would be willing to facilitate communication with PennDOT, with multiple roads running through Cornwall being overseen by the state.

Former councilman Ron Ricard asked Lux where he would get the money for road improvements, and Lux responded that he understands local government is a “balancing act,” adding that he needs to learn more about the details.

Lux also spoke about maintaining Cornwall’s community and working to include new residents in community events and teach them about Cornwall’s rich history. He lauded Cornwall’s National Night Out events as the type of community-building he wants to see more of.

Julie Bowman

Lastly was six-year resident Julie Bowman, a founding member of community group Cornwall United 4 Responsible Development and regular attendee to council and planning & zoning meetings.

Born in Lititz, Bowman said she has lived in multiple locations that were forever changed by rapid development, and that she hopes to preserve the character of Cornwall as it is developed. She is not opposed to development, Bowman said, but advocates for working through new plans slowly and carefully, and taking in feedback from residents at every opportunity.

She said she’d be open to considering the purchase of land by the borough to be preserved, but that she would want the borough to be thorough in its financial analysis and community feedback first.

She said she would push for increased transparency for council — something she has spoken about previously as a resident — by setting processes to be followed by borough boards and employees, ensuring agendas are accurate and available well before meetings, and centering resident feedback.

“I think it’s absolutely important that we make sure that we stop, listen to what the people want, and then represent the people,” Bowman said. “We may have an idea or the council may have an idea, but ultimately our job is to serve the people, and to do that in a transparent manner.”

When asked what she agrees with in actions by the current council, Bowman pointed to chairman Bruce Harris inviting her to be a part of Cornwall’s history alliance, despite her having been one of his harshest critics.

Bowman said that she has worked in management for a large yeast and probiotics company, and has served on multiple different boards, including the Northeast Agribusiness and Feed Alliance and the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet Board. She said her background gives her perspective in being able to collaborate and compromise with people she disagrees with, and exercise financial responsibility.

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All three candidates spoke about balancing financial accountability, developer rights, and the responsibilities of Cornwall in their speeches.

April 8, council will hear from Tobias and vote on who they would like to see serve, potentially up until the end of Fitzgibbons’ term.