Palmyra Borough opens discussions on fire department funding requests

Palmyra Borough Council reviewed requests made by the Palmyra Fire Department during its Sept. 23 meeting but did not take action.

The fire department is struggling with a decreasing volunteer force between the two municipalities it serves — Palmyra Borough and North Londonderry Township.

These staffing difficulties are happening throughout the country. National Fire Protection Association numbers state there were about 808,200 volunteer firefighters serving throughout the United States in 1986, compared to 635,100 in 2023, despite populations increasing over that time.

Read More: Palmyra Borough Council hears report on struggling volunteer fire department

The department’s requests include North Londonderry Township establishing a fire tax, the fire chief and deputy fire chief being named as fire marshals, and either increasing the incentive program to $300,000 or making the chief, deputy chief, president, and treasurer part-time municipal employees.

The incentive program raise would mean a $37,500 increase per municipality. It would increase the maximum a firefighter can earn from $10,000 to $14,000 and increase the stipend amounts.

Chief Dave Dugan said this is an effort to retain the company’s current volunteers rather than recruit new members. The requests were initially presented at a Fire Services Commission meeting on Sept. 10.

“We’ve been conversing about this for years,” Dugan said. “As we pointed out at the meeting, lack of volunteers is systemic everywhere. There’s no cure for it. The state has no answers, the federal government has no answers.”

Borough staff had questions about how the paid municipal positions would work. Assistant borough manager Brenda Pera said if they hired through the borough, they would have to open up the hiring process, and department leadership would not be based on internal election, as it currently is.

Dugan said they were interested in a formalized and empowered fire commission. In that case, the fire taxes of the two municipalities would go toward the commission, which could make its own decisions.

North Londonderry Township currently doesn’t have a fire tax, but it makes an annual contribution out of the general fund.

Council also approved participation in a free Department of Community & Economic Development regional fire study in Lebanon County between East Hanover Township, Jonestown Borough, North Londonderry Township, Palmyra Borough, Union Township, Annville Borough, and other interested municipalities. Dugan said they expected to have the results of the study by the end of the year.

With council having several legal questions for their solicitor and the agreement to participate in the study, they did not take action at the Sept. 23 meeting and are waiting for additional information.

In other business, council:

• Authorized the borough to use RDS Paving & Sealcoating to pave Arch and Division streets from North Railroad Street to a point 200 feet west for $9,664.95, plus the approximately $4,000 cost of asphalt, to be paid out of the general fund.
• Approved the non-uniformed minimum municipal obligation for pension plan funding at $333,433 for 2026.
• Voted to appoint Brown Plus as borough auditor for 2025 for a fee not to exceed $45,000.
• Voted to use eminent domain on properties at 310 and 312 E. Cherry St. Pera said they have not been able to reach the owners for several years.
• Gave permission for the Palmyra Revitalization Committee to start fundraising to install a “Welcome to Palmyra Borough” sign at Mayor’s Park on the northwest corner of the intersection of Lingle Avenue and West Main Street.
• Authorized the borough solicitor to pursue Writs of Scire Facias to commence foreclosure proceedings on 10 properties.
• Amended the borough’s vehicles and traffic ordinance to add five handicap parking spots and remove two.

Palmyra Borough Council will meet next at 325 S. Railroad St. on Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. Meetings are streamed on the Palmyra Borough, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania YouTube page.