Palmyra Borough Council reorganizes with new leadership

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Palmyra Borough Council held its reorganization meeting on Jan. 5, where new councilors were sworn in, and new leadership was elected.

Mayor Tom Miller delivered his oath, and then brought Tony Pearson, Marcus Riddell, Sheila Snyder, and Denver Wilson onto council.

Then, this new bloc voted 4-3 to elect Wilson as council president, replacing past president Beth Shearer, who had the support of councilors Nancy Fleegle and Matthew Andrews. Five council members voted for Snyder to serve as vice president.

Riddell, who has had recent conflict with the volunteer Palmyra Fire Department, was chosen to be a voting member on the Palmyra Fire Services Commission for 2026 along with Shearer.

The public back-and-forth between Riddell and the department’s Chief Dave Dugan started at the Nov. 25 meeting, when, during budget discussions, Riddell asked about the department’s lack of fundraising efforts. Dugan replied, saying a 2012 study recommended the department not do fundraising, though they do an annual fund drive. He said that with training and an overall lack of volunteers, it would be difficult to ask members to do more work raising money.

Riddell later posted on Facebook, outlining various department costs, and Dugan attended the next two meetings to address those comments and ask Riddell several questions. At the last 2025 meeting on Dec. 23, Riddell called Dugan a “pompous ass.”

Riddell posted an apology on his public Facebook page on Dec. 26, saying he “allowed frustration to influence” his words and tone and “did not meet the standard of professionalism” he expects of himself. He apologized and said the incident occurred while he was recovering from knee surgery.

No one on council directly addressed Riddell’s remarks on Tuesday, but Wilson said he wants to set a standard for future meetings.

“I will not permit any unprofessional, disrespectful language or tone from any councilman or any public service leadership official,” he said. “Let’s all work together for the residents of this town and make everything better for all of us.”

Snyder and Pearson were elected to serve the remainder of former councilors Jane Quairoli’s and Jim Tesche’s terms as the borough representatives on the Western Lebanon County Regional Police Commission. Fleegle was nominated for the position, but the motion was defeated.

Riddell was elected to the Palmyra Area Recreation and Parks Commission, with Shearer voting no. Council voted for Fleegle to be its representative to the Palmyra Public Library Board, and for Andrews and Shearer to serve on the Palmyra Planning Commission.

Council also approved several other reappointments, including the following:

• Roger Powl as the borough manager and secretary.
• Brenda Pera as the assistant manager, assistant secretary, and assistant treasurer.
• Christine Donough as treasurer.
• William Garber as borough zoning officer/codes enforcement officer and Light-Heigel Associates Inc. as the PA Uniform Construction Code Building Code official.
• Josele Cleary of Morgan, Hallgren, Crosswell & Kane, P.C., as borough solicitor. The vote was 4-3, with Riddell, Snyder, and Wilson voting against the motion. They did not provide a reason for their votes.
• Mike Knouse of RETTEW Associates as borough engineer and sanitary sewer engineer.
• Brian Craig as the borough council vacancy board chairman and with a term on the Palmyra Municipal Authority.
• Jessica Creter as a regular member of the Palmyra Zoning Hearing Board.

Palmyra Borough Council will meet next at 325 S. Railroad St. on Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. Meetings are streamed on the Palmyra Borough, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania YouTube page.