N. Londonderry officials asked to close road for simulated shooter scenario

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North Londonderry Township supervisors tabled a request Tuesday to close a local road in May for a planned school shooter training exercise to be conducted by the Lebanon County Department of Emergency Services.

The board also discussed conversations concerning proposed changes to a local sports complex and park. 

Temporary road closure proposed

DES officials asked for Park Drive to be closed from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, to conduct a training exercise involving an active shooter scenario to be staged at Palmyra High School. 

Supervisors expressed concerns about local resident notification for the training session and the road closure, altered traffic patterns for a majority of the day, and where residents would park their vehicles.

There was consensus that there’s still time to act on this request at a future meeting once more information has been obtained from Lebanon County DES officials and township concerns are addressed.

All three supervisors expressed support for the training and simply want their concerns addressed prior to road closure authorization.

“I wouldn’t question it so much, except the timeframe is rather long – it’s a full day,” said supervisor James Hartman. “It’s 7 to 4.”

Township manager Mike Booth said DES told him officials may do a portion of the training in the morning at the high school and then move it to a local church for the rest of the day.

Numerous departments, including several local emergency-based task forces, the school district and the county’s DES staff, will participate, with the county taking the lead on the training. As part of the exercise, there will be numerous emergency vehicles in the area, which will require space for parking. 

“Our department will be involved with South Londonderry, I believe Western Lebanon Regional, University EMS … and probation will be helping,” said township police chief Tom Hentz. Booth noted later that the training will involve 60 first responders.   

Booth told supervisors that actors will fill the roles of Palmyra students for the simulation.

Ridge Road Soccer Complex

A brief discussion was held concerning requests from South Londonderry Township officials about presentation of a general schematic of proposed uses at the sports complex located on Ridge Road.

Hartman said he had been contacted by officials from the neighboring municipality concerning changes they’d like to see made there. Hartman, however, expressed reservations and said due diligence needs to occur to avoid duplicity on proposals that have failed in the past.

“I had expressed my concerns that maybe some of the things that she wanted to do had already been looked at years past. They seem to keep going back to this – it’s what I would call a general schematic of use of that land,” Hartman said. “I had, again, pointed out to them that there are deed restrictions to that land. I also had brought up the concerns that I personally would have … that I can’t speak for the township till I bring this stuff up to you folks. But there’s the idea of putting a building on there.”

Hartman said he doesn’t believe it would be a permanent structure, adding, “With permanent buildings comes permanent infrastructure. So you’re going to have to run water, you’re going to have to run sewer.”

Township solicitor Andrew Morrow expressed similar concerns about any changes to the park given those deed restrictions. It was noted during conversation that Hershey Foods deeded the land and serves as the trust for the property it provided for community use.

“I echo a lot of what has been stated by Jim here. I’m not going to candy coat it. I have some serious concerns about the direction that I think they want this organization (to go),” Morrow said. “You can read into that what you want, you probably know what I’m talking about as well. So I have some real concerns. … There are restrictions. I mean, I’m not rendering a legal opinion tonight, so I want to make that abundantly clear.”

Hartman and Morrow will continue to meet with other municipal officials, and this topic will remain a North Londonderry Township agenda item for future meetings.

Other township business

In other business, supervisors voted unanimously to:

• Grant approval to accept the preliminary/final land development plan for Londonderry Village Fox Run Phase 2 project. 
• Purchase a heater for the township garage for $11,500 via the Capital Reserve Fund.
• Pay invoices as presented.
• Appoint Susan W. Dubbs to a one-year term as a township auditor. Township auditors are elected to set salaries of the township supervisors.
• Accept the treasurer’s report for December and January.
• Accept the police department’s 2025 annual report and the January report.
• Approve the minutes of their Jan. 5 meeting.

Next Meeting

North Londonderry Township supervisors meet the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. in the municipal building, 655 East Ridge Road, Palmyra. They met this month on Tuesday due to the President’s Day holiday. The next meeting will be on Monday, March 16.