Palmyra Borough Council commits to steady fire department apparatus funding

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Palmyra Borough Council voted during the March 24 meeting to commit to contributing $75,000 annually into the fire department’s apparatus fund until 2031 to replace equipment.

The amount is consistent with what the borough already provides, but the department wanted a vote guaranteeing future funding.

“The reason why we’re doing this is because it used to take us one to two years to get a piece of fire apparatus, and that went to three years, then four years, now basically we’re at five years,” Palmyra Fire Chief David Dugan said. “It’s almost ludicrous, but out of our control.”

He said the engine will be about $1.2 million to $1.4 million when it arrives, and they cannot afford that without a joint apparatus fund between the borough and North Londonderry Township. It will replace a 2006 engine that is nearing the end of its life.

“You can’t get parts for it, and it won’t count toward the ISO rating anymore, which means insurance — property insurance — could go up,” Dugan said. “So, we’re replacing a piece that needs replaced.”

He said the high price tag and timeline to receive the engine are because there are only a few companies that control the market.

Interim borough manager Brenda Pera said she presented the resolution to the solicitor, who said council cannot hold a future council to the agreement.

“That means in 2028, when the new council comes and takes their oath of office, if they choose to revisit this, they can,” she said.

Also related to the fire department, council approved a resolution modifying a 2015 guarantee amendment for the fire company loan used to build the station.

The borough guaranteed a 50% portion of the $4.6 million loan, with North Londonderry Township covering the other 50%. The township now wants to pay off the remainder of its loan.

Ben Reid with Mette Attorneys at Law attended the meeting to assure council members that the township paying off their half of the loan early will have no impact on the borough’s financial responsibility.

“This is all really for the benefit of the township,” he said. “It doesn’t impact the liabilities or the obligations of the borough. It just memorializes the township being out of the picture in terms of liabilities associated with the loan.”

In other business, council:

• Passed a resolution authorizing an application for a Local Share Account grant and to amend the designated officials to execute all documents and agreements relating to it. Pera said this was previously approved, but needed an updated housekeeping approval due to personnel changes on council.
• Authorized a road closure for the annual Seltzer’s Smokehouse Meats Carnival to honor founder Harvey Seltzer on Sunday, May 23, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Road closures include Federal Alley between West Broad Street and West High Street and the unnamed alley going east to west from Federal Alley to North Railroad Street.
• Authorized road closures for the Palmyra Civic Baseball Association to conduct an opening day parade on Saturday, April 11, at 9 a.m. The parade will begin at Forge Road Elementary School, proceed onto South Prince Street, then East Cypress Street, South Duke Street, East Elm Street, Sandalwood Drive, Colonial Road, Sycamore Lane, East Elm Street, and South Duke Street before finishing at the elementary school baseball fields.

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