LCRPD withdraws police coverage offer to Myerstown, council member resigns

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Myerstown Borough Council announced during its monthly meeting April 14 that the Lebanon County Regional Police Department has withdrawn its offer of coverage to the borough.

Council president Daniel Ebling read aloud a letter from the LCRPD Board of Commissioners, which cited “inconsistencies in the borough’s process of creating a services contract” as a reason to “suspend the current dialogue.”

This comes after the LCRPD offered Myerstown a three-year contract for 20 hours of patrolling per week and 24/7 calls for service for $300,000 annually, as was detailed to the public during a heated public town hall Feb. 21. At that time, it was stated that the earliest the contract could take place would be the start of 2027.

This offer was negotiated with the department by the previous council last year. However, four out of seven seats went to newcomers in last year’s elections, meaning that most of the current council was not involved in these discussions.

Since taking office, Ebling has expressed preference for establishing a part-time one-officer Myerstown police department or an ELCO police department.

During a workshop which discussed policing last month, he voiced concerns about a possible rate increase after the LCRPD contract expires, inability to pull out mid-term, and the lack of full-time patrol offered. At that time, Ebling said he wanted to renegotiate with LCRPD to ensure event coverage, guarantee attendance of council meetings, place requirements on response times, and discuss the price point.

Since the Myerstown Police Department was dissolved in 2014, residents have voiced concerns about slow response time from state police and a lack of ordinance enforcement. During February’s town hall, most residents who spoke favored receiving coverage from LCRPD, though Ebling said last month he felt some residents may have felt intimidated from speaking at the meeting.

Also Tuesday, Ebling read aloud a resignation letter from councilman Bryan Rittle, at the request of councilman Matthew Mulvaney. Rittle was not present Tuesday. The resignation was accepted by council; Mulvaney opposed, but added: “Not that it matters.”

“I can no longer be associated with this council,” said Rittle’s letter, read by Ebling. “I do not wish to be associated with their so-called efforts to make Myerstown great again. Elections have consequences and therefore the new council will have to own these actions. Alienating our neighbors is not something I believe is making Myerstown great, therefore I resign my seat on council immediately.”

Rittle, the longest-serving member of council and the only remaining council member sworn in before 2024, has repeatedly voiced opposition to forming a new department and pushed for accepting the LCRPD’s offer, which he was involved in negotiating.

This follows the resignation of councilwoman Stacey Hackman in February, after which council appointed Robert Fullenlove to the seat in a mixed vote. Councilman Mark Kirsch, elected in 2024, has also said he may resign from his position this year, noting that he plans to move out of the borough. Kirsch was also not in attendance Tuesday.

Council is now accepting letters of interest for Rittle’s seat and plans to hold interviews and make a decision at its monthly meeting May 12.

No decision was made on next steps for policing Tuesday. However, Ebling previously requested a cost estimate for a feasibility study for a one-officer Myerstown or regional ELCO police department, which council has not yet received.

Prior to the announcement, resident Phyllis Oxenreider read a statement criticizing council. She urged council to take the best interests of the borough into account while filling the empty council seat next month.

“Tonight, I’m here to tell you how extremely disappointed I am with this council. People of this council have specific agendas that will not benefit the citizens of this community. These agendas are to benefit themselves personally and to give them control,” she said, adding that she felt council’s actions led to LCRPD’s withdrawal from negotiations. “After years of research diligently given by previous council members, we are back to nothing. After attending the special meeting concerning the police force, it was obvious that you want the borough to have their own police force so you have the ultimate control.

“Now, with the pending resignation of a current council member, you will again have the opportunity to choose a new member. Will that person be the best for the council or the best for Myerstown? Most who attend these meetings can see what is happening here.”

Also discussing police, Mayor Dane Bicher said he had reached out to nearby municipalities with police departments to learn more about their costs, and said Millcreek pays $361,000 annually for the salary of two officers. He presented a list of possible costs for a police cruiser, and suggested that if a part-time department is formed, the cruiser should be kept in a garage so people cannot tell when an officer is not on duty.

In other news, council:

• Unanimously accepted a low bid of $100,743.85 from New Enterprise Stone & Lime for the CDBG improvements project for West Jefferson and East Washington avenues. A resident voiced safety concerns with widening East Washington leading up to the dead end, but changing the specs would require a change order for the FY2024 grant paying for the project and possibly incur additional engineering fees for the borough. If the borough opts to pursue the change order, it will require DCED approval.
• Unanimously agreed to award three contracts for the 2026 paving project:
  • Ronnie C. Folk Paving for $121,627.50. The contract includes paving, milling and preparation of South Railroad Street from Richland Avenue to the railroad tracks, as well as Valentine, Monroe, and Walborn alleys. The contract also includes traffic calming speed tables on Locust Street from West Main to West Maple.
  • Martin Paving for $24,741.50, including surface treatment for Valentine, Monroe, and Walborn alleys.
  • Alpha Space Control for line striping and pavement markings, including on all PennDOT intersections and piano crosswalks at the Main Street intersections with Railroad and Locust.
• Agreed to a $17,473.55 quote from Myerstown Sheds & Fencing for replacement of a section of the pool fence. Following a lengthy discussion, council ultimately opted to move one corner of the fence to avoid requiring a survey to confirm property lines, as Ebling (the neighboring property owner) said he feels the plan intrudes on his property. Ebling abstained.
• Unanimously approved a $3,260 quote from Evergreen Fence for installation of a pickleball divider fence.
• Unanimously agreed to move forward with a procedure for the recreation board to review special event requests and provide recommendations to council prior to council approval following discussion.
• Unanimously approved an ordinance amending the non-uniformed employee pension plan with compliance updates following a public hearing. Supervisors also unanimously authorized staff to issue a request for proposals for third party administrator services for this pension plan.
• Unanimously approved a handicapped parking space application for 26 E. Park Ave.
• Unanimously approved a payment plan agreement with the owner of 606 S. Railroad St. for the borough-completed curb and sidewalk work for the South Railroad Street roadway project.
• Unanimously approved Myerstown Vitality Partnership use of the Community Center parking lot for 2026 farmers market events following an executive session.
• Unanimously approved an America250 event at the Isaac Meier Homestead Aug. 14 from 5 to 8 p.m.
• Unanimously approved an event request from Mission Church Myerstown to use the Community Center parking lot for a fundraiser May 16.
• Unanimously approved a $250 sponsorship to the Lebanon County America250PA partnership. Bicher said council should be more diligent about these requests in the future, noting he wasn’t aware that the Jonestown parade (which the borough already donated to) was not affiliated with the county committee.
• Heard reports and unanimously approved minutes.

Myerstown Borough Council holds its voting session the second Tuesday of each month and a work session the fourth Wednesday of each month. These meetings are open to the public and do not require prior registration.