West Lebanon commissioners remember John ‘Chicken’ Brenner

This article was funded by LebTown donors as part of our Civic Impact Reporting Project.

At a lengthy July 6 meeting, West Lebanon Township commissioners dedicated a moment of silence and a time for sharing during the visitors’ address in memory of John C. Brenner.

Brenner served West Lebanon in various official and unofficial roles, including as a township emergency management coordinator, for more than three decades.

President Jeffrey Clarke shared a memory of responding to an EMS call in North Lebanon Township during Winter Storm Jonas in 2016. Brenner brought over a front-end loader from West Lebanon Township and cleared a path to the residence for first responders.

“There was nobody like John, though. He did so much, and I know that just about everybody in this room could say the same thing. He’s going to be missed,” said Clarke.

Vice president Phylis Dryden shared an anecdote from being a Sunday school teacher to Brenner’s twin granddaughters — supported by commentary from Clarke about the importance of family to Brenner.

“When I met them, I said, ‘You know, I work with your grandfather.’ And the one little girl said, ‘You work with Grandpa Chicken?’ And the other little girl said, ‘It’s not Grandpa Chicken. It’s Grandpa John.’ One of them was very proper in the way she said things, and the other was a lot more like John,” said Dryden.

Clarke allowed former township manager Antoinette Issis, who is not a resident of West Lebanon Township, to share. Issis was introduced to the township by Brenner, who gave her the chance to intern with the township as a Lebanon Valley College student.

“I gained so much knowledge … having worked with him. Me and him didn’t always see eye-to-eye on everything, but he taught me how to do things the right way,” said Issis.

Several West Lebanon Township residents also shared memories of Brenner and his decades of service to the township. Mentions of Brenner and his work ethic were sprinkled throughout the meeting.

Commissioners unanimously approved a motion to name the West Lebanon Township recreation area — with the exception of the already-named baseball field — in memory of Brenner. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is being planned, with details forthcoming.

“He gave his whole life for public safety. … But his biggest thing was for the kids: recreation. The last big thing John did was that pickleball court,” said commissioner Justin Snyder.

During the non-dedicated portion of the visitors’ address, Brian Preski, president of National Water Specialties Co., pitched his company’s services regarding backflow protection to the board.

The board said they will have a discussion with Issis, who works part-time for the township and is herself a certified backflow tester.

In other news, commissioners unanimously moved to:

• Approve the June 1 meeting minutes.
• Approve the treasurer’s report; police report, which included 1,433 calls and overtime details on regular Friday and Saturday nights at Rutter’s; Speedwell Fire Company report, which included eight calls; highway report, which included upcoming crack sealing of roads; water report, which included a potential issue with the recently replaced well pump #2 and upcoming hydrant flushing; sewer report, which included authorizing Issis to contact local nurseries for replacement plants for around the pump station that will suppress noise and deter deer; township buildings report; recreation report, which included the completion of work on the pickleball court and the gaga pit; public safety report; green waste report; zoning report, which included three purchase certificates; and finance report, which included the payment of the township’s bills.

“John was a hustler, and he liked to get things done. He was firm. He was fair with his enforcement. I feel like if you had a reason something was occurring, he would work with people a lot of times here in West Lebanon and North Lebanon,” said Chief Timothy Knight following the police report.

In light of Issis’s recent resignation as township manager, commissioners are working on writing a job description, which may still leave the township with roles to be filled.

Regarding food inspections in the township, commissioners unanimously authorized Clarke to check with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and Lebanon city on options and any costs that may be associated with those options.

Commissioners also discussed code enforcement in the township, which included contracting with Commonwealth Code Inspection Services at a rate of $68/hour.

Commissioners unanimously approved a motion to adopt Resolution 2026-10 appointing Commonwealth Code Inspection Services to provide a certified building code official, as well as a motion to adopt Resolution 2026-11 appointing Jessica Herberg as zoning officer.

Commissioners announced that it is in the process of updating its zoning ordinance to add language surrounding data centers and home occupations.

After commissioners unanimously approved a motion to amend the agenda, newlyweds Brayden Travis and Annaliese Travis were sworn in as fire police for the township.

West Lebanon Township will meet next on Monday, Aug. 3, at 7 p.m., at the municipal building at 322 N. 22nd St., Lebanon. Meetings are streamed on Zoom and can be accessed through a link posted to the website before the meeting.