Palmyra grants Lions Club permission to use town square for four events

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

Palmyra Borough Council voted unanimously on Sept. 22 to give permission to Palmyra Area Lions Club to use the town square for several upcoming annual events.

Events include Trick-or-Treat at the Square on Oct. 29, the opening of Santa’s House on Nov. 27, Holiday Tree Lighting on Dec. 5, and Reindeer Night, which attracts roughly 800 people each year, on Dec. 19. Lions Club spokesman Frank Pulli presented the schedule to council.

During action and discussion items, vice president Marcus Riddell initiated a discussion regarding the scheduling of Trick-or-Treat for 2026 and future years.

The brief discussion concluded with council deciding to hold Trick-or-Treat in the borough on the date chosen by the Lebanon County Chiefs of Police Association — this year, that’s Oct. 29, from 6 to 8 p.m., rain or shine barring severe weather.

Council members Karen Nye and Beth Shearer reminded council about the Subsurface and Stormwater Investigation Report, urging them to act on the suggestions from Dr. William Seaton, senior hydrogeologist at ARM Group LLC.

Seaton suggested addressing areas of concern within the borough, including South Grant Street near the Cherry Street grouting and within the breakline area, East Cherry Street within the breakline area, South Locust Street near the Palmyra Area Middle School, and southeast Palmyra near Forge Road Elementary School, including East Walnut Street, South Franklin Street, East Cypress Street, and Sandalwood Drive.

Council unanimously voted to approve Resolution #2026-29 for the sale of borough vehicles and equipment.

Council also unanimously voted to approve $98,077 as the Minimum Municipal Obligation for the non-uniformed pension plan for 2027.

In other news, council voted unanimously to:

• Approve the Sept. 8 meeting minutes with a minor correction, approve the payment of the borough’s bills, and approve the treasurer’s report.
• Approve the mayor’s report, which applauded council’s conversations and the direction of the borough with the various events scheduled for the coming months; financial report; fire department/EMS report; library report; police report; recreation commission report; solicitor’s report, which included President Judge John Tylwalk signing the eminent domain case with 310-312 E. Cherry St.; and zoning and codes enforcement report, which included assistant borough manager Brenda Pera stating that “it would not be up to the borough” to remove skill game machines from local businesses and establishments.
• Approve the borough manager’s report, which included:
  • An update from borough manager Kim Kaufman, who has returned to work following open-heart surgery. He thanked council for its support and offer for additional recovery time if needed. Council applauded Kaufman and told him they were glad to have him back.
  • An update that the first draft of the budget will be presented to council on Oct. 27, the preliminary budget will be presented to council on Nov. 10 for review, and the final budget will be presented to council on Dec. 8 for adoption.

Council opted not to donate to the Lebanon County Conservation District’s Agricultural Land Preservation Board in response to an annual request for financial support. There is no preserved land within the borough.

This meeting was covered remotely by LebTown using a livestream posted to the borough’s YouTube page.

Palmyra Borough Council will meet next on Oct. 13, at 7 p.m, at 325 S. Railroad St. Meetings are also streamed on the Palmyra Borough, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania YouTube page.