N. Lebanon Twp. officials consider adopting regionalized police force charter

The North Lebanon Township Board of Supervisors moved forward plansfor a potential merger of the North Lebanon and North Cornwall Township police departments.

With a 2-1 vote Monday, supervisors voted in favor of having an independent special counsel draft an ordinance approving an intermunicipal charter agreement to form the Lebanon County Regional Police Department.

North Lebanon Police Chief Tim Knight said it has been difficult to hire police officers for both departments, and merging the departments would help with the safety of the officers and the residents in both municipalities.

"For us to combine our police forces will increase the safety of the police officers on the street, so no one is working alone," he said in a call with the Lebanon Daily News. "That will increase the available officers to respond to the residents in case of emergencies."

Officials have proposed a 24-officer force that would cover North Lebanon, North Cornwall and West Lebanon townships. The coverage area, including West Lebanon, would include 26.75 square miles and a combined population of 21,385 residents.

The proposed consolidated departments would be overseen by a five-member commission: Two supervisors from both North Lebanon and North Cornwall, and one at-large community member.

Supervisors Monday asked Josele Cleary to prepare the ordinance, which would require a public meeting before it can be passed. This would give residents the opportunity to share their opinions at public meeting before the ordinance can be passed.

While having the charter approved by both municipalities is the first step, Knight said officials have been preparing to get everything in place to move forward with the regionalized department.

"Right now we're looking at negotiating the contract with North Cornwall and North Lebanon Township police association unions," he said. "We're looking at getting an accurate quote on medical insurance ... and then we got to get a quote on pension because now we have to combine our pensions."

A draft of the proposed charter calls for North Cornwall and North Lebanon to split the total cost of the regional force 50-50 if it is formed.

Officials included a $5.052 million preliminary 2025 budget for the regional force with the charter draft. In it both municipalities contribute $2.216 million to the regional force.

North Lebanon Township Police Department's 2024 budget was $2.246 million. Knight said the regional department would be close to $30,000 cheaper for the township.

"They took these numbers based on our current operational expenses, so this is as close as they can get to being accurate," he said.

West Lebanon Township currently receives police coverage from North Lebanon Township Police and would likely be included in the coverage area of the regionalized police force. Officials project that West Lebanon will be providing $91,801 in funds to the regional department.

The goal is to have the regional police department "completed and ready to be operational" by January 2025, according to Knight.

A copy of the regional police charter draft and preliminary 2025 budget can be found at the North Lebanon Township website at northlebanontwppa.gov.

Proposal concerns

Board Chairman Edward Brensinger on Monday voted against the preparation of the ordinance, saying he didn't think a regional police force would be good for the township.

"I have opposed this from the start," he said "I do not think it will be in the best interest of our township. I was elected to serve the residents of North Lebanon."

During a special meeting in October, Brensinger said his biggest concerns about the regionalized department was higher costs and how they would impact township residents.

Supervisors Gary Heisey and Arden Snook, both on a steering committee for the regionalization plan, voted for preparing the ordinance Monday. Heisey said that a year ago he promised to give close scrutiny to the plan as it was being discussed

"If I don't personally believe this is a good idea I won't vote for it," Heisey said Monday.

Heisey added that he wants a 7% amendment added to the charter. If the final estimated first year budget amount is 7% or more than the estimate the committee currently proposed the township would have the option of withdrawing from the agreement.

Resident Cheri Grumbine said that supervisors do a projected three-year budget because the regional police commission may decide that there will be a need to increase the size of the facilities to accompany a 24-officer force.

Knight said Monday that the space now being used by the North Lebanon Township Police Department will be adequate for the regional force. The current North Cornwall Township building will be used as a police substation.

North Lebanon Police responded to 407 calls April, according to Knight. These included one investigation of rape, 27 thefts, one possession of heroin, one offense of a child, 13 domestic situations, and three wanted persons.

Other business

• Supervisors approved the retirement of Sgt. Duane Koons, a 27-year veteran of the police department. Officials said that Koons is a highly competent cop and a likeable person. Koons' last working day will be June 7.

• Resident Bruce Sattazahn said supervisors previously discussed a plan to replace a wall along Jay Street, and asked that the new wall will be built farther back from the roadway. The long wall constructed of decorative concrete blocks is unusual in that it acts as a retaining wall for front yards of several adjoining residential properties with homes built at the top of hills, set back from the road.  There is a narrow shoulder in front of the road, and Satazahn said that narrow shoulder provides a challenge for snow plowing. Brensinger said he has not seen plans for the new wall, but the existing wall was built in the 1950s and at some point ownership was transferred to the township.

• Supervisors approved submitting an application for a $13,000 Marcellus Shale Grant offered by the Lebanon County Commissioners. The township will be required to match that amount with its own funds or by providing in-kind services, in the form of labor costs and/or materials valued at $13,000..

• Township solicitor Amy Leonard drafted an ordinance that would create requirements for owners of properties where private fire hydrants are located, to do an annual test of the hydrants, and to report to the township if a hydrant is not in service. The township fire companies recommended to supervisors that this ordinance be put in place.

Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ldnews.com or on X at @DAMattToth. Douglas Stump is a correspondent for LDN.

This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: N. Lebanon PA officials consider adopting regionalized police charter