Council approved Palmyra's participation in a free regional fire study conducted through Lebanon County (the DCE/region study) with East Hanover Township, Jonestown Borough, North Londonderry Township, Palmyra Borough, Union Township and other interested municipalities.

The nut graf: The study aims to assess fire service delivery across participating municipalities and examine structural options—such as continued volunteer service with enhanced incentives, creation of a joint commission, or partial professionalization—that could address volunteer shortages and long‑term sustainability. At the meeting the borough heard several fire department requests that the study will examine further: establishment of a fire tax in North Londonderry, naming the fire chief and deputy chief as fire marshals under state law, increasing the incentive program (the request would add $37,500 from each municipality to bring combined incentive funding to $300,000), and converting certain leadership stipends into part‑time municipal positions to free up stipend dollars for retention incentives.

Discussion points and legal concerns: Councilors and staff repeatedly asked for legal and fiscal detail before changing policy. A staff speaker summarized research that the Pennsylvania State Police law (cited in the meeting) authorizes the appointment of fire officials to report fires to the state police but does not itself create local fire marshal inspection or enforcement authority; council asked the borough solicitor (referred to during discussion) to confirm legal authority and liability implications before any appointments are made. Councilors also flagged civil‑service and municipal‑employment issues: making chiefs and other leadership part‑time municipal employees may trigger borough civil‑service rules and a competitive hiring process, whereas making those positions township employees could present different legal mechanics. Several councilors said they prefer to wait for the county study results and for legal counsel to provide formal opinions and cost estimates before taking financial commitments.

Financial and governance details: Currently Palmyra contributes about $112,000 toward fire service from general funds; the department requested adding $37,500 (per municipality) to increase the combined incentive funding to $300,000. Council members asked staff to get precise cost models for (a) increasing the incentive program, and (b) making key positions part‑time municipal employees or establishing an intermunicipal commission that could hire staff centrally. One councilor emphasized the urgency of resolving service design because volunteer recruitment challenges are ongoing but cautioned that policy decisions should be made only after the study and solicitor review.

Ending: Council approved participation in the regional study. Staff were directed to request legal guidance about appointing fire marshals, estimate costs and municipal impacts of part‑time positions and incentive increases, and to coordinate next fire service commission meetings with neighboring municipalities to keep the process on a near‑term timeline.