Palmyra joins regional fire study; council debates incentive increases, part‑time roles and legal steps

Palmyra Borough Council voted to participate in a DCE regional fire study for Lebanon County on Tuesday and discussed several requests from the volunteer fire company, including higher incentive funding and changes to organizational structure. Council agreed to take part in a study that would include East Hanover Township, Jonestown Borough, North Londonderry Township, Palmyra Borough, Union Township and any other interested municipalities. Councilors said the study is intended to inform long-term decisions about fire funding, structure and service delivery. At a previous fire-service commission meeting the department requested several changes: North Londonderry Township to establish a dedicated fire tax; naming the fire chief and deputy chief as fire marshals under state law; increasing the total incentive program to $300,000 (an increase of $37,500 from each municipality), raising the maximum firefighter incentive from $10,000 to $14,000, increasing stipend-position amounts, and making the chief, deputy chief, president and treasurer part‑time municipal employees so stipend positions could be redirected into the incentive program. Council members and staff flagged several legal and practical questions. One councilor read the Pennsylvania State Fire Marshal Act and said it “does not authorize boroughs to appoint fire marshals” and does not create local inspection or enforcement authority for a fire chief; she recommended the department consult state police or the state fire marshal’s office for clarification. Council asked borough solicitor input on whether the borough can appoint a local fire marshal or whether State Police appointment is required. Council also discussed civil-service implications if the borough made department leaders part‑time municipal employees. Borough staff cautioned that borough part‑time municipal positions could trigger civil-service hiring processes; some members suggested any part‑time municipal roles might be easier administered by the township or by an intermunicipal commission rather than directly by the borough. Council approved participation in the regional study and asked staff and the solicitor to return with legal guidance and cost estimates for the various proposals. Officials said the study team expected to finish work before the end of the year, and council indicated it wants legal and financial figures before making commitments on incentives or staffing changes.