Lebanon Committee adopts formal policy for dedicatory memorials over one dissent

The Lebanon Township Committee adopted a formal policy June 7 to govern dedicatory memorial donations and certain structural donations on township-owned property. Resolution No. 65-2023 memorialized a motion previously made May 3 and passed at the June 7 meeting by a 4–1 vote: AYES — Thomas McKee, Brian Wunder, Abe Abuchowski and Mayor Beverly Koehler; NAY — Mike Schmidt.

The policy establishes application and approval procedures, assigns final authority to the Township Committee, requires donors to pay purchase and installation costs, and states that donations become township property. It allows the Township Committee to specify appearance and siting requirements, to require site-plan review for large or complex donations, and to remove or relocate donations when they interfere with safety or maintenance or become controversial. Installation is to be overseen by the Department of Public Works in coordination with relevant appointed committees or commissions (for example, the Park Committee, Historians or EOSC for open-space sites).

The measure was described in the meeting minutes as intended to manage aesthetic impacts, maintenance costs and community ties to Lebanon Township. The minutes also note that donations from 501(c)(3) organizations are handled separately and are not covered by this policy. The Committee did not record extended debate in the minutes; one recorded dissenting vote indicates at least one member objected to the policy as presented.