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Resident urges review of board leadership after heated meeting, cites safety concerns
Summary
At the June 16 Lower Paxton Township supervisors meeting, longtime resident Anthony Costello criticized the board's handling of a recent session, thanked a supervisor for an apology, described being escorted to his vehicle and urged the board to review meeting leadership and meeting management practices.
Anthony Costello urged the Lower Paxton Township Board of Supervisors on June 16 to review recent meeting management and consider whether the board chair should remain in that role, saying the board’s conduct damaged public trust and risked residents’ safety.
Costello told the board that at a prior meeting “a longtime resident should not be singled out in a public meeting and placed in a position where false unsupported accusations are allowed to stand without correction,” and said he had been escorted to his vehicle because of a group waiting outside. He thanked Supervisor Lindsay for acknowledging the board’s mishandling and for an apology.
The remarks came during the public comment period, where Costello framed his request as one about restoring “order, fairness, and respect” rather than a personal grievance. “The township needs leadership that lowers a temperature, not raises it,” he said, urging a reset to protect public participation and professional conduct.
Board members listened and acknowledged the concern; Supervisor Lindsay’s apology to Costello was noted on the record. The board did not take any immediate disciplinary action or vote to change leadership at the meeting.
Other public commenters addressed a range of local issues during the same public‑comment block, from hydrant maintenance and sidewalk planning to e‑bike safety and language barriers for drivers. A former PennDOT employee urged distributing a one‑page PennDOT fact sheet on electric bikes and legal requirements for users. Another resident asked where to report drivers who cannot read English road signs, and was directed to state police, PennDOT, or local representatives.
No formal board action followed Costello’s remarks at the June 16 meeting; he asked the supervisors to consider a formal review of meeting procedures and chair responsibilities at a future meeting.
What’s next: Costello called for the supervisors to address process and leadership concerns to restore public confidence. The board did not schedule a follow‑up vote during the meeting; any formal review or change would require board consideration at a future meeting.
