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Fire Marshal Lew Babel to retire; commissioners dispute social‑media claims over fire‑fund redistribution
Summary
The Board accepted Fire Marshal Lew Babel’s retirement effective Dec. 31; Babel corrected a previously reported statistic and commissioners rejected a social‑media post alleging cuts and false reporting, directing further review of response boundaries between Sanatoga and Ringing Hill fire companies.
The Lower Pottsgrove Board of Commissioners unanimously accepted the retirement of Fire Marshal Lew Babel effective Dec. 31 at its Nov. 3 meeting and commissioners and community members offered tributes to his decades of service.
During the Fire Marshal report, Babel corrected a previously reported figure, asking that the record reflect Station 59 (Ringing Hill Fire Company) averaged 5.69 members per call in September. "He apologized and would like the record to reflect the corrected information," the minutes record.
Commissioner Michael McGroarty addressed a recent Facebook post that alleged one fire company’s funds had been cut, that calls always involved equal mutual aid, and that Fire Marshal Babel provided false numbers at meetings. McGroarty said he reviewed the 2024 year‑end report and 2025 call data provided by the chiefs and concluded the social‑media post was false; he presented comparative averages showing Sanatoga’s responders averaged higher per call than Ringing Hill both for 2024 and in 2025 to date. McGroarty asked Commissioner Robert Mohollen to speak with both fire companies to identify where response and funding mismatches exist.
Fire Chief Eric Linsenbigler interjected during the discussion to note that boundary lines for the two companies date to 1956 and are based on voting districts rather than proximity, and he said any change to those lines would have to be made by the township. Commissioner Mohollen said the township will take a fresh look at boundaries given development changes since 1956.
Commissioners repeatedly praised Babel for his service; Manager Edward C. Wagner said he considers Babel a "father figure" and said he will continue to rely on Babel’s historical knowledge after retirement. The Board took no additional financial action at the meeting; it directed follow‑up research into operational boundaries and coordination between the two volunteer fire companies.
