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The North Lebanon Township Board of Supervisors unanimously agreed on Wednesday to hold a public hearing for an ordinance establishing a cable franchise agreement with Verizon.
In order to operate in any given municipality, cable companies must establish franchise agreements with the local government to allow use of the public right-of-way. Municipalities typically require cable operators to pay up to 5% of gross revenues, generating additional income.
Over the last few months, North Lebanon has worked with legal consultant Cohen Law Group to draft an five-year franchise agreement with Verizon.
A hearing on the ordinance will be held at the board’s May 18 meeting at 7 p.m., after which the board may vote to adopt the agreement.
Supervisors also heard a presentation from Department of Emergency Services emergency management coordinator Brianna Laliberte.
She notified the board that the DES is holding a full-scale exercise at Palmyra Area High School on May 9. Planning for the exercise has been in the works for a year and a half, Laliberte said.
Laliberte also addressed the future of disaster relief funding, saying that the future of FEMA is uncertain.
“We do know that there will likely be a restructuring coming with that, and what that will do is put more responsibility on the state, the county, and the municipality when it comes to all the phases of disaster,” she said. “Also at this time, federal disaster grants are on hold, most of them.”
She urged residents to invest in homeowners or renters insurance, saying it is unclear where funds will be distributed in the event of an emergency.
“What will happen if there is a disaster and who is getting a disaster declaration from the federal government and who is not right now is not clear; it’s kind of aligning with who is a red state versus who is a blue state,” said Laliberte. “They’re seeing states achieve their thresholds four times the number that they need to, and they’re still not getting a disaster declaration from the federal government.
“We’re trying to do everything we can to make sure we’re dotting our ‘i’s, crossing our ‘t’s, so if something happens here, we are able to get that money,” she said.
Laliberte added that the DES is working on rewriting PA Title 35, the Emergency Management Services code in PA, which was first written in 1978 and has not been significantly updated.
“Emergency management and the nature of disasters has changed a lot since then, so we’re working to modernize it,” she said.
In other news, the board:
Heard that administrative assistant Amber Royles-Eby resigned from her position effective immediately. Township manager Lori Books said Royles-Eby called her in the morning Sunday, April 19 to inform her of her resignation. The board unanimously agreed to accept her resignation and promote Misty Bender to administrative assistant with a $2 hourly pay increase and six-month probationary period, as well as advertise for an open clerk position.
Heard from Ken Beissel regarding Phase 4 of the Crossings development. Beissel, who purchased a home in the development, said he was told in 2023 that streetlights would be installed in several locations where they were ultimately left out, with some of these holes partially filled in and others left as-is with the developer planning eventually to fill them. An update to the plan allowed the developer to install fewer streetlights, but supervisor Ed Brensinger said he would talk to the public works director to determine if the plan was followed.
Heard a resident’s concern about speeding on Tunnel Hill Road, which the police department said was a frequent enforcement zone. Brensinger urged residents to push the state to allow local police departments to use radar enforcement, noting that Pennsylvania is the only remaining state to not allow it.
Unanimously authorized Books and solicitor Amy Leonard to prepare rules and regulations and draft an ordinance regarding food trucks in the township, such as at ballfields and full-service rental pavilions. Leonard said possible stipulations may include that operators of trucks are properly certified.
Unanimously agreed to a contract for a $25,000 Marcellus Shale Grant for the estimated $84,780 renovation of the Lions Lake walking path. A required 50% match will come largely from township in-kind services.
Unanimously agreed to appoint Susan Mion as an alternate to the planning commission, term expiring at the end of 2029.
Heard from Josh Weaber regarding the six-lot Whispering Pines subdivision, asking about a turn radius. Supervisors directed Weaber to speak with Rettew project manager John Schick for his opinion.
Unanimously agreed to award MuniciBid items to the highest bidders, save for a copy machine which received no bids. Brensinger offered the machine to the fire companies.
Unanimously approved a request from Lebanon City Police to allow the fire police to assist during various city events.
Unanimously agreed to allow the non-budgeted purchase of a new Automated External Defibrillator for $1150. The current AED, purchased in 2007, has been “chirping,” Books said, indicating the need for replacement.
Unanimously approved a stormwater credit application for 49.4% for the Briar Ridge Development on the east side of North 8th Avenue due to the three basins, one subsurface bed, and one infiltration bed on the property, at the recommendation of MS-4 consultant Darren Heisey.
Unanimously approved a $43,228.80 release of credit for the Woodlea development.
Unanimously approved a $7,500 release of financial security for 2500 N. 21 St.
Unanimously approved tree dedication agreements with Phyllis Casper and Joan French.
Unanimously approved a plan review extension until Aug. 3 for 799 Kimmerlings Road.
Unanimously approved a plan review extension for 803 Kimmerlings Road until July 1.
Unanimously approved minutes and payroll.
Heard reports.
North Lebanon Township Board of Supervisors meets the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. These meetings are open to the public and do not require prior registration.
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