Speedwell Fire Co. to remain out of service for at least a month

(Undated) — Speedwell Fire Company will likely remain out of service for at least a month after an agreement was reached between the company’s board of directors and the West Lebanon Township commissioners at a meeting Tuesday night at the West Lebanon Township building at 322 N. 22nd St.

The township had placed the all-volunteer fire company out of service beginning Dec. 22 after it was determined that seven of nine firefighters who responded to a Dec. 14 call were “under the influence of alcohol,” according to a letter that township supervisor John Brenner sent to the Lebanon County Emergency Management Agency.

The North Lebanon Township Police Department’s investigation into the incident was not a criminal investigation, and there will be no charges filed, chief Harold Easter said at Tuesday’s meeting.

Acting President Michelle Testerman would not comment on the specifics of what happened on Dec. 14, except that there was a fire call during a fire company meeting. 

“If police decided this (incident) happened, I’m sure there would be criminal charges,” she said.

Under terms of the agreement between the township and the fire company, the fire company will not respond to any calls for at least 30 days, beginning Jan. 2.

Speedwell’s board will be restructured and reorganized and a committee of five people will mediate between the township and the fire company during the reorganization. The township will likely accept the recommendation of that committee, township solicitor Paul Bametzreider said.

The committee will consist of Lebanon Fire Commissioner Duane Trautman, Lebanon Fire Chief Larry Loeper, a Lebanon line officer, William Testerman of Speedwell, and township commissioner Richard Pflueger.

In the meantime, Ebenezer Fire Company in North Lebanon Township will remain the first responder for township fire calls. Officials stressed that, because of mutual aid agreements, there is no risk that the township will not have fire coverage. 

“The commissioners, they’re primary concern is the health and safety of the residents of West Lebanon Township, so that’s why they’re acting to ensure that the township residents are safe and protected,” Bametzreider said.

The township commissioners met in executive session for about 40 minutes for what Bametzreider called “disciplinary matters” – first by themselves, then with fire company leadership – before voting 4-0 to accept the agreement. Commissioner Phylis Dryden was absent.

The people who were on the fire company’s board of directors when the Dec. 14 call occurred are no longer on the board but remain members of the fire company, Testerman said.

The company will undertake a revision of its bylaws and fix some things “that should have been done for years now by previous boards and have not been done,” she said. Speedwell intends to eventually resume service.

“We want to continue to serve West Lebanon Township,” she said. “That’s our goal.”

This story comes to us through a partnership between WITF and The Lebanon Daily News.