Tyrone Borough Council Minutes of Regular Council Meeting

Meeting Overview

The Tyrone Borough Council held its regular monthly meeting on November 10, 2025, at 7:00 PM in the Municipal Building. The session began with an invocation by Paul Politza and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Latchford.

Attendance:

• Present: Council members Sarah Hunter, Ken Patterson, Tammy Wills, William Wiser, and Mayor Latchford.
• Absent: Council members Robert Dollar and David Snyder.
• Staff Present: Interim Borough Manager Kim Gurekovich, Solicitor Dan Stants, Chief of Police Jessica Walk, and various department superintendents (Sewer, Water, Highway) and the Code Enforcement Officer.

Public Interviews for Vacant Council Seat

The Council conducted public interviews for a vacant seat on the Borough Council. Four residents submitted letters of interest, and three were interviewed:

• Ms. Jennifer Bryan: Highlighted 9 years of previous Council experience, strong leadership skills, and budget experience. She is a retired lifelong resident of Tyrone.
• Ms. Bridgette Gill: Noted 7 years of volunteer service in Tyrone and a desire to help move the community forward.
• Mrs. Debra Hann: Cited extensive service history, including work with funerals, housing missionaries, and writing by-laws for the Republican party.
• Mr. Michael Westbrook: Did not show up for his interview.

Decision: Mayor Latchford announced that the Council will vote on this matter at the December meeting to ensure all members are present.

Public Comment

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to public comments regarding Calvary Tyrone and their potential involvement with homeless services.

• Support for Calvary:

  • Jen Powell (Library): Provided an update on library activities, including "Rain Poetry" on sidewalks.
  • David Horner: Spoke on behalf of Calvary, emphasizing their goal to change lives for the good.
  • Paul Politza: Invited residents to visit Calvary to understand their work, noting they have both success and non-success stories but are willing to share.
  • Pastor Bill Ewing & Sarah Ewing: Introduced the "Tyrone Community Outreach. " They clarified that they offer a "hand up, not a hand out," requiring an intake process and commitment from those seeking help. They provide meals, showers, laundry, and assistance with identification and finances. Sarah Ewing noted that out of 42 people helped in the last 8 years, only two were not from Tyrone.

• Concerns and Opposition:

  • Deb Moore: Expressed concern that a homeless shelter would strain medical, police, and taxpayer resources.
  • JJ Murphy: Questioned the safety implications for women and the community, stating that buying a building downtown is not a great solution.
  • Deb Kann: Shared a cautionary tale about a women's shelter in Huntingdon that attracted people from Philadelphia and led to issues.
  • Eric Petruncio: Raised concerns about drug use, crime, and theft associated with homeless populations.
  • Lori Murphy (Skin Bar Owner): Reported three recent incidents involving homeless individuals and expressed concern for the safety of her clients.
  • John Russell: While supportive of helping humans, he noted issues with outside receptacles and police contact. He also highlighted his business's economic contribution (175 employees, $1M payroll).

Ordinances and Reports

• Ordinance No. 1490 (E-Bikes): The Council unanimously approved an ordinance prohibiting electric bikes on all sidewalks in the Borough at all times. An exception was made for Borough Parking Enforcement officers performing official duties.
• Departmental Reports: The Council received monthly reports from the Consulting Engineer (Rettew’s Engineering), Code Enforcement, Police Department (Chief Walk), Sewer Department (Mr. Harris), Water Department (Mr. Shultz), and Highway Department (Mr. Desch).

The meeting adjourned at 9:00 PM.