'Truly humbling': Lebanon City Council honors Lt. William Lebo's service to the city

The last Lebanon City Council meeting to be held in council chambers on the second floor of the Lebanon County and City Building turned solemn when chairman Joseph Morales read a council resolution recording "a deep sense of loss in the death of Lt. William D. Lebo."

The resolution, dated April 25, 2022, notes that Lt. Lebo joined the Lebanon Police Department in 1982 and was promoted to sergeant in 2002 and then to lieutenant in 2005.

"Whereas, Lieutenant Lebo was scheduled to retire in May 2022 after serving proudly with the Lebanon Police Department for 40 years; and whereas, during his time with the City of Lebanon, Lieutenant Lebo proved to be a capable and dedicated member of the Lebanon Police Department, we are grateful for his commitment and tireless efforts to protecting the citizens of the City of Lebanon," Morales read.

"We mourn the loss of Lieutenant William D. Lebo and extend to his widow, Lora, and family, our sincere sympathy during this time of bereavement."

The resolution will be presented to Lebo's family.

Lebo died March 31 in a shootout with a man who had broken into a home on the 1100 block of Forest Street in Lebanon. Two other officers were injured.

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Mayor Sherry Capello said it was "truly humbling" for her to see the many citizens who lined the streets when Lebo's procession traveled from the city to his memorial service at the Giant Center in Hershey.

"I saw people placing a hand over their heart, with tears streaming down their face," she said. "We deeply appreciated all the citizens' support."

Morales said he has been involved in many military processions but the outpouring of sympathy and support he witnessed while participating in Lebo's procession and service restored his faith in humanity.

"We also pray for speedy recovery of the officers who were wounded, " said Morales, and he asked Chief Todd Breiner to "make sure the officers in your department know we are here for them, for whatever they need."

Move to new city hall and other news

Also at the meeting, Capello said the city's move from 800 South Eighth Street to the new City Hall at 735 Cumberland Street is a "major operation." City offices will be closed on Friday, April 29, and the following week, while the staff conducts the move. Starting on May 2 residents may call the new telephone number for the city, 717-639-2800, but calls will only be answered on a limited basis during the first week.

Councilman Richard Wertz thanked the mayor, the Center of Lebanon Association, and all the volunteers who worked on the United Way's Day of Caring, Saturday, April 23, for putting in plants at the new City Hall, and doing many other projects to improve the city. "The results were noticeable," said Wertz.

Capello also expressed appreciation for Jerry Kalinoski and Charles Wertz, both members of the Shade Tree Commission, for planting trees in a garden bed at City Hall on Earth Day.

Councilman Wertz said he was disheartened when he drove past the Sixth Street Playground Monday morning to see trash strewn throughout the area, after the Day of Caring volunteers time cleaning up other parts of the city.

"I learned when I was a Boy Scout that you leave an area you use in better condition than the way you found it," he said. "When I drove past again on the way to the meeting I saw a young man picking up the trash and I stopped to thank him."

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The Sixth South Sixth Playground is not one of the city-owned parks.

Council gave approval for city administrators to submit an application to the PA Department of Transportation for permission to erect two rectangular rapid flashing beacons at crosswalks on Cumberland Street at North Liberty Street and Chapel Street, between Seventh and Eighth streets. Capello said the city prefers to have crosswalks at intersections but the public has been using these mid-street crosswalks in the business district for many years and pedestrian-activated flashing lights will make them safer.

The mayor said the new streetscape design for that area of Cumberland Street to be done by the city when PennDOT resurfaces Route 422 through Lebanon, will include raised "bump-outs" of the sidewalk at the crosswalks, which will make the pedestrians more visible to drivers.

In the interest of safety, the city has also asked Met-Ed to install higher-wattage LED street lights at several places in the vicinity of the new City Hall. City resident Craig Gates encouraged council to be attentive to the brightness of LED lighting versus sodium vapor lighting when it is considered for use in residential area, suggesting it can be a detriment to sleep when shining in second floor windows. Jerry Kalinoski said the kelvin rating of a bulb determines if LED lighting is "cool" or "warm" and the type of head on the fixture effects the direction of the light. Morales agreed that the city should avoid "light pollution" and will work with Met-Ed to avoid it.

Morales said he wondered when the first city council meeting was held in the Lebanon County and City Building but the answer to the question was somewhere in a box being transported between Eighth Street and Cumberland Street. He said he believes the building was constructed in 1963.

This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Lebanon City Council honors Lt. William Lebo's service to the city