A packed house and the presence of two Pennsylvania State Police officers underscored the gravity of a special meeting of the Parryville Borough Council, as the community grappled with the impending, unprecedented mass resignation of every council member.

The alarming situation, publicly revealed through a Facebook post outlining the meeting’s agenda, threatened to leave the borough without a governing body at midnight.

After the meeting, two vacancies remain — one council member and an administrator.

Council President Jason Kurek-Smith opened the meeting, establishing “ground rules to ensure our meeting remains respectful and productive” and warning that “disruptive behavior such as shouting or the use of inappropriate language” would “not be tolerated.”

Kurek-Smith directly attributed the crisis to “the two individuals whose names have since appeared in both local news outlets and the newspaper.”

While he declined to name them, stating he “will not continue to give attention or energy to individuals whose actions only serve to divide and distract,” he was referring to Parryville residents Rodney Strohl and Suzanne Oncheck, whose outbursts at the July 21 council meeting sparked the current crisis.

Kurek-Smith said, “Their behavior — antagonistic, confrontational, and driven by mutual negativity — created a highly disruptive and regrettable situation. That is the reason we are gathered here this evening.”

Neither one was present at the special meeting.

The focus of the meeting centered on the “real and pressing crisis that Parryville borough is facing,” the unanimous resignation of every council member, effective at midnight.

‘Council-less borough’

Kurek-Smith detailed the dire implications of a council-less borough. He warned that “bills will not be paid,” leading to a cessation of “borough services.”

He painted a grim picture of a town that “may lose power” due to unpaid utility bills, potentially suspending services like street lighting. Furthermore, with the current waste management contract expiring in December, the borough would be unable to renew it, resulting in “uncollected garbage and potential public health risks.”

“In short,” Kurek-Smith emphasized, “the daily functions of the borough will come to a halt.”

Responding to recent accusations that he had “done ‘nothing’ for this borough,” Kurek-Smith took the unusual step of outlining his accomplishments since taking over as president two and a half years ago. He stressed that “this is not about ego. This is about setting the record straight and ensuring the truth is understood.”

Under his leadership, Kurek-Smith highlighted several key achievements. He wrote, submitted, and was awarded a $600,000 grant through LSA for the tri-use fire company/borough hall/emergency shelter project as well as a $150,200 grant for the Cherry Alley improvement project.

He secured $177,000 in funding to repair and replace sidewalks and curbs, including ADA accessibility, on Main Street. This funding, he noted, significantly benefits Parryville residents who are individually responsible for the upkeep of sidewalks and curbs on their properties.

“I have secured $931,215,” Kurek-Smith stated. “This amount is far more than any borough council president has ever secured during their tenure, and I did this in approximately two and a half years.”

He also cited other leadership efforts, including replacing the aging plow truck, paying off the pickup truck’s loan, modernizing the borough office, tackling $35,000 in outstanding solid waste debt, and initiating efforts to address longstanding parking challenges.

Kurek-Smith continued by commending the dedication of the entire council and spoke highly of Borough Administrator Nicole Beckett.

He praised Beckett’s extensive experience as a municipal administrator, noting she brought “expertise in finance and budgeting, labor contract negotiations, public works, economic development, and public power” to Parryville.

Despite his warnings about Parryville’s “limited resources and modest compensation,” she “expressed a strong desire to be part of our team and contribute to our vision of the future.”

Regardless of the outcome of the special meeting, Beckett’s resignation will stick, but she has agreed to stay on to help find and train a replacement.

Resignations

As his remarks concluded, Kurek-Smith acknowledged the “outpouring of support” from many in the community and thanked “leaders from neighboring municipalities.” He reiterated that Council positions “are rarely pursued for financial reward. Rather, we take on this responsibility because we care deeply about our communities and want to contribute positively to where we live.”

After Kurek-Smith’s address, the floor was opened for public comment, though none were immediately offered.

Following the pause, Beckett read aloud the resignation letters from each council member. Every letter cited the July 21 meeting as the reason for their decision.

In his letter, Kurek-Smith stated, “The level of hostility and verbal aggression displayed by some community members was inappropriate and discouraging.”

Patty Wentz’s letter likewise attributed her decision “due to the events that transpired on July 21, 2025.”

Monica Kunkle echoed that sentiment, writing that “it was upsetting to see members of our community threaten instead of helping.”

Owen Miller simply resigned effective midnight on July 31.

Nicole Beckett’s resignation letter passionately highlighted her reasons, asserting, “local government depends on citizens willing to serve their neighbors; when that service is met with threats and verbal assault, communities lose the ability to govern themselves effectively.”

She added, “as volunteers who stepped up when others wouldn’t, you deserve the utmost respect from the community you serve so selflessly.”

Later, during public comments, Beckett revealed she was “even more afraid” after learning about the attack on Danville, Virginia, councilman Lee Vogler, who was doused with gasoline and set on fire at his workplace.

Residents comments

Following the reading of the resignation letters, Kurek-Smith again invited public comments, and this time, residents stepped forward. They implored the council members to rescind their resignations, expressing gratitude for their tireless work.

Gayle Ross, a Parryville resident living on the outskirts, said, “I am about to Zillow out of here,” praising the board’s hard work and dedication and asking, “What are we going to do if they resign? How do we retain them?”

Parryville Fire Chief Mike Kunkle, a lifelong resident “born and raised in this town,” voiced concern about the future of emergency services if Parryville were to be absorbed by another municipality.

Mayor Tom Kobal observed that “we live in a world we were not raised for,” reflecting on the current state of neighborly interactions.

After public comment concluded, Kurek-Smith asked each council member to state for public record if they wished to rescind their resignation.

Monica Kunkle, Owen Miller, and Jason Kurek-Smith all rescinded their resignations, ensuring the borough would not be left without a governing body.

Patty Wentz and Nicole Beckett, however, did not. Beckett, though, did agree to stay on in her administrative role until a suitable replacement could be found and trained.

This means the borough now needs to fill one previously open seat and the seat vacated by Wentz, but it can continue to operate effectively in the interim.