Chambersburg Elects New Town Council Leadership, Highlighting Unique Municipal Services

Chambersburg, PA – Chambersburg, located in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, has initiated its 2026 fiscal year with new leadership at its Town Council. William Everly has been appointed President of the Town Council and Chief Elected Official, while Chadwick Hare will serve as Vice-President. This transition occurs as the borough continues to provide a comprehensive suite of services, distinguishing itself as a unique municipality within the Commonwealth and the nation. Chambersburg stands out with the largest operating budget of any Pennsylvania borough and is the state’s sole municipality offering both electric and natural gas utilities to its residents and businesses.

The borough’s utility operations are extensive. Chambersburg operates one of Pennsylvania’s thirty-five municipal non-profit electric utilities and is the largest municipal electric utility in the state, uniquely managing multiple electric generation stations. It is also one of only two municipalities in Pennsylvania to operate a natural gas utility; the other being Philadelphia, which does not have an electric utility. Nationally, Chambersburg is among approximately 2,000 communities with municipal electric systems and about 1,000 with natural gas systems, but it is one of only about sixty to manage both. Beyond utilities, Chambersburg also manages a regional water system, a regional sanitary sewer system, and a municipal storm sewer utility, one of the few in Pennsylvania formed under federal mandates for stormwater regulation. The community, home to approximately 23,000 residents and over 11,000 utility customers, also boasts a notable Aquatic Center and serves as the County Seat for Franklin County.

William Everly, the newly selected President of Town Council, brings a wealth of experience to his leadership role. He has been a member of the Town Council since 2020 and has previously held positions as Finance Vice-Chair and Vice-President. Mr. Everly represents the Borough’s Fifth Ward and has also contributed to the Chambersburg Planning and Zoning Commission. Professionally, he has had a distinguished career spanning 37 years with LB Water Service, a company for which he began working after his education at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1989. His career progression has seen him advance through management, leadership, and business development roles. Mr. Everly also actively participates in community organizations, serving as President of the Chambersburg Community Police Foundation and formerly as President of the Chambersburg Area Development Corporation, where he remains on the board. He and his wife Suzanne have resided in the Fifth Ward for over 37 years.

Chadwick Hare, who will assume the role of Vice-President of Town Council, has represented the Borough’s Third Ward since 2024. A resident of the Chambersburg area for nearly two decades, Mr. Hare has developed a deep appreciation for Chambersburg and Franklin County, dedicating the past four years to volunteering with local organizations aimed at fostering a safe, welcoming, and vibrant community. His professional background includes 18 years at Johnson Controls (Frick Company) in Waynesboro, where he specialized in mechanical design for industrial refrigeration. Currently, he is employed as a Systems Engineering Manager at DST in Hagerstown. Mr. Hare holds an Associate Degree in Computer Aided Drafting and Design, along with other industry certifications. He resides in Chambersburg with his wife Stephanie, and they have raised two children.

The borough’s government operates under a Council-Manager form, a system in place since the 1960s, with ten members on the Town Council. The current Borough Manager and Director of Utilities is Jeffrey Stonehill, who holds the ICMA-CM (ICMA Credentialed Manager) designation from the International City/County Management Association, a credential held by approximately 1,600 city managers nationwide.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the Borough of Chambersburg.

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