AJ News

By Gerard Hetman ghetman@timesleader.com
Reporter / Photographer

CLARKS SUMMIT- While it was far from the top of the agenda sheet, the issue of hiring police officers dominated discussions at the most recent meeting of Clarks Summit Borough Council.

Held Wednesday evening, March 3, the meeting featured an attempt by council to move forward on an issue that developed when nearly 20 applicants for a full-time police officer position were tested in fall of 2009 by the borough’s Civil Service Commission. After the names of the three highest-scoring applicants were submitted to council, the hiring process stalled repeatedly regarding the issue of financial costs to the borough.

Councilwoman Barbara Grabfelder backed the hiring one or more part-time police officers. She stressed that adding more officers to the force outweighed the cost of paying the benefits and other expenses associated with a full-time hire, and that one or more of the new positions could be made into a full-time opportunity at a later date.

While Grabfelder’s position was supported by some other council members, Councilman Herman Johnson disagreed. He said the availability and commitment of a full-time officer can not be reproduced with part-time officers. He added that money exists to pay for a full-time officer because of budgeting for an officer who is currently paid with workman’s compensation.

Before voting, Council heard from Police Chief Lou Vitale, who said the department currently has three full-time officers on staff, and that the lack of at least one addition officer could be damaging to department operations in the event someone is unavailable for a prolonged period.

“We’re down to just three men as it is. I really hope someone doesn’t get hurt or is unavailable,” Vitale said of the situation. “When officers come in to interview for part-time positions, they all say they will be available whenever they are needed. But that availability starts to diminish after they are hired and they start saying they will be unavailable on this day or that day.”

Council voted 6-1 to hire two new part-time officers, with Johnson, a former part-time officer in the borough himself, casting the lone opposing vote.

In other business, Council unanimously passed a resolution of the borough’s support for the FRAC Act. The act is an item of federal legislation sponsored by Senator Robert Casey that would help regulate drilling for natural gas and other subterranean drilling, including the Marcellus Shale drilling taking place throughout Northeastern PA. Council also heard a presentation from Jeff Mando, IT director for Lackawanna County, about the borough’s support for a wireless municipal data network. Council voted unanimously to allow President Gerrie Carey to sign a letter for support for the network, which Mando claimed would allow for greater sharing of information among public safety agencies in Lackawanna County, among other uses.

During the public comment section of the meeting, Greenwood Avenue resident George Hill voiced his displeasure with the state of trash collection in the borough. He claimed refuse collectors ignored trash that was partially obscured by snow, and that collectors routinely throw cans and lids that blow into local streets. Borough Manager Virginia Kehoe said she will contact the borough trash hauler, J.P. Mascaro & Sons, regarding the issues.

Clarks Summit Borough Council is set to meet Tuesday, March 30, for its regularly scheduled work session, followed by a regular meeting Wednesday, April 7. Both meetings are scheduled for 7 p.m. in council chambers.