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March 3, 2008

Sugarloaf, Conyngham study police

Municipalities to seek public comment on whether to go to regionalization of forces.

By Steve Mocarsky smocarsky@timesleader.com
Staff Writer
Steve Mocarsky on Facebook | @TLSteveMocarsky on Twitter

Conyngham Borough and Sugarloaf Township officials are expected to take a small step forward next week in determining whether police regionalization is the right move for their towns.

Councilman Brad Cogan, Conyngham’s regionalization committee chairman, invited public comment on the issue at council’s work session on March 10.

And Supervisor Earl Miller, chairman of Sugarloaf’s regionalization committee, said the topic might be discussed at the March 11 supervisors meeting.

Cogan said he hoped borough council at its March 18 meeting would vote on forming a joint committee with Conyngham to further explore the possibility of regionalization to contain costs and improve services.

However, Cogan was disappointed that Sugarloaf officials likely will not vote this month on forming a joint committee.

Miller said on Sunday that Sugarloaf committee members are still reviewing a state-authored regionalization study and have not yet met to discuss it.

Officials with the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services released the 40-page report to representatives from both municipalities on Jan. 29. It examined existing staffing and equipment at both departments and evaluated the cost, efficiency and service benefits of a consolidation.

The report recommends that the borough and township form a regional police department with a police chief, seven full-time and two part-time patrol officers and one support staffer to provide 24-hour coverage 365 days a year. But costs could be problematic.

Police services now cost the two municipalities $435,000 annually. Those costs could jump to $628,640, based on state averages, according to the study.

“I think some of those figures are a little high,” Miller said.

Cogan said local costs might be lower than state averages, and start-up grants are available.

Another concern is reaching an agreement on the percentage of the cost for which each municipality would be responsible. The study offers several possible formulas to make the determination, based on population, area, population density, road mileage, assessed property values and total taxes collected.

Cogan said that because Conyngham is land-locked with little potential for development and growth, operating costs will eventually surpass revenues, and regionalization will be necessary for the borough “to survive. We’re not at that point yet.”

He pointed to the regionalization of the borough’s fire department with Butler Township’s fire department as a model for success.

“We have a tremendous improvement in fire service. Now we have access to equipment we never would have been able to afford,” Cogan said.

Cogan said the biggest challenges to overcome will be “politics, apathy and egos” of those who don’t like change and/or don’t want to lose power or authority.

Cogan hopes area residents will carefully read the study and then voice their opinions to their elected officials. He hopes residents and officials “make an educated decision based on fact and not emotions.”

WHAT’S NEXT

Conyngham Borough Council will hear public comment on police regionalization with Sugarloaf Township at a 7:30 p.m. work session at the municipal building, 215 Main St., on March 10.

The public can also comment at the Sugarloaf Township Supervisors meeting at the municipal building, 154 N. Main St., Sybertsville, at 7 p.m. March 11.

READ THE STUDY

Go to www.timesleader.com to read the Luzerne County Regional Police Study for Sugarloaf Township and Conyngham Borough. The study is also available for public review during normal office hours at both municipal buildings.