Click here to subscribe today or Login.
WYOMING — Borough Council made two major public safety decisions during Monday’s monthly council meeting, naming a police chief and EMS provider.
Mayor Joseph Dominick spoke of the desire to bring back a police chief position, recommending that patrolman Christopher Mercavitch fill the role.
The borough has not had a police chief in years, and lost its former police commissioner, Michael Flanagan, when he resigned in December after having pleaded guilty in a theft case.
Police offers and other first responders filled the back of the room Monday night in support of Mercavitch.
During the public portion of the meeting West Pittston patrolman John Urbanski told council and residents the influence Mercavitch has had over his life and career.
“When I first started law enforcement I was 28 years old. I didn’t know much about law enforcement,” he said. “Mercavitch took me under his wing and he basically walked me through everything. He taught me how to be a cop. He’s always been a role model.”
Sitting next to his family in the audience, the new chief rose to embrace his loved ones and council members before speaking to the crowd, tearing-up as he thanked those who came out to support him.
The 31-year police veteran has served Wyoming Borough since 1988, acting as captain for 11 years previously.
“It’s a nice feeling. The support is all overwhelming from all the police officers that were here,” he said, adding that he wasn’t expecting the amount of support that he got. “I hope to unite all the powers in this area together so we can all work better together.”
After the meeting Dominick said the vote was a “big step forward” for the borough.
“When I came on the borough was using the police commissioner, which ins’t the typical protocol for a borough of our size,” he said. “I really think this is a step in the right direction, Chris is very community-oriented.”
EMS provider
Another highlight of the evening was council voting on a new ambulance provider for the borough.
Councilwoman and EMS Committee member Diane Smiles spoke to council members about several EMS providers that gave presentations outlining how they would work with the borough for EMS services, including Trans Med, Commonwealth, West Wyoming and Greater Pittston.
Smiles, along with several other council members, said that they felt Greater Pittston Regional Ambulance had the most to offer residents of Wyoming, and already have a working relationship with the borough.
During the meeting a motion was made and unanimously passed for Greater Pittston Regional Ambulance to act as the EMS provider for Wyoming Borough.
“It’s really going to be seamless, we’ve already been providing coverage here for a number of years,”Greater Pittston Ambulance Vice president Mike Lombardo said of the transition. “From our standpoint we’ll essentially be operating the same way that we have, by providing round-the-clock coverage to the borough.”
Previously, ambulance services were split in Wyoming and serviced by both West Wyoming and Great Pittston. Wyoming Borough pulled out of their agreement with West Wyoming earlier this year.
