Point marion promotes police officer to full-time
POINT MARION – Due to a rise in the number of calls in the last month, the borough council has promoted a part-time police officer to a full-time officer in charge of the borough’s police department. At a meeting Wednesday, the council hired Jay Stutler at $12.75 per hour on a 60-day probation period, starting May 28.
Mayor Robert Wolfe said police issued 21 traffic citations and 16 warnings last month. He noted that the number of citations issued, particularly in harassment, disorderly conduct and criminal mischief cases, also has risen.
Stutler’s promotion opens a part-time position within the police department, under the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant that allowed the borough to hire Christopher Kozlowski as a part-time police officer at the March meeting.
The council could decide as early as next month whether the borough can afford to hire another part-time officer. The COPS grant expires in March.
With Stutler’s hiring, the police department now employs two part-time officers and one full-time officer instead of three part-timers. Part-time officers are paid $9 per hour, Wolfe said.
“So, activity within the police department is up substantially,” Wolfe said. “People are being cited now instead of being told to go home and sleep it off.”
Borough resident Linda Strimel said, “It’s good to see the police department out doing work.”
Fourth Street resident Patty Cavenas agreed: “Everyone in town feels reassured and more confident about that.”
In other business, the council voted to approve borough engineer Steve Buchanan’s long-term proposal, estimating the amount of work needed to repair the borough’s waterlines. This initial phase of the waterline-replacement project allocates $6,000 for manholes and ditch cleaning required before installing flow monitors at three sites to acquire water flow data.
Buchanan said the work involved in his long-term proposal levels will cost about $34,000, while an additional $30,000 will be needed to install flow monitors, if the council approves that measure.
“We’re talking almost $100,000 just to get this started and the paperwork back to the plant?” Councilman Alfred Dubois asked.
“It’s still got to be done, even if we go bankrupt in the middle of it,” Stillwagon added.
The borough is working to secure funding for the project through state agencies, though. At the meeting, the council voted to enter into an agreement under a $50,000 grant from the state Department of Environmental Protection for study and work on the waterline project.
The council also conducted the following business:
– Said a county zoning official is willing to meet with council members to answer their questions concerning new zoning regulations.
– Announced a public meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, June 17, in the rear room of the American Legion to gather community input on future use of the Point Marion Park.
– Applied for a $100,000 grant for construction of a boat dock, but said the state Historical and Museum Commission is requiring that an archeological dig be performed before construction of a ramp can begin. The commission is requiring the dig after learning that American Indians were once in Point Marion, Councilman Joe Murphy said.
– Announced that the borough received a $20,000 grant from the state Department of Community and Economic Development for emergency water repairs to the water plant and a $34,000 grant to replace the current recycling truck.