Dec 23, 2006 By Rebekah Sungala 1 min read

SMITHFIELD – Smithfield Borough Council approved a $242,950 tentative budget for the 2007 fiscal year at its Nov. 14 meeting. The budget, if adopted at December’s meeting, calls for no property tax incraese. A copy of the budget is available for public viewing at the borough building.

As for other matters, council said part-time borough police officer Brian Harvey began patrol work Nov. 17.

Harvey, an experienced officer who also works in Dunbar and Everson, was hired in July to work in the borough 30 to 38 hours a week.

The borough once had its own police department, but the department was disbanded a few years. Since then, the borough has depended solely on state police protection.

In other business, council announced that a crime watch meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 14 in the community center.

The topic for next month’s crime watch meeting will be announced at a later date.

Borough council will meet one week early in December to avoid meeting during the holidays. The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Dec. 12 in the borough building.