Sep 15, 2006 By Amanda Clegg 2 min read

CALIFORNIA – After accepting the resignation of a borough police officer council voted to advertise for a fifth full-time officer, during their regular meeting Thursday evening. President Jon Bittner read from a letter of resignation from Officer Aldo Filoni who resigned from his position as a patrolman and the borough’s parking enforcement officer effective immediately.

Filoni wrote that the borough police department is a “well-trained, highly diversified police force” and he was “proud” to have been a member of that force.

Filoni, who served the borough for five years, graduated from Fairfax County Criminal Justice Academy recently and received a job offer in Fairfax, VA, Mayor Casey Durdines explained.

The mayor said that the police department has “24 hours a day, 7 days a week coverage,” but needed to hire a fifth full-time officer.

“We need better than part-time,” he said. “We need a full-time department, not part-time.”

Bittner agreed.

“The police department has to have a minimum of five police officers,” he said, adding that the department has encountered a “tough month” with call volume and the type of calls.

Board member John Difilippo pointed out that whomever the council hires as the new parking enforcement officer must understand that the position is conditional, because a former parking enforcement officer was injured in active duty during military leave and holds rights to the position.

In other matters, council also voted to allow the California Area Historical Society to come up with a plan to move memorials in the Phillipsburg and East Pike areas to the memorial park located downtown. They also agreed to donate $500 to the society to preserve the minutes from the first council meeting in the 1800s. Durdines said the society is typing up the minutes for public view but wants to preserve the original documents.

Council also conducted the following business:

– Reminded the public that a four-way stop was placed at the intersection of Second, Wood and Green streets.

– Agreed to start a Junior Council Person Program, which would permit a junior or senior high school student to sit on council. The student would not have a vote, but would attend meetings and participate in discussions.

– Announced the Tri-County Borough Association meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. at the Center In The Woods.