Apr 1, 2009 2 min read

MASONTOWN – Borough council gave approval for the police department to seek federal funds that would be used to pay for an additional officer. At Tuesday’s meeting, council voted 6-0 to have Masontown police Chief Joe Ryan submit an application in hopes of obtaining money from the U.S. Department of Justice Office through the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Recovery Program. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 allocated $1 billion to the program, according to the COPS Web site, and will be used to hire about 5,500 additional law enforcement officers throughout the country.

Ryan said it is a competitive grant and that the borough would receive federal funding to pay for a full-time police officer for three years, including the officer’s benefits.

The borough would be responsible for paying the officers’ salary and benefits the fourth year, Ryan said.

Councilwoman Kay Rendina questioned how the borough would be able to pay for the officer’s salary and benefits the fourth year and for ongoing years but voted in favor submitting the application.

Also voting in favor of having Ryan submit the application were council members Bob Brown, Edward Gulino, Frank McLaughlin, Joseph Stillwagon and Harry Lee.

Councilwoman Carole Daniels was absent from Tuesday’s meeting.

In unrelated business, council announced that there is a vacancy on the borough’s recreation board and said any resident interested in serving should call the borough building at 724-583-7731 or send a letter to the borough building at 2 Court Ave., Masontown, PA 15461.

As for other matters, council approved a $150 donation to Fay-Penn Economic Development Council and a $100 donation to the Masontown Cemetery Care Fund.

Council also announced that water will be shut off April 6 to any residences that have outstanding and delinquent water bills of two or more months.

The next borough meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. April 14.