California hires full-time police officer
CALIFORNIA – California Borough Council Monday met in special session to hire police officers. Council President Sheila Chambers said that with the loss of four full-time officers to injuries, illness or dismissal, the department was in an emergency situation and needed to hire immediately.
“Our next business meeting is two weeks away, which I felt was too long,” Chambers said. Acting Police Chief Tracy Vitale said filling the schedule was difficult because of the missing officers.
Council voted 4-2, with one absent, to hire John Hackinson as a full-time police officer. Hackinson has been a part-time officer with the borough for the past five years, according Gerald “Galvie” Gardner, who heads the borough’s public safety committee.
Gardner said Vitale had completed a background check on Hackinson and found no problems. Councilman Jon Bittner questioned using an internal background check.
“We discussed that before we hire anyone we would have an independent background check done,” Bittner said.
Chambers said that the private investigator who handles background checks for the borough was out of town, but gave Vitale information on how to conduct the background check. Chambers noted that Hackinson would also be placed on 180 days probation as a full-time officer.
Mayor Casey Durdines suggested that evaluations for new hires be conducted throughout the probationary period, not just at the end. Chambers agreed, saying evaluations could be done every three months, or however often was deemed necessary.
Council members Chambers, Shelly Roberts, Gardner and Donna Bridges voted in favor of hiring Hackinson, while councilmen Bittner and Anthony Mariscotti voted against it. Councilman Patsy Alfano arrived after the vote was taken.
Council was also going to consider hiring a part-time officer, but did not take action on that matter following an executive session.
Solicitor Ernest DeHaas said he would check the union contract to clarify when the 180-day probationary period begins.
In other matters, council voted to authorize the negotiation and signing of a contract with Norfolk Southern Railway, allowing the rail company to store materials on borough property through July 15.
The materials will be used to rebuild a railroad bridge that carries the tracks over Union Street.
DeHaas said the tentative lease calls for the railway company to pay the borough $5,000, indemnify the borough from all liability, restore the lot to its original condition and remediate any problems caused by its use of the property.
In addition, the railroad must clean the borough streets of any dirt or mud created by the work, bond the applicable borough streets and obtain all appropriate permits. The motion passed unanimously.
Monday’s special meeting was continued until 6:15 p.m. Thursday.