Jun 23, 2011 By Steve Ferris 4 min read

?Uniontown City Council hired two police officers whose wages and benefits will be covered by a reimbursement from Fayette County.

Council voted 4-0 at a special meeting Wednesday to hire Jeremy T. Schult of Charleroi and Kurtis L. Defoor of Greensburg. They will be paid $16.44 per hour during their 16-month probationary period.

Schult will start on June 27 and Defoor, who works as a police officer in Cumberland Township, Greene County, will start on June 28.

Police Chief Jason Cox described Shult and Defoor as “impeccable” people who were the top two candidates on the police civil service commission’s eligibility list.

Hiring the two officers increases the department’s complement to 21, which is up from the 16 officers the city had in 2008, Cox said.

The new officers will be assigned regular patrol work, but will spend some time working at the criminal booking center in the police station, he said.

Cox said the center, which never closes, operating money comes from grant money and a $150 fee assessed on all people charged with misdemeanor and felony crimes in the county.

“It will make the police department a place of refuge,” Cox said.

Capt. Dave Rutter, who is in charge of the center, said the county will reimburse the city for the cost of employing the two officers.

Councilman Blair Jones Sr., a retired city police officer, said the police station used to be open 24 hours a day and he never supported the decision to keep the doors open only during the day.

He called the booking center an asset to the community.

Councilman Gary Gearing, who didn’t vote on the resolutions to hire the officers, said he hasn’t seen the contract between the city and county for the center.

He said he didn’t know if the city has to pay the new officers’ worker’s compensation insurance and cover their health benefits or what the city’s pension obligations were.

Rutter said the county will reimburse the city for worker’s compensation and health benefits costs. The city’s only financial obligation is the cost of the officers’ weapons and equipment.

Gearing said he believes the center is a great asset, but he hasn’t seen the contract even though he asked for a copy.

Solicitor J.W. Eddy told Councilman Philip Michael that he was permitted to vote on the resolutions even though he works for the county at the booking center as a constable.

Mayor Ed Fike gave Schult and Defoor their badges after they were hired.

Another hiring received unanimous approval from council.

Melvin Henderson was hired as a part-time, temporary property maintenance code enforcement officer for the summer at $10 per hour.

Michael said Henderson will work up to 30 hours a week doing administrative work such as making sure enforcement letters are mailed to property owners.

City firefighters also agreed to work at least 10 hours a week responding to building and property code complaints, Michael said.

“We’re glad to do it,” Fire Chief Charles Coldren said.

In unrelated business, Jones said he is opposed to signing a contract from the state Department of Transportation (PennDOT) that would require the city to own and maintain sidewalks PennDOT is installing along Route 21 in the Route 21-Easy Street improvement project in front of Uniontown Hospital.

He said PennDOT plans to widen the road and add a turning lane by removing sidewalks owned by the hospital.

PennDOT’s letter says the Liquid Fuels money the city receives from the state would be withheld if the city does not accept the sidewalks, Jones said, calling that threat illegal.

Fike said the city has an ordinance that requires property owners to maintain the sidewalks at their properties.

A resolution on the contract was not in the meeting agenda and council took no action on it.

In other business, council:

n Authorized Fike and one councilman to sign a commitment letter and contract for a $1 million state grant for a sewerage interceptor project.

n Agreed to advertise for bids to fix the fire department’s 1978 Mack truck.