South Connellsville council suspends police officer
A South Connellsville police officer has been suspended with pay and will face a city hearing within the next 10 days.
The officer was only identified as Badge No. 70, and according to solicitor Michael Hammond, that is all he could say publicly.
Council made the decision in executive session prior to Tuesday’s regular meeting and then unanimously ratified that decision.
The officer will have a Loudermill hearing, which is a meeting where the officer will receive oral or written notice of the allegations against them, the employer’s evidence and be given an opportunity to respond. A Loudermill hearing is for public employees and must be held before that employee can be suspended without pay, terminated or demoted.
Hammond did not give any further details.
In other business, Hammond asked for council’s approval to negotiate with the attorney for the roofing contractor for damages and punch list items to complete the borough building roof project. Hammond said he received an itemized list of damages and estimates to have the roof repaired and completed. He said he will seek a settlement with Schwab Construction based on those figures.
In other business, borough council approved the following items of note:
n Renewal of contract with Motorola for the police department’s portable radios and reimbursement to Officer James Shaw Sr. for the October amount, which he paid out of his own pocket;
n Increase in garbage fees of $2.25 per month for residential customers and 20 percent for commercial customers;
n Set the borough’s Trick or Treat night as Oct. 31 from 6 to 8 p.m.;
n Set the borough’s Christmas in the Park celebration for Dec. 8. More details to be released next month;
n Increase in salary for borough secretary Kelly Addis, who recently completed her 90-day probationary period.