Point Marion eyeing contract with Southwest Regional police
POINT MARION — Residents will see a new police presence in the borough, possibly as soon as this weekend, borough officials said at a council meeting Wednesday.
In a unanimous vote, council approved minor changes in a contract with the Southwest Regional Police Department to provide law enforcement services to the borough. Borough solicitor Gene Grimm said the contract will now go back to the police department to approve the final contact.
“It is entirely possible we will have officers here by the weekend,” he said.
Acquiring a police presence has been a concern for borough officials since the closure of its department on Sept. 27 after the borough was unable to secure affordable liability insurance following the settlement of back-to-back federal lawsuits alleging civil rights violations by its police officers. Theft and vandalism at the borough park three weeks ago, however, made that concern a priority, with Mayor Carl Ables stressing his frustration with the situation at the March 19 meeting.
Southwest Regional carries its own insurance and will be proactive in fighting crime in the community, Grimm said.
Effective through March 31, 2015, the contract provides for 32 hours of police presence each week at a rate of $50 an hour, but officers will work beyond those hours “if involved in something they can’t walk away from,” Grimm said. The contract also provides for the use of the regional law enforcement agency’s resources, such as forensics teams and drug-sniffing dogs.
Outside of those contracted hours, the borough will continue to fall under the protection of the state police, much in same way it did when its own police department was up and running, council members said.
To qualify for the reduced rate specified in the contract, the borough will lease its police car to Southwest Regional at a rate of $1 a year, with the agency providing insurance on the vehicle and the borough providing maintenance, fuel and repairs under $500.
“Repairs over $500 will be paid for by the police board, which should be an incentive (for them) to take it easy on the car,” Grimm said, adding that the borough vehicle will have Southwest Regional police logo.
Other changes to the contract as originally presented at the March 19 council meeting include the following:
n All fines generated by officers in Point Marion will remain with the agency. The fines will be used to offset officers’ additional pay when they are required to appear in court during the prosecution phase of cases originating within the borough.
n A 60-day period before the contract is set to expire during which either party can submit in writing their intent not to renew the contract.
n A 90-day period at the beginning of the contract during which either party can back out of the contract.
n Parties may dissolve the contract at any time when mutually agreed upon.
Ables said Wednesday that he is confident the contract will be a good one.
“They are looking to build a relationship with us, to stay here solid,” he said of his recent meetings police officials.
The borough budget for 2014 includes $86,627 to operate a police department or contract law enforcement services.
Some council members had hoped the borough would be prepared to hire a code enforcement officer, also, at Wednesday’s meeting, but following executive session, no action was taken.
President Alfred DuBois said the police committee, which is tasked with interviewing applicants for the position, had been unable to assemble over the past two weeks, but added that filling the position remains a priority.
Regarding the recent theft and vandalism incident at the park, Ables said the investigation is ongoing and suspects have yet to be identified. A $250 reward is offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of suspects involved in the case. Tips may be reported by calling 1-888-404-TIPS (8477).
Also at the meeting, Councilwoman Victoria Evans announced that this month children are invited to attend the borough’s Coffee and Conversation session, scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 23, at the borough building.
“We would like to find out what their ideas, concerns and issues are regarding the park or the community in general,” Evans said. “But if they have an issue, they should also have a solution to suggest.”