CURWENSVILLE – Curwensville Borough will now have the services of one police officer.
After council approved the 2009 budget on Monday night council also approved furloughing their police officer with the least seniority, Mike Rowles.
This leaves Curwensville Borough with one policeman, Chief Dave Johnston.
Prior to the vote Council President Mark Curulla noted that council needed an additional $75,000 to balance the budget. He stated that if council furloughed a member of the road crew they would still have to pay that person’s insurance.
The motion to furlough nearly died for a lack of a second after it was made by Sam Ettaro. Curulla turned his gavel over to council member Fred Sopic. Curulla then seconded the motion. Voting in favor of the motion were council members Curulla, Ettaro, Duane Wriglesworth and Julie Girardi. Girardi initially did not want to vote but was informed that she had too.
Sopic voted no.
Council also approved a $250,000 to $260,000 tax anticipation note to help them over the next month.
“Didn’t we take a loan out to get us through,” asked Sopic, referring to a recent $50,000 loan.
Curulla said that the borough did but that the overtime the road crew has put in with the recent inclement weather has added up.
Sopic also voted against the tax anticipation note.