CLEARFIELD – Clearfield Borough Council may soon be facing litigation on two fronts.
During their regular meeting on Thursday night Clearfield Borough Council held a lengthy executive session for personnel and legal reasons. Council took action retaining new counsel, an action that has been expected since F. Cortez “Chip” Bell III announced his resignation in January.
After the meeting Bell explained the basis for the legal part of the executive session. Bell said that council is looking at issues with Bionol and Mayor Patty Gilliland.
Regarding the mayor, Bell stated that Gilliland has threatened legal action against Clearfield Borough Council unless she is given full, unsupervised, unlimited and unconditional access to the police department.
In March 2008 Clearfield Borough Council enacted a police department security policy to “promote professionalism, security and efficiency within the Clearfield Borough Police Department.”
According to the policy no person outside the working staff of the Clearfield Borough Police Department will be allowed to enter the department’s secured areas without a police escort. At no time shall any person outside the sworn officers of this department and the clerical staff be permitted within the secured sections of the building unless they have an escort of uniformed personnel, clerical staff or the chief of police.
At that meeting Gilliland noted that the new policy is a hindrance to the mayor, whose office is within the police station. Gilliland stated that she could not get to the restroom the way the system is now.
In April 2008 Gilliland stated in her report that under the borough code, the mayor shall have full charge and control of the chief of police and the police force. Gilliland stated that the mayor is the head of the police department and should be recognized as that by the borough employees. She asked that council convey that to the chief and that the chief contact the mayor with concerns.
Reported Gilliland at that meeting, “Council is permitting this direct disrespect to the elected office of the mayor and is a direct insult to the office and the taxpayers of this community. Again, I am asking council to revoke this motion and rescind the directive immediately. This will prevent further expense to the borough.”
Gilliland was not available for comment after Thursday night’s meeting.
Regarding Bionol, Bell said there is a disagreement with Bionol over permit fees. The Bionol Clearfield Biorefinery is a multi-million dollar ethanol production facility that is under construction within the borough.