CLEARFIELD – The potential regionalization of the Clearfield Borough and Lawrence Township police departments was the main topic of discussion at Thursday’s council meeting.
Mayor Mason Strouse addressed the issue of both the borough and Lawrence Township police departments being understaffed, and council discussed the idea of regionalization of both police departments.
Strouse said that the problem has been ongoing for a very long time, and spoke of many different options that have been brought to the table.
One of which would be a possible part-time police department, which he is strongly against, saying that it would be a tremendous disservice to the community. He said regionalization would seem to be the way to go.
The study that was conducted by the state would allow more consistent coverage and would allow the officers to have better schedules instead of having to work seven days a week as some do now.
Cost, of course, is also an issue. If regionalization were to happen right away, the borough would potentially see an increase of close to $144,000 within the first year, according to the study. The state has practically already guaranteed $200,000 in grants to cover the start-up costs.
According to Strouse, the community as well as the officers of both the borough and Lawrence Township would like to see this regionalization happen.
Council voted to place Steve Livergood and Stephanie Tarbay on the police commission to investigate the matter further with Lawrence Township.
The Lawrence Township Supervisors voted at their meeting Tuesday night to place Supervisors Randy Powell and Jeremy Ruffner on the police commission.
Powell and Ruffner were in attendance along with Lawrence Township Police Chief Doug Clark. Powell stated that he wants everyone involved and would keep everything as transparent as possible.
The four members of the police commission will decide on a fifth member that would potentially be a local business owner with no political aspirations.
If regionalization goes according to plan, Strouse stated that merging both police departments could possibly happen as early as January of next year.
Resident Wendy Moore asked council to consider putting a no parking sign in front of her house in the Fairview Avenue area of the borough.
She said residents or neighbors that end up parking there completely block the entrance to her house.
Moore said she was also having trouble with her basement flooding every time there is heavy rains. Police Chief Vincent McGinnis encouraged council to look into the matter with the help of Street Foreman Todd Kling.
McGinnis also wants residents to be aware that there is another phone scam going around. People are calling residents soliciting donations for a police agency.
He encourages residents not to give out any personal information over the phone to people they may not know. There is also a rash of IRS scam letters being sent out too, and according to McGinnis, the letters look pretty authentic.
Residents are encouraged to reach out to the borough police department if they have concerns.