HYDE, Pa. — The Lawrence Township supervisors had some positive news Tuesday, after the recent chaos regarding the future of the Clearfield Regional Police Department (CRPD).
Township manager Ashley Pritchard spoke on the newest additions to the Recreation Park in the township. Pritchard thanked Mike Boyle, who oversaw the installation of the new flagpole at the park, and the road crew for assisting in getting it set up. She went on to thank the Clearfield Walmart Supercenter, which donated an 8-by-12-foot flag for the park.
“We’ve been working on it for over a year, and I’m really happy that it’s finally set up,” Pritchard said.
Pritchard also gave appreciation to the carpentry class at the Clearfield County Career and Technology Center. The morning and afternoon classes made wooden numbers for each of the pavilions, which crews have put up since the last meeting.
Supervisor Jeremy Ruffner also thanked both the carpentry class at the CCCTC and those involved in putting up the flagpole, stating he was up at the Rec Park earlier in the day when the sun was out taking photos.
Rec Park treasurer Ron Porter also praised the work on the flagpole, saying visitors could see it from a greater distance. Porter did, however, make a request to have some additional fencing put in on one end of the football field at the park. His request is to prevent people from tearing up the field by driving on the grass. His request was namely for the south end, which would also include another access area for an ambulance in case those playing on the field get injured.
Ruffner noted that the township has been working endlessly on the park for the last six to eight years.
“The park is really utilized, and it’s nice to have a place for people to go, whether it’s the ball field, dog park, or the pavilions. We really take pride in how our park looks,” Ruffner said.
Talks about restarting the Lawrence Township Police Department continued at the end of the meeting. The supervisors called an executive session to discuss personnel matters after receiving letters of interest in joining the reformed department.
According to previous Gant news articles, the township is now moving forward with reforming the department after talks between the supervisors, the police commission, and Clearfield Borough Council stalled. Since then, legal counsel will handle any discussion between the parties. The supervisors said at their last meeting that the borough would be responsible for dissolution costs per the contract with the police commission.
The supervisors have asked for letters of interest from current CRPD officers wishing to join the new department, with a dissolution date set for 11:59 p.m. Dec. 31, 2026.
The township will reconvene at 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 16.
