Now that Sugarcreek Borough Council has moved away from further discussions with the city of Franklin about possibly providing police coverage to the borough, Sugarcreek residents now want to know where council stands on a plan for 24-hour police coverage.
During council’s meeting on Wednesday evening, about 20 residents showed up looking for answers.
Council President Jim Speth said police officers are “allotted x amount of hours” and hadn’t been using all those hours.
On Wednesday, Sugarcreek Police Chief Bob Wenner said an applicant passed his written exam that day and he will be moving on to physical agility, an oral interview and then the background check.
Speth said council will examine the 24-hour coverage plan “one step at a time” and that the borough first must “get that other full-time officer in a position before we talk about (24-hour coverage).” He later said four full-time officers are already in the budget.
One resident asked council to involve community members regarding their thoughts about 24-hour coverage. Speth responded council could “put something together that will satisfy that.”
Another resident asked why potential officers don’t want to come to Sugarcreek. Solicitor Brian Spaid explained “There are not many people that are candidates anymore for police officers. Everybody’s down across the board. So part of the problem is that you don’t have enough people that are actually getting into law enforcement.”
Wenner said “job security” is an issue.
“There’s been this issue in the borough, and I knew that coming here in 2019, where this raises its ugly head every so often about doing away with the police department,” he said. “It’s very difficult to bring (in a candidate) with the fear that this could come around.”
Wenner said the candidate who passed his written exam found motivation to work in Sugarcreek in the form of community support.
However, Wenner pointed out, “The pay is not comparable for here compared to these other places. Should it be increased? Well, those are things that all work out within a budget. The community and the council have to decide what’s important, what their goals are together.”
Possible grant
Another part of the plan was applying for a grant.
“This grant pays for the salary of the full-time officer with a three-year draw-down decreasing in the amount that is covered over that period,” Wenner said during Council’s February meeting, during which he proposed a three-year plan to increase police coverage that included a fourth full-time officer.
He further explained last month that “the first year is free … the grant pays for the officer. The second year, there’s a percentage dump. We have to show a progressive decline. Then by the fourth year, we pick up the tab. What we’re getting is a four-year experienced officer that we’re now paying full salary for.”
Spaid said Wednesday that some of the grants Wenner is talking about, such as COPS grants, are ones with which the borough is familiar.
Mayor Matt Carlson said he’s looked at three grants in the past month, which are mostly “low to moderate income,” and the borough does not qualify. They are for “very specific areas, but we can’t go in and use Rocky Grove, Sugarcreek. It doesn’t work.”
Wenner later told council that “if that person would come on shift, which I’m pretty comfortable it’s going to work out for him, we would automatically be maxed.
“When that occurs, I would like to come back and talk to you about maybe increasing hours, even 20 at first; so, that we have additional coverage and that we can satisfy some of the requests that both you and the citizens want in an economical way because the part-timers are paid less.”
Wenner also requested council take a “broader look at how to not just get us by from year to year, but to build.”
There are Local Share Account (LSA) grants that, as far as Wenner said he is aware, have not been applied to. He asked for council’s permission to apply for LSA grants this year. He explained “you can have up to $1 million worth of grants for separate projects and I would be able to help fund vehicles for replacement and stuff like that.” He said he would bring them back to council before submitting them.
Wenner thanked the public for their support of the police department.
“We need to start supporting our police force from here on out,” Councilman Alan Heller said, “and let’s try to get more candidates in here and let’s show them that our department’s here to stay from here on out.”
Other business
• Spaid said he hasn’t heard any updates regarding ownership of Venango Water Co and other updates in general, but that he got back a proposed agreement from Aqua Pennsylvania, an issue with which he and the General Authority are currently dealing.
• Wenner introduced Lori Braun as the new clerk at the police department. “She’s very well-qualified and she picked it up like she’s been here for months and maybe a year, even,” he said.
• Wenner said the police department has completed its application for the radio grant, which closes March 28.
“That might be another backup for us for the LSA grant if we buy; so, if I could get a motion that we could go ahead and apply for that and then look into the COPS grant so I can bring it back to you,” he said.
“It’s $125,000 over a three-year period with the cap. It starts out about 100%, 75%. Then you have to develop a plan for the draw-down, but there are requirements to maintain that person because that’s the goal, to keep the department.”
• Reno Fire Department Chief Dan Marvin said the car cruise is scheduled July 6. The fire department’s public dinner will be held Sunday. It will include braised steak and mashed potatoes.
• Council members approved the 2023 Reno Volunteer Fire Department roster for those volunteers eligible for the tax credit under Act 172. Heller asked if one was done for the Rocky Grove Volunteer Fire Department. Borough Administrator Joe Sporer said he hasn’t seen the list, but it’s due April 1.
• Sporer said Spring Clean Up Day is 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 27. Maintenance foreman Doug Freer said residents may not bring tires, TVs, paint, electronics and building materials.
