Evening Sun: New Oxford backs police
By SETH GOLDSTEIN
Evening Sun Reporter
New Oxford Borough didn't vote Thursday to keep the Eastern Adams Regional Police Department.
It didn't think it had to.
At a special meeting Thursday at the borough hall, the council went into executive session for 30 minutes, then returned and made no motion to keep nor disband the regional police force.
Council president Jim Eisenhart said the council, by approving the 2006 police budget in November, already gave the department its stamp of approval.
"We didn't change the status of how we felt about EARP," Eisenhart said. "By not voting, we're essentially saying that we want to keep the force intact."
The council's inaction will apparently work to that end. While Berwick and Oxford townships have already voted to disband the force (Oxford made its vote contingent on no new contract being reached), an agreement between the borough and townships stipulates all three municipalities must agree to break up the department.
But Bob Myers, the president of the regional police commission and a Berwick Township supervisor, said he's concerned New Oxford's decision to forego a vote will interfere with a new police contract being accepted. Myers did not attend the meeting but was reached by telephone afterward.
"If they wanted to keep EARP, they should have voted," Myers said. "How can the police commission vote to accept or deny a contract if they don't know what the actual vote of the third municipality was?"
Eisenhart disagreed.
"Why make a motion to not do something?" he asked. "You only make a motion to do something."
The move by New Oxford will not necessarily cement Eastern Adams Regional's future. The police union's existing contract runs out Dec. 31. A new contract remains under negotiation by attorneys for the police commission and police union, but the commission would still have to approve it.
Rick Phillips, an Eastern Adams police officer who attended the meeting, said he's happy with New Oxford's decision nonetheless.
"I don't understand how one municipality can be so satisfied with us and the other two so dissatisfied that they want to disband," he said. "Hopefully we can find where the problem is and fix it and pull the other two townships on board so they are in favor of keeping us four years from now."
Eisenhart hinted to residents that contract negotiations are coming along. He said the New Oxford Council was concerned the original proposal by police was too costly, but said both sides have since made concessions.
"The purpose of our meeting tonight is to determine if the concessions made are enough for us to keep our membership in EARP," Eisenhart told residents. "We also want to hear what our residents have to say before we make a decision."
Six of about 60 people who attended the meeting voiced their opinions.
Doreene Bittinger, a lifelong borough resident, told council members she didn't want to pay higher taxes as a result of a new contract - something municipalities have said is a possibility.
"I hope it works out," she said afterward. "Majority always rules. I'm displeased, of course. I just hope that if they have to increase taxes, which they will, they'll do it gradually."
Jeff Waddell said he felt it would be irresponsible for the council to disband the department.
"I don't want to sacrifice safety in our community to save a couple of tax dollars," Waddell said. "As far as a tax issue I don't think that should be an issue. Taxes are going to go up."
Two council members, Jen Faust and Rich Reinberg, said they went door-to-door polling residents and business owners and a majority wanted to keep the police department.
"We're here to represent the citizens," Faust said. "The general consensus of the town was that people wanted to keep it and a tax raise wasn't a major concern as long as we could keep it moderate."
If the regional force is disbanded, the state police would patrol the area full time, something Reinberg said was unpopular.
"This is what the majority wanted. We want to make sure we exercise fiscal responsibilities, but at the same time we need police protection. It's nothing against the state police, but when you talk about difference between hours and minutes in response time, it's huge."
Fred Nugent, a Berwick supervisor who also wasn't at the meeting, said he's hopeful things will be worked out.
"I feel negotiations will be resolved quickly," he said. "I think some of what the attorneys are talking about will be livable."
Contact Seth Goldstein at sgoldstein@eveningsun.com.
Evening Sun Reporter
New Oxford Borough didn't vote Thursday to keep the Eastern Adams Regional Police Department.
It didn't think it had to.
At a special meeting Thursday at the borough hall, the council went into executive session for 30 minutes, then returned and made no motion to keep nor disband the regional police force.
Council president Jim Eisenhart said the council, by approving the 2006 police budget in November, already gave the department its stamp of approval.
"We didn't change the status of how we felt about EARP," Eisenhart said. "By not voting, we're essentially saying that we want to keep the force intact."
The council's inaction will apparently work to that end. While Berwick and Oxford townships have already voted to disband the force (Oxford made its vote contingent on no new contract being reached), an agreement between the borough and townships stipulates all three municipalities must agree to break up the department.
But Bob Myers, the president of the regional police commission and a Berwick Township supervisor, said he's concerned New Oxford's decision to forego a vote will interfere with a new police contract being accepted. Myers did not attend the meeting but was reached by telephone afterward.
"If they wanted to keep EARP, they should have voted," Myers said. "How can the police commission vote to accept or deny a contract if they don't know what the actual vote of the third municipality was?"
Eisenhart disagreed.
"Why make a motion to not do something?" he asked. "You only make a motion to do something."
The move by New Oxford will not necessarily cement Eastern Adams Regional's future. The police union's existing contract runs out Dec. 31. A new contract remains under negotiation by attorneys for the police commission and police union, but the commission would still have to approve it.
Rick Phillips, an Eastern Adams police officer who attended the meeting, said he's happy with New Oxford's decision nonetheless.
"I don't understand how one municipality can be so satisfied with us and the other two so dissatisfied that they want to disband," he said. "Hopefully we can find where the problem is and fix it and pull the other two townships on board so they are in favor of keeping us four years from now."
Eisenhart hinted to residents that contract negotiations are coming along. He said the New Oxford Council was concerned the original proposal by police was too costly, but said both sides have since made concessions.
"The purpose of our meeting tonight is to determine if the concessions made are enough for us to keep our membership in EARP," Eisenhart told residents. "We also want to hear what our residents have to say before we make a decision."
Six of about 60 people who attended the meeting voiced their opinions.
Doreene Bittinger, a lifelong borough resident, told council members she didn't want to pay higher taxes as a result of a new contract - something municipalities have said is a possibility.
"I hope it works out," she said afterward. "Majority always rules. I'm displeased, of course. I just hope that if they have to increase taxes, which they will, they'll do it gradually."
Jeff Waddell said he felt it would be irresponsible for the council to disband the department.
"I don't want to sacrifice safety in our community to save a couple of tax dollars," Waddell said. "As far as a tax issue I don't think that should be an issue. Taxes are going to go up."
Two council members, Jen Faust and Rich Reinberg, said they went door-to-door polling residents and business owners and a majority wanted to keep the police department.
"We're here to represent the citizens," Faust said. "The general consensus of the town was that people wanted to keep it and a tax raise wasn't a major concern as long as we could keep it moderate."
If the regional force is disbanded, the state police would patrol the area full time, something Reinberg said was unpopular.
"This is what the majority wanted. We want to make sure we exercise fiscal responsibilities, but at the same time we need police protection. It's nothing against the state police, but when you talk about difference between hours and minutes in response time, it's huge."
Fred Nugent, a Berwick supervisor who also wasn't at the meeting, said he's hopeful things will be worked out.
"I feel negotiations will be resolved quickly," he said. "I think some of what the attorneys are talking about will be livable."
Contact Seth Goldstein at sgoldstein@eveningsun.com.
