MOUNT JEWETT — Mount Jewett Borough Council on Monday answered some concerns about the reinstitution of the borough police department, and what it will mean to Mount Jewett’s taxpayers.
With three councilmen out, a quorum consisting of borough council president Brett Morgan and council members Gene Ginkel, Sarah Glover and Steve Hale addressed the public on Monday night.
The borough council’s finance and insurance committee and personnel committee held a joint session last week to discuss the possibility of bringing back a part-time police force in an effort to enforce speed ordinances and combat vandalism. The result of the session was a recommendation to council to fund a 25 hour per week police force.
The 25 hour police department, at a wage of $12.50 per hour, would cost the borough $16,250 annually. The original figure was for a 30-hour force at $15.45 per hour at a cost of $24,102 annually.
When asked about any possible tax hike to pay for a part-time officer, Morgan said he was “pretty sure $2,300 could be moved around,” and did not think a tax increase was on the horizon for the borough. Mayor Melissa McGuire added any talk of a tax hike to pay for the borough police department was squelched as fast as the subject came up.
Glover, who serves on the finance and insurance committee, did not see any further tax increases imminent as council starts hashing out next year’s budget.
In other news, Maintenance Supervisor John Hayduk reported he has found the door unlocked to the borough garage and some small items missing from the road crew supplies. Hayduk said he was in favor of having the area monitored via security camera.
Ginkel reported receiving a quote from Lowell Watts of Kane for an eight camera network video recorder. He said the package would include a 3 megapixel camera which is capable of monitoring up to 500 feet. It also includes a 22 inch LCD monitor, Ginkel said, and with installation, the package would cost the borough $2,834.
Ginkel noted the Mount Jewett Sewer Authority would foot the bill for half of the system.
Morgan recommended the system be added to the building repair line item in the 2017 budget. Hale pointed out while he is not in favor of purchasing the camera system, he noted it would be less expensive to run a line to the borough building from the other borough buildings and parks. He said all the cameras could be monitored at the borough building, and the new system could be tied in with the current security system at the firehall. McGuire believes it would be beneficial to add the library to the security system as well.
Finally, librarian Debbie Deane of the Mount Jewett Memorial Public Library reported the library is down one board member and is currently looking for volunteers. Anyone interested in serving on the library board or wishing to volunteer should contact the library at (814) 778-5588.
The next council meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Nov. 7.
