Port Allegany may alter police coverage/By Martha Knight

PORT ALLEGANY — Officially, Port Allegany Borough is still looking for an additional full-time police officer, and two part-time ones. Officially, the aim is to provide local police service around the clock, weekdays and weekends.

But according to discussion at Monday night’s borough council meeting, the borough might have to make some adjustments in police coverage, due to a continuing shortage of available personpower in the force.

Last month Mayor Don Carley presented the needs of the police department, based on a cascade of developments.

A major crisis for the borough was that one of the full-time officers, Tony Tanner, is to be deployed by the National Guard, for six months beginning in late June.

Two of the part-timers are set to become available only on a more limited basis, due to full-time police positions they have accepted in other communities. Another may not be available at all.

Accordingly, council voted last month to advertise for the full-time and part-time positions. But Monday night found Carley inquiring of the council as to what was being done to fill the roster.

The report was that no ads had been placed, because, as borough secretary Susan Roboski explained, the borough council must set the starting salary and benefits of full-time police officers. Without a starting salary to include, she could not word and place a meaningful ad.

Current uniformed employees’ compensation and other terms of employment are handled through union contracts.

No starting salary for a new full-time officer has been established since 2007, and that salary would not be appropriate now, Roboski pointed out.

Council member David Fair urged that steps be taken promptly to see that full-time coverage be provided, and assumed that this would mean 21 eight-hour shifts a week.

Carley and chief Dave Distrola explained that for the past while, shifts are 12 hours in length, and there are 14 of them. Distrola noted that the contract calls for a full-time officer to work 144 hours in a 24-day period. Carley said he does the scheduling.

Roboski enumerated requirements for hiring new officers, including the training, certificates and qualifications they must have, and how civil service and eligibility lists enter into the choice. Most new officers would have had little or no prior experience in active police work, Carley pointed out.

“I am not putting (new) part-time officers on the street by themselves,” Carley said, concerning potential additions to the roster. Remaining experienced part-time officers no longer will be available for some of the hours they are needed; new ones will be riding with experienced officers, initially.

Total wage and salary costs will be increased at least some, during the time it takes to “season” the new hires, Carley acknowledged. But the borough council will have to decide whether it will provide the necessary financial support.

“That is entirely your decision,” Carley said.

Council members Lynn Farber and Judy Taylor said they were concerned that the money is not available in the current budget.

Borough manager Richard Kallenborn said, “As your borough manager, I don’t know how on earth we can justify the additional cost.” He said the added expense would require 2 mills to 2.5 mills of increased real estate tax. “I think council will have to give long, hard consideration to not doing 24-7.”

Carley pointed out that the borough does have to raise taxes from time to time, and had raised both millage and sewer rates to support the current budget.

Council president Andrew Johnson commented, “Our main responsibility to the public is for their safety.”

Carley said that if it reaches a point that no member of the Port Allegany Police Department is available for some shifts, at those times Pennsylvania State Police would be available, and 911 calls would be routed to state police. He said if that situation develops in the coming weeks, he will see that the public is notified.

With Fair, Button and Carley arguing against further delays in the rather lengthy process of seeking, choosing and preparing new officers, it was decided to get it under way.

Fair moved that borough council establish the starting salary for a full-time officer as $35,000, with benefits to remain the same as those currently provided, and the probationary period to continue as six months. Eric Button seconded, and all six council members present voted “yes.”