Committee Formed to Study Regional Police Collaboration
Resident Kim Bish (center) questions Ford City Borough Council on their appointment of a committee to discuss a regional police force.
by David Croyle
With tax dollars dwindling and state funding being limited, Ford City Borough decided Monday night to reach out to other municipalities to bolster discussion of forming a regional police force.
However, to set up a meeting of interested parties is no small task. To facilitate the first round of talks, Councilman Paul Harmon asked Council to form a committee and appoint former councilman Tom Shaffer as the liaison between municipalities to coordinate a meeting.
Ford City resident Kim Bish objected. Although Shaffer is a member of the Planning Commission, she did not feel he should be involved.
Kim Bish wants the Ford City Mayor to be the liaison between municipalities for new regional police force.
“If you are going to form a committee, it has to be a committee of council members because they will be the ultimate people who decide whether we are going this way or not – not anyone in the public sector or the Planning Commission,” Bish said. ”I believe Marc (Mantini) should be the liaison since he is the mayor. Marc knows the police issues. Marc understands the surrounding areas. Marc has obviously spoken with other entities. I feel this is not a Planning Commission issue; it is a borough council and mayor issue. It is a great idea. I love the idea of a regional police department, but it is a council issue because you all are going to see the numbers and deal with the grants. Mayor Mantini should be the liaison since he will be dealing with the supervisor or chief of police of all these other areas. You can find the money through grants. There are grants for regional police departments right now.”
“We need someone to talk to other municipalities to move forward,” Mayor Marc Mantini said. “A police department is very expensive. Right now we are trying to get input. We do not know how it will shape up. Right now, if you want me to be the liaison, I will be. If there is anything involving our police department, I will be there.”
Solicitor Frank Wolfe gave explanation. “From discussion at the last council meeting, there is going to be a committee from council formed. No one knows if this will go anywhere. Mr. Shaffer would act as liaison to see if townships or boroughs are interested in surrounding municipalities. Those people at that level who are interested would get together to see if there is some basis to move forward. If there is, then next step will be taken. They will see what kind of grants are available. Eventually, if people agree to it, there will be regional police commission, but that is many months down the line in fact if it ever occurs. Right now we are just wanting to see if there is some interest in the surrounding communities. Mr. Shaffer’s only input is not to be a committee member, but to help the borough to get in contact with other municipalities for a meeting to see if there is any interest.
“I agree with what you are saying Kim, but we are not trying to actually form the committee tonight,” Councilman Rob Mohney said. “I think we are just trying to find out if there is interest in forming this. Then the committees will be made and Council will be a huge part of it.”
“I don’t think it matters who will be the liaison,” Wolfe responded. “We need to start with square one and someone has to do something, whether it be the mayor, myself, a council member, or Mr. Shaffer. If everyone agrees this is a good idea, we need to execute on it.”
Wolfe assisted in drafting the resolution. “We need to authorize the council president to appoint a regional police force committee to include the mayor. That group can go out and determine if there is any interest by any other local municipality. Someone has to be the liaison, but you don’t have to say that in the motion.”
“The devil in the details is the cost for other municipalities,” Mantini said. “When you approach them with cost, then they go blank on that. We need this motion so we can move forward and this sector of Armstrong County can move forward.”
“This is so preliminary,” Wolfe reminded. “We cannot control what other municipalities do. We can only form our own committee to try to meet with other (municipalities) who are interested. What will it cost and what will be the structure of it? Until you know the entities involved, you cannot even apply for a grant. You have to start somewhere and see if there is some interest and that (municipalities) want to go forward with exploring the possibility of grants and, that if money is available, they will commit themselves to joining this organization.”
The motion was passed by all without Shaffer being specifically mentioned.
Municipalities currently providing individual police services are Kittanning Borough, Ford City Borough, Manor Township, North Buffalo Township, East Franklin Township, Bethel Township, West Kittanning Borough, Worthington Borough, Rural Valley Borough, Elderton Borough, South Buffalo Township, and Freeport Borough.
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Local News | David Croyle March 11, 2010
By John, March 13, 2010 @ 11:05 AM
Why would anybody have Tom Shaffer involved with police issues when he was arrested a few months ago by Ford City police. Has the world be turn upside down? The people of Ford City clearly spoke and want him out of their political affairs. But it looks like he is trying to weasel his way back in.
By scott_starr, March 13, 2010 @ 7:01 PM
I am a little frightened by this.
Heck, we can’t agree on education, anyone think this will be a success?
I can hear certain places crying now, saying how it’s unfair or some other silly imagined slight for their area.
HERO won’t have to change their call letters, let’s see… Help Elderton Retain Officers.
That’s a free one for you guys.
By JohnK, March 13, 2010 @ 8:39 PM
Didn’t he also have some poker machines in his back room? He and his cronies need to hit 5th Ave and keep moving out of town.