BAZETTA POLICE Failed levies mean layoffs

The police station will be closed to the public when the secretary is laid off.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
BAZETTA -- Township residents will now have a tougher time contacting police officers for nonemergency matters.
Police Chief Robert Jacola said he had to lay off two full-time officers and the police secretary because of a lack of money. The layoffs mean the police department will no longer be open.
"We won't be able to have anyone here at the office during normal business hours," the chief said. "It's not something I want to do, but we don't have the money, so we have to make cutbacks. Right now the township is subsidizing us to the tune of $38,000."
Jacola said the police department's annual budget is $536,500.
"I believe by the end of the year we will be $50,000 over our budget," the chief said.
Failed levies: This community, hugging the southern rim of Mosquito Lake, a popular recreation spot, has tried twice to get tax levies passed to generate revenue for the police department, but voters rejected both.
Township officials have once again placed a 1.8 mill, five-year levy that will bring in an estimated $257,000 a year on the November ballot. If the levy is passed, the township will bring back the officers and the secretary, officials said.
Layoffs: Patrol Officers Chris Herlinger and Bill Barna will be laid off effective Sunday and Pamela Buran, the police secretary, will be laid off Monday, township officials said.
With the layoffs, the department will have five full-time officers, including the chief, patrolling the streets.
Buran said because she will be laid off, there will not be anyone at the office to make copies of police reports. She said residents often come to the station to the get reports for insurance information.
"We will still take requests for copies of reports," Jacola said. "People can call and leave a message on the machine or send the request in the mail. We will make the copies once a week and then notify the person as to how to obtain the copies."
The township earlier this month eliminated police patrols from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays because of the cutbacks. If an emergency happens in the township during those hours, a Trumbull County deputy sheriff will be dispatched.
The officers will still be on duty during the afternoon and overnight shifts.