UNION TOWNSHIP Supervisors disagree on whether police chief's report is too short

The chief says the current report form is sufficient.
BY MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Union Township supervisors disagreed Wednesday over whether Police Chief Joe Lombardo should provide more detailed monthly police reports.
Supervisor Kevin Guinaugh said he expects to receive a "full report" from the police department next month. Lombardo had been providing more detailed reports until recently when an abbreviated report, containing only totals and types of police activity, was submitted.
Previously, the reports were broken down by the types and number of arrests made by each officer and other details.
Supervisor Steve Galizia objected to Guinaugh's demand for a full report.
"The police department is not going to do it and when you force them, they'll file a grievance," he said.
"I'd like to see what the road crew is doing. I'd like a report," Galizia added.
Guinaugh, who heads the road department, replied, "No problem."
One resident criticized the lack of information contained in the new reports and objected to Galizia's "shaking the police department up so they will file a grievance."
Lombardo, who did not attend the meeting, said afterward that he believes the current report is sufficient and does not intend to expand it.
Also Wednesday, Guinaugh reported that the Lawrence County commissioners have applied for a traffic light on Upper Idlewild at U.S. Route 224, an intersection that has been the subject of many complaints.
Address ordinance
Supervisors set a meeting for 3 p.m. Tuesday at the municipal building to adopt an ordinance to provide rules for naming streets, street signs and posting of addresses, as well as enforcement procedures. The ordinance is necessary to bring the township into compliance with county emergency 911 numbering.
Resident Walter Janiel criticized Galizia for forcing the township to spend $3,212 in attorney fees defending the lawsuit recently filed by Galizia over what he considered a conflict of interest on the township vacancy board.
Janiel remarked that Galizia had criticized Guinaugh and the late Supervisor Ralph Nuzzo for attorney fees incurred after they tried to demote Lombardo last year.
Resident Fran Davidson criticized the supervisors for "nitpicking." She added, "When are we going to realized if we don't work together, we're going nowhere fast?"