POLICE DEPARTMENT Council OKs transfer to cover OT spending

Council approved more funds for overtime than initially requested.
SHARON, Pa. -- City council has reversed itself on a decision not to allow a budget transfer to cover anticipated police overtime costs for the rest of the year.
Council pulled a request for transfers amounting to $20,000 from the agenda two weeks ago, insisting that the mayor and police chief meet with council to discuss overtime spending in the department.
The city had $60,000 budgeted for overtime this year.
Michael Gasparich said the transfer was needed to cover the rest of this year, although it might not all be spent.
Mayor David O. Ryan said he and the chief did meet with council to discuss the situation.
On Monday, council, meeting in special session, approved transfers of $30,000 into general duty overtime for police and another $10,000 to cover additional court time for the department.
Half of the transfers came from other police accounts that still had money in them and half came from the city's workers' compensation account.
Other issues
In other business, council:
UApproved the final budget for the 2005 federal Community Development Block Grant application, which shows spending at $924,000. The budget shows $184,800 for administration, $303,590 for public facility improvements, $140,000 for housing rehabilitation and free paint programs, $135,610 for various public service programs, $100,000 for demolition and clearance of old buildings and $60,000 for code enforcement salaries.
UHeld a public hearing on a plan to take $120,000 in unused funds from the 2003 CDBG budget to raze the burned Russell Street School Apartments. The owner of the property has no money to tear it down. The city's Community Development Department can use CDBG funds to tear it down and take the property, officials said. No members of the public attended the hearing.