New laptops for police partly funded by grant

Commissioners bolstered the jail staff with promotions to full-time status.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MERCER, Pa. -- Several local police departments will get laptop computers for their cruisers, partially paid for by a grant from the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania.
The Mobile Data Terminal laptop computers allow police to search crime and traffic databases from their patrol cars. Mercer County commissioners approved a contract to accept the grant funding Thursday. No county money will be used in the purchase.
The CCAP grant will pay up to $624 of the purchase price of each computer, with the municipalities paying the balance.
Participating police departments and the number of computers they will receive are: Sharon -- 8; Southwest Mercer County Regional Police, Mercer and Sharpsville Boroughs -- two each; and Pymatuning Township -- 1.
Also Thursday, commissioners approved changes in the personnel manual governing employee health and life insurance effective July 13.
William Boyle, director of administrative services, said the changes update the policy and states that employees on leave are still responsible for paying their health care contribution. Employees except jail employees represented by the Teamsters have paid part of the cost of their health care since 1996.
Promotions and hirings
Commissioners promoted Philip Hartsock, correctional officer at the jail, to lieutenant, with the new position paying $38,135 annually.
They also promoted eight jail correctional officers from part time to full time: Christopher Hartman, Michael Strosser, Douglas Veverka, Pamela Thomas, Richard Jones, Mary Wright, James Scott and Michael Burke.
That brings the jail to nearly full staff, commissioners said, adding they will be hiring part-time correctional officers to replace those moved to full-time.
Other hirings were Alicia Stephens of Wheatland, for a part-time clerical position at the jail, and Katie Herman of Grove City, for temporary summer employment at the district attorney's office, both at $11.11 hourly; and Gabrielle Ferry, no hometown available, law clerk for Judge Fornelli, $31,368 annually.