Mahoning Twp. may form police department

The sentiment comes as no surprise to one Pulaski Township official.

BY MARY GRZEBIENIAK

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

HILLSVILLE, Pa. — Mahoning Township Supervisors are considering forming their own police department and pulling out of the one they now operate jointly with Pulaski Township.

Two of three supervisors, Vito Yeropoli and Garry Pezzuolo, said they think an increase in burglaries and juvenile crime here means the township needs its own police department even if it means an increase in taxes. The third supervisor, Francis “Poncho” Exposito, declined to comment.

Pezzuolo said after Tuesday’s supervisors’ meeting that the Northwest Lawrence Regional Police Department’s two full and two part-time officers are struggling to cover the two townships which each have about 50 miles of roads to patrol and 3,500 residents apiece. The department provides only part-time coverage.

Yeropoli, who is the township’s representative to the Northwest Lawrence Regional Police Commission, told residents that Pulaski Township “finally” named its delegate to the negotiations with two of the department’s four officers who want to form a union. A meeting is expected to be scheduled soon. Yeropoli said Mahoning Township Treasurer Gil Lucarelli, who is Mahoning’s delegate to the negotiations, will “come back with some numbers, and we will see what happens.”

Yeropoli said that Pulaski residents are complaining they are not getting enough police coverage. But he said Mahoning has significant problems with juveniles on four-wheelers trespassing at local strip mines, which require more policing. In addition, there has been a recent rash of burglaries in the township as well as problems with juveniles congregating.

Pulaski Township Supervisor Sam Varano, who also sits on the police commission, said Wednesday that he is not surprised Mahoning is considering forming its own department because, “they brought it to the table a few months back.” But he said it was not discussed when the police commission met in August, and the meeting ended with an agreement that each township would name a negotiator to meet with the new police union. Pulaski Township Supervisor Tom Gates is the third member of the commission.

Varano acknowledged that there have been some complaints from Pulaski Township residents questioning whether the police officers’ time is equally distributed because of the larger number of citations written in Mahoning. He said he understands, however, that Mahoning has a problem with youth on four-wheelers trespassing at the local quarries and said that sometimes several persons are cited at once when a group is apprehended. He said that in any case, “It’s pretty hard to have everything fifty-fifty.”

Pulaski had its own department before joining with Mahoning, which did not have any police department when they combined several years ago. Varano said he believes that Pulaski will just go back to running its own police department if Mahoning pulls out. He commented that Pulaski and Mahoning have cooperated well in different things, including road projects and assumes that a good working relationship would continue.

Mahoning Township now spends $130,000 per year to belong to the joint police department. Varano said Pulaski spends about $5,000 less only because Mahoning voluntarily gave the police chief a raise.

In related business, Pezzuolo warned residents that in a recent daytime robbery of a township residence, thieves pretended to represent the township and knew a sewer system was being planned. He said there are no township surveys going on. Solicitor Lou Perrotta warned residents not to open doors to anyone not having identification. Residents and police have started a local Crimewatch group that meets at 7 p.m. the third Thursday of the month at St. Lawrence social hall. Some residents have established a Web site, www.hillsvillehotline.com, with information about the problems.

Supervisors also authorized Perrotta to prepare amendments to ordinances for adoption at the next meeting. These include an increase the fine for curfew violations from $50 to $300 and amending the language in a “nuisance house” ordinance to address interior furniture placed outside.

Also Tuesday, Supervisors said the fall trash pick-up will begin the second week of October. A schedule will be announced.

Trick-or-treat was set for 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31, to conform with Bessemer and North Beaver Township’s hours. After trick-or-treat there will be children’s parties at the Mahoning Township Community Center and the Edinburg Fire Station.

Shadda Krull was named to a vacancy on the Mahoning Township Planning Commission.