29-year veteran of force promoted to South Williamsport captain

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No one on the South Williamsport Police Department has held the rank of captain since Capt. Francis Ross retired from the department in 1993.

That changed Monday as Borough Council unanimously approved the appointment of 29-year police department veteran Robert Hetner to the rank.

Following the vote, borough police Chief Terry O'Connell and Hetner's wife Kathleene pinned gold captain's bars on Hetner's uniform while officers from the department looked on.

The promotion effectively makes Hetner second in command of the police department, O'Connell said.

"(The promotion) creates a clear cut rank structure within the department," O'Connell said. "He's basically the assistant chief."

O'Connell praised Hetner's professionalism and dedication.

"Bob's a good cop. I've worked with him my entire career," O'Connell said. "I know he has the respect and admiration of everyone in the police department. There is no one better to serve in the capacity as captain."

Hetner received his associate's degree from Pennsylvania College of Technology, bachelor's degree from Lycoming College and master's degree from Bucknell University. He attended police academy training through Lackawanna College.

He was hired as a patrolman with the department in 1981, he said. He was promoted to corporal about eight years ago, he said.

In addition to serving on the police department, Hetner is the school resource officer for the East Lycoming School District.

"I appreciate the confidence and trust council has placed in me," Hetner said. "I've lived in this community my whole life, so this is very special and important to me."

Matt Peleschak, an engineer with Larson Design Group, told council that a significant portion of the borough's sewer system upgrade is near completion.

The borough has been ordered by the state Department of Environmental Protection to fix the decrepit system to reduce the infiltration of water into the system during heavy rains. Contractors should complete upgrades to the main sewer lines sometime next week, Peleschak said.

According to Peleschak, the completion of a home inspection program, and subsequent repairs to private sewer laterals identified through that program, will satisfy DEP requirements spelled out in the order.

The upgrade performed so far have yielded results in light of the heavy rain and flooding that occurred recently, Peleschak said.

Prior to the repairs, it took a month to get the system back down to normal flow levels after an event of that magnitude, he said. This time, however, flows returned to normal in about a week, he said.

"With smaller (rain) events, it comes down in a day," he said.

The quicker reduction in flow also reduces the amount of money the borough must pay the Williamsport Sanitary Authority, he said. The borough's sewage is sent to the authority's treatment plant.

In other business, council:

* Approved the appointment of Jameson Keeler as provisional officer in the police department. According to O'Connell, the appointment is necessary for Keeler to be able to take his police certification test.

* Accepted the resignation of Carl Finnerty as deputy emergency management coordinator.

* Approved giving $1,500 to the Lycoming County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for services the agency performs in the borough.

* Held a public meeting regarding proposed changes to the borough zoning ordinance. According to borough secretary-treasurer Donna Brink, public comment will be accepted at subsequent hearings held during council's March and April meetings.