WELLSBORO - Borough Council accepted the resignation of one officer and hired his replacement at Monday night's meeting.
Council accepted the resignation of Joshua Bell, effective Wednesday, and promoted Chad Boyce, who was hired last month as a part-time officer, at a salary of $39,282. Boyce's hiring keeps the police department with five officers, not counting Police Chief Jim Bodine.
Bell was hired in April of this year at a salary of $43,689, but had been with the department since Fall 2010 during a probationary period. In a resignation letter that Bodine read before the vote, Bell said he was resigning to pursue employment with another department and for personal reasons, not related to his duties as an officer.
On Aug. 4, Williamsport City Council authorized the Willliamsport Bureau of Police to hire five police officers, and Bell was one of the five introduced to council at that time.
During his report, Bodine said the number of alcohol- and pursuit-related incidents were up. "We've been staying very busy," he said.
In other business, council:
Authorized its solicitor, Cox, Stokes and Lantz, to issue a writ of execution on a judgment for $8,538.35 that the Tioga County Court of Common Pleas entered on Aug. 23 against Joseph Bullock, of Prospect Park. The borough took Bullock to court after he refused to maintain a property at 71 Walnut St. If the judgment is not paid, the property will be sold.
Agreed to advertise a notice of intent to adopt an amendment to the sign ordinance at a future meeting that would prohibit "flashing, blinking, strobe, twinkling, animated, streaming or moving signs of any type" among other prohibitions. Borough Secretary/Treasurer Sue Keck said a public hearing will have to be held before the amendment can be adopted.
Authorized the use of $50,000 to $60,000 for a pilot study for a membrane filtration system for the borough water system. The money would come out of $223,000 available from a line of credit given originally for the purchase of sand last year to correct a sand filter problem that led to a water boil order being issued.
Council rejected a motion to purchase covers, bases and flag holders for 50 parking meters on blocks on and near Main Street at a cost of $5,400. The vote was 4-3, with Mayor Jim Daugherty casting the deciding vote. Councilmen John Sticklin, Terry Bryant and Mike Wood voted against the motion, with President Joan Hart, Vice President John Wheeler and Councilman Rudy Scharf voting in favor.
However, council did approve a motion to replace existing flag holders at no more than $25 each for those that were in need of replacement.
Council also agreed that this fall's communitywide yard sale will be Oct. 22, with cleanup week to follow Oct. 24-28.
