Police Officers told to get Their Résumés Ready

After a 75-minute executive session Monday night, the Berks-Lehigh Regional Police Commission held off voting on its agenda item – the matter of from the force.

One of the sticking points was what to do about all the police officers.

Police association counselor James Gavin told the commission that they should consider that regional officers have a contract that doesn't expire until the end of 2013.

Upper Macungie had planned to start its own force by the end of 2012.

"If a member withdraws, the contract has an impact on the officers,” Gavin said. “We believe, from our point of view, that our contract is still enforceable and that you must negotiate that impact with the police association."

Commission Solicitor Richard Beltzner said that he would meet with the commission's labor counselor and then with the police officer association's counsel to address any issues or concerns.

Commission member and Supervisors Vice-Chairman Samir P. Ashmar told the crowd of about 30 people that will hold a special meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday to discuss police matters.

"We acknowledge our responsibilities to this commission," Ashmar said. "But we voted to take action on starting our own department and hiring our own police chief."

Ashmar requested of the police association that any officers interested in joining Upper Macungie's force should submit résumés in the next 30-60 days.

"We're proceeding with our process," he said after the meeting.

Monday’s commission meeting was held in Maxatawny. That township voted on March 7 to make a motion during this meeting to . But there was also no discussion on whether the police department should disband or not.

"There are certain concerns brought up by various municipalities [in executive session] that need to be addressed individually. Then recommendations will be brought before the commission," said Edward J. Earley, the commission's chairman, who also chairs Upper Macungie's Board of Supervisors.

Upper Macungie supervisors voted at their meeting earlier this month to form its own police department after being part of the regional force for a decade. The township would cease its regional relationship at the end of the year.

Upper Macungie Township currently pays more than $2.6 million for police protection from the Regional Police Department.

The three other Berks County municipalities covered by the department – Maxatawny Township, Topton Borough and Lyons Borough – pay significantly less.

The issue has been the hot topic in the township for the past year, when officials determined that it was time to study breaking away from the 30-officer regional force.

Supervisors had sought voting rights commensurate with the amount of money the township pays versus the amounts the smaller towns and boroughs shell out.

Currently, each municipality has a 25 percent voting interest. The current charter was originally crafted in 2002.