Police Commission Deadlocked Over Chief's Contract

The four municipalities covered by the are deadlocked on the fate of Chief Michael Weiser.

"It's a tie vote," said Chairman Edward J. Earley. "Two municipalities have accepted his resignation and two want to negotiate with him."

Dec. 31 unless the police commission agreed to a new contract. But there was little open discussion about the matter at Monday night’s police commission meeting.

At one point, Upper Macungie Commissioner Samir Ashmar – who is also the vice-chair of Upper Macungie supervisors – asked when the commission would discuss Weiser's retirement. Chairman Earley – who also chairs the Upper Macungie supervisors – said that it might be at the November’s meeting.

Ashmar said that might be too late.

Earley then suggested that maybe a special meeting be called to discuss the chief's status, but no date was set during the public commissioners meeting. The matter was then dropped, but the commissioners later entered an executive session.

After that session, Earley said by phone that Lyons Borough accepted Weiser's resignation while Maxatawny Township and Topron Borough officials voted to negotiate a new contract.

A little more than a week ago, Upper Macungie supervisors, including Ashmar and Earley, accepted Chief Wesier’s resignation. Their reasoning was that the township does not want to enter into any new contracts with the police force because it may drop Berks-Lehigh altogether, said township solicitor Andrew Schantz.

The problem, Ashmar had said, is that (about $2.8 million) but only has a 25 percent voting stake in how that money is used.

The options Upper Macungie is considering is to renegotiate the terms of the regional police charter to include proportional voting rights, or to create it’s own police force.

"Yes, this situation is continuing," Earley said. "There are certain time parameters and it’s an important decision to make. It's a difficult time for the municipalities."

The only other public mention of Chief Weiser was in relation to an accident he had when he backed his car into another patrol vehicle.

Ashmar asked why the accident wasn't listed in the police report.

Sgt. Roger Heins, who presented the report to the commission, said, "You'll have to ask the chief why the report wasn't done."

Earley said the chief's accident will also be on the next agenda.

The next police commission meeting is Nov. 21.