The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, March 8, 1995 3 Police (continued from page 1) The average per capita cost ranges from $25 in Jackson Township to $99 in Dallas Bor- ough, with the average being $45.97. Aregional department must be very conscious of the quality of service it gives the public and the amount of money it spends, Smeal said. “You try your best to give them what they have purchased. You have to balance your time very carefully. Officers in regional departments have a heavier cross to bear because they must always let the municipalities know they're getting what they paid for.” Penn Ridge charges its mem- ber municipalities by units of police time, with 10 man-hours working out to one unit and four units equalling one full-time offi- cet’ All police calls and court hear- ings are logged to compute the number of units for each member municipality, which all pay the same amount of money, no mat- ter how many units of police serv- ice they use during a year. Each municipality decides the types of calls it wants police to answer, which could include true emergencies, house watches, dog calls or “nuisance calls” for zon- ing and codes violations such as open burning. Combining manpower, equip- ment and expertise can improve the level of police services and spread the cost of police protec- tion over more people, but in his 17 years as a regional police chief (14 years at Northern York County and three years at Penn Ridge,) Smeal has found several draw- backs. “Many more fall through than succeed,” he said. “Aregional force is no panacea. It's often the pe- ripheral issues, such as loss of local control over the police de- partment, rather than the actual officers’ work, which threaten the success of aregional department.” Other drawbacks which Smeal sees are: ¢ Rivalries between municipal forces left over from before the merger can carry over into a con- solidated force and prevent the POST PHOTO/GRACE R. DOVE HERE’S HOW WE DO IT — Chief Ron Smeal of the Penn-Ridge Regional Police Department dis- cussed the fine points of a consolidated force to Kingston Township supervisor Paul Sabol, Lehman Township supervisor Ray Iwanowski and Lake Township supervisor Charles Balavage, who toured Smeal’s department with other Back Mountain officials February 28. officers from working well together, or the officers may resent a new chief and a new style of police work or supervision. e Officers also lose personal contact with the residents they serve, because they're now serv- ing several municipalities instead of one. e Consolidation can be confus- ing because the officers mustlearn all member municipalities’ ordi- nances and new or different pro- cedures. e If the member police forces have many officers with accumu- lated seniority, a regional force can end up costing more than it saves. e Elected officials with hidden agendas may not have the best interests of police protection in mind. A regional police chief must be a good financial manager in addi- tion to knowing police work, Smeal said. POST PHOTO/GRACE R. DOVE Dallas gets school bus safety grant A $2,500 state grant obtained through Senator Charles Lemmond has helped the Dallas school district buy safety crossarms for 15 school buses, soon to be mandated in Pennsylvania. The ten-foot crossarms automatically swing out from the front of the bus when the driver activates the red stop lights and opens the door. Inspecting the new safety arms are Lemmond, Emanuel Bus Lines vice-president Leon Emanuel, superintendent Gerald Wycallis, school board member Dr. Richard Coslett and Emanuel Bus Lines owner Jeff Emanuel. Still: More Back Mountain news Still: Only $18 a year* The Dallas Post Call 675-5211 for a subscription * 52 week subscription in Luzerne and Wyoming counties. Language course. as we can. Good News For the Hearing-Impaired In order to better serve the hearing-impaired community, Dr. Curtis Goodwin and the staff of The Back Mountain Eye Care Center are pleased to announce: » We have recently completed the Beginner 1 American Sign e If you desire, we will be pleased to have an interpreter present - just schedule it with us ahead of time. We know as each individual navigates through life they are bound to meet some obstacles - The Back Mountain Eye Care Center takes pride in clearing away as many of these obstacles SHAVERTOWN, PA THE Back MOUNTAIN EYE CARE CENTER 170 N. MEMoRIAL BLVD. PHoNE (717) 675-3627 For over 15 years, Focused on You! The chief must manage the department’s budget, payroll and pensions and justify operations and expenditures to the elected officials. Much of this work is now done by borough or township managers in smaller municipal departments, Smeal said. The chiefs second-in-com- mand, whose greatest strength is his knowledge of police work, would assign duties and super- vise officers. Kingston Township supervisors William Tippett and Paul Sabol said the visit was “very helpful” but they would need more infor- mation on the costs and quality of service before deciding. “Having the regional police chief take care of some of the financial matters would save me and my staff about ten hours a week, which we could devote to other work,” said Kingston Township manager Jeff Box. “It requires a great deal of commitment,” said Kingston Township police chief Jim Balav- age. Jackson Township supervisors Andy Kaskoand Carl Aston agreed with Lake Township supervisor Charles Balavage that they need more facts and figures before making a final commitment. Lehman Township supervisor Ray Iwanowski and police chief Howard Kocher both want to study regionalization more in deptn before committing themselves. “It's a good concept,” said Kocher, who has never had expe- rience with a regional police force. “Despite its drawbacks, region- alization is a good idea, even if it ends up costing abit more,” Smeal said, noting that Pennsylvania has more than 1,200 municipal police departments - more than any other state in the union. “The police do a better, more efficient job and the costs are spread out over a larger population.” To host business workshop Area SCORE counselors Ray Andes and Alan Nithbls are plan- ning a workshop, “Starting and Managing A Small Business,” to be held March 15 at the Genetti Hotel, Wilkes-Barre. This is an all day workshop for people who are thinking of going into business or have done so recently and need assistance. The workshop will cover legal aspects, taxes and records, in- surance, marketing, organiza- tional structure and financing available. The $25 cost of the workshop includes lunch, refreshments and instructional material. “The Service of Retired Execu- tives (SCORE) is a resource for individuals who want to start a small business or for an existing business in need of assistance. SCORE memers are retired busi- ness or professional people with experience in business that can be of great help in solving prob- lems. This service is free and sponsored by the Small Business Administration. For information contact SCORE or SBA, 20 North Pennsylvania Avenue, Wilkes- Barre, PA 18701, 826-6502. Township outgrowing its municipal building By GRACE R. DOVE Post Staff KINGSTON TOWNSHIP - Re- cent growth in Kingston Town- ship has had its down side: the municipal government is rapidly running out of space. According to township man- ager Jeff Box, the maintenance garage has outgrown its facility and the police department, al- ready sharing cramped quarters, anticipates adding two more offi- cers by the beginning of April. “We have hired the architec- tural firm Bakker and Lewis to examine all of our facilities and give us cost estimates to either renovate and enlarge what we have or build a new municipal build- ing,” he said. “It’s too early yet to say what we plan to do because we don't have any cost figures yet.” The only way to enlarge the existing municipal building with- out sacrificing the meager park- ing facilities is to add a second story, if the building's structure will allow it, Box said. The other alternative is to build a new building on land which the township owns on Center Street near the Kingston Township ambulance building, he said. “We'll do everything possible to avoid a tax increase to pay for the’ building work, while continuing to provide the same or better level of services,” Box said. Supervisor Paul Sabol added that relocating the municipal of- fices might help one or both of the township's fire companies, which are also cramped for space. He recalled that the municipal building was built in 1964 at the rear of the Trucksville Fire Hall, with the fire company giving the land and $7,500 to the township in exchange for a 99-year lease on the front of the building. The fire company has been housed at that site since 1919, when the newly formed organiza- tion acquired the George Randall estate and built its first wooden: fire hall. : The municipal building was enlarged in the late 1970's, Sabol said. Kelly throws hatinring for county commissioner Harveys Lake resident Ed Kelly is running as an Independent Democrat candidate for Luzerne County Commimssioner in the May 16 municipal primary. He is a graduate of Kingston High School and Keye Manage- ment in Business. He was for- merly employed for 37 years by J.S. Raub Shoe Corporation, working in management and supervisory positions. He is presently employed by the Luzerne-Wyoming Counties Transportation Department. Kelly is serving his third four year term on the Harveys Lake Council and currently is presi- dent of the council. During his terms as councilman, he has been instrumental in obtaining vari- ous grants for purchasing new police cruisers and for mecesary improvements. at the lake’! v He's also general chairman of the” Luzerne County: Fair, préesi- dent of the Harveys Lake Fire and Ambulance Company, a member and past president of the Lake Silkworth Lions Club, a member of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick and a member of the Alderson United Methodist Church. Shirts Slacks 2pr. Men's & Ladies 2 pc. suits Hours: RAN D OPENING Gateway Cleaners Rt. 118 & 415 Dallas, PA Complete Drycleaning « Laundry Tailoring Specials Sport Coats/Blazers Prices good March 1 - March 18 674-4955 Mon. - Fri. 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sat. 8a.m. - 5pm (in Pen Mart - Subway Plaza) 99¢ $5.99 $2.99 $5.99 When Opportunity Knocks... Open the door. Franklin First turns homebuyers into homeowners. We'll step up and give you a mortgage just right for your individual homebuying needs. Franklin First can help you through all of the tough questions and details. And you'll be pleasantly surprised at our favorable rates. If you're looking into a new home...See Franklin First. Call Tom Carr in our Clarks Summit Office at 586-1693 We're ready to give you the loan you need for the home you want. FRANKLIN FIRST =» = EQUAL HOUSING LENDER ED KELLY Kelly and his wife, Joan, have been married for 26 years. They reside on Outlet Drive in Harveys® Lake and are the parents of two children. Theirdaughter, Joanne is married and lives in} Martinsburg, West Virginia with her husband, Ken Kulp and daughter, Marissa. Edward, Jr.¢ is a Ranger in the U.S. Army and is stationed in Savannah, Geor= gia. pa Member FDIC
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