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MILL HALL -- Police coverage rates in Castanea and Lamar townships will see an increase.
Mill Hall Borough Council voted to approve two resolutions to its contracts with the municipalities -- increasing the cost per hour of service by $5 in both contracts. The total hourly cost for coverage will be $60.
The resolution regarding Lamar Township also saw an increase in coverage hours from 10 to 15, according to Police Chief Brandon Coleman.
The second resolution, regarding coverage in Castanea, however, lacked a B section stating the $5 hourly cost increase, as of Tuesday's meeting. Council approved the resolution with an amendment for the borough's Solicitor Paul Ryan to add the necessary section.
Council also approved the Mill Hall Police Department's recommendation to purchase a new outfitted vehicle.
According to Coleman, the standard vehicle will be $42,000 with approximately $12,000 in upfitting for lighting, mounts and more. He recommended to council members they use American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds toward the $12,000 cost of upfitting.
"I don't think you should finance equipment… the consoles, the lighting, all that. I don't think you should finance that stuff," Coleman said.
The vehicle was approved for purchase by taking on a Costars financed loan with First Citizens Bank. The bank offered the borough a tax free rate option. The borough will, however, have to budget $7,300 for the vehicle.
For the last five years, the borough has been budgeting $7,000.
"First Citizens gave us this option of a tax free rate," Coleman said. He noted the $300 increase, which council would need to budget for in the future.
The vehicle will be identical to the other two SUVs the department already has, he added.
"The fact that we have this third vehicle will keep us in line with the commitments we have with these municipal governments. If we don't give them an automobile, then we really get into jeopardy as far as being able to complete the service we contracted for," Mill Hall Borough's Mayor, Thomas Bossert said.
Council voted to approve a retroactive three-year agreement for police records management with the Cloud.
During February's meeting, Coleman explained the logistics of utilizing the Cloud.
According to Bossert, the Clinton County Commissioners ceased covering municipal government's police coverage. The switch to an online police records system will be a cheaper alternative than a private server. It will save the borough money on server and IT costs.
"This was a program that was started by them on a grant. They don't want to maintain the server anymore," Coleman said.
The agreement will allow the police department to have their information converted onto the system.
"This is what I talked about last month about going to our own online Cloud. This is just a retroactive agreement that we had to sign… to be able to convert our information by May 1," he said. "The borough will either have to go onto their own server or go to the Cloud. Our own server is a lot more expensive than what we're doing."
The increase in police coverage will help offset the new police vehicle payment as well as the increased cost in records management.
In other business council:
-- Approved the recommendation by new Mill Hall Pool Manager Cara Defibaugh to hire lifeguards for the 2023 season. She has a full staff ready to go, according to secretary Brandi Yost. Lifeguards will be starting with a pay rate of $11 per hour. Council also voted to approve Defibaugh's recommendation to purchase lifeguard uniforms for this season. The total cost will be $550 for swimwear, shorts and shirts, according to Yost.
-- Approved Harger Charities request to hold the Navy Seal Run on Sunday, May 7, starting at 9 a.m. The run will start in Mill Hall Borough and branch out to Castanea Township.
-- Mill Hall Police Department also received a donation of two thermal imaging cameras from Miller's Gun Shop. Coleman thanked them for their generous donation.