Hollidaysburg Still Looking for Ninth Police Officer

The process to hire the ninth police officer for the Hollidaysburg borough has proven difficult over the last several months. Only two applicants applied for the position and Ann Andrews of the Pa. Civil Service Commission said applicants for open police positions are down everywhere. The commission reviewed the hiring process to move it along more quickly and made these suggestions to help make needed changes in filling the position: Applicants minimum age should be dropped from 21 years of age to 19, applicants residency should be moved from the current 15 mile radius of the borough to 30 air miles instead, and candidates would no longer have to be certified under Act 120, instead the borough will pay for their training and the officer must commit to three years of service. If the candidate would fail Act 120, they would have to reimburse the borough for training. The council was in full support of these recommendations and passed them unanimously. Board member Jeff Kettner, former police chief, said the actual cost to send someone to training will be about $1,500 to the borough, the remainder of the cost would be reimbursed to them. The candidate would be paid 60 percent of their salary while attending the academy. Borough Manager Jim Gehret said these changes would be in the new police contract beginning January 2024. However, there would need to be a memorandum to the current contract to get a new officer on the force prior to January. Police Chief Christopher Storm stated that the police department would be supportive of these changes.

Assistant Fire Chief Eric Schmitt said the Phoenix Fire Company had responded to 36 calls last month and that for the first time since 1986 they would like to purchase a new piece of equipment, a new engine that would cost over $500,000. Schmitt said they would apply for grant funding to purchase the engine. Schmitt wanted to put the grant application on next month’s meeting agenda. Board member Sean Burke was the first council member to speak up to put the grant for a new engine on next month’s agenda. All board members spoke in favor of purchasing the new engine and putting the grant application on the agenda.

Mayor Joe Dodson, present by phone at the meeting, requested a $5,000 salary hike for Bobbi Carnell, Administrative Officer/Asst. to Chief. Gehret and board president, Joe Pompa, said this may set a bad precedent , it should be brought up at budget time. Gehret said the Mayor needed to follow the chain of command and consider this raise at budget time. The mayor pushed for the raise citing that he supported the police department and this raise was well deserved. Gehret and the Mayor had a brief sharp disagreement and Gehret left the meeting momentarily to collect himself. Board member Sean Burke made a motion to include this issue on budget discussions. The Board was in support of this.

Andrew Holodnik, recently hired Planning/Zoning/Code Enforcement Officer was appointed by the board to HARB/HPC and as the Alternate to the Blair County Intergovernmental Stormwater Committee as well as the Blair Regional Code Committee. On a stormwater update on Gaysport section , Gehret said he will meet with Stiffler McGraw to see if they have heard any information on grant money for flood control. Several speakers during Public Comment sector expressed thanks to council for their attention to the plight of citizens in Gaysport with their flooding problems. The borough is looking at a new street sweeper which they liked and is currently being used as a demonstrator for six months. Following this, it would be offered to the borough at a reduced price.