Former part-time officers promoted to fill gaps in police force
By Kyle Carrozza, Staff Writer, The Times
COATESVILLE – City officials welcomed Officers Claire Lang and Joseph Norcini as full time officers at Monday night’s City Council meeting. Both officers previously worked for the department as part timers but were converted to full time to fill requirements left by attrition.
District Justice Grover E. Koon swore the two in.
Police Chief Jack Laufer said thanked the officers for their service, saying that they deserved the promotions to full time.
“They’ve been part time officers since 2013,” he said. “I think all of us know what part time status means; it means part time pay and part time benefits that goes along with it, but they’ve been out there doing the same job our full time officers have been and doing it in an exemplary fashion.”
He also thanked Council for keeping the police force staffed.
Council tabled the motion to receive and consider the hiring of a new part time fire chief so that they could consider the decision further. The new chief would replace James Lentz who had been acting as interim chief.
Council passed the second reading of an ordinance adoption amending city code to address changes that will occur with the new solid waste disposal contract.
The new contract will have trash cart manufacturer Toter distribute two half cubic yard garbage carts to residents, one for trash and one for recycling.
However, the ordinance was met with some opposition. Council Member David Collins said that many residents in his Fourth Ward keep their trash receptacles in their homes and would prefer smaller containers.
“What is going to be done for the people who don’t want to maintain these two ugly things outside of their homes?” he asked.
Hudson said that he would inquire about a smaller option for residents but pointed out that the city is under contract, so Toters does not have an obligation to provide them.
Council also passed the first reading of an ordinance that would allow residents pay for additional carts if desired. The ordinance comes in response to a landlord who said that he would rather distribute the carts to families in his apartments, rather than use one dumpster for all of them.
The city also voted to pay back the Tax Anticipation Note borrowed at the beginning of the year for an amount just under $1.29million.
City Finance Director John Marcarelli said that the city budgeted for the amount and will not have to borrow from the trust fund to pay it, though trust fund money was used in the city’s budget for this year.
John Palowski, who has headed up efforts to place gazebos along the Riverwalk said, “Things are progressing very nicely.” In addition to the gazebo promised by State Senator Andy Dinniman, Palowski said that $1,600 in donations have been raised.
However, Council President Joseph Hamrick raised concerns about money to pay for security cameras to monitor the proposed locations for two of the gazebos.
While one gazebo will be covered by a camera already in place, the other two are not.
Chief Laufer said that cameras would be used to catch vandalism or any other illegal activities that may occur along the Riverwalk. He said that two more cameras would total around $10,000.
The Living the Dream Corvette Club invited council members to their bike giveaway on July 12 at 2 pm in the Walgreens parking lot. after giving two bikes away last year, the cause garnered enough support that the club will give away 11 bikes and helmets this year.
