SOUTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — South Whitehall Township has been without a permanent police chief since March, and it looks like the wait will be a bit longer.
South Whitehall's Board of Commissioners approved a new search after its members said an initial search failed to yield a satisfactory candidate.
The new contract with Aspirant Consulting Group will empower the firm to embark on another executive search for the chief of police position for $9,500.
An additional cost of $1,750 was listed for an oral interview panel as part of the process.
In April, the board approved a contract with The Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association for an initial search, costing $9,000.
Township Manager Tom Petrucci said that was in part because of the unexpected death of the manager of the organization leading the process, Gregory Bean.
The township has not gotten an invoice for the initial search.
"Selecting the chief of police, next to selecting the township manager, is perhaps the most important thing that this board will ever do so we take this job incredibly seriously, Commissioner Jacob Roth said.
"And given what happened with the former manager of the Pennsylvania Police Association, I personally believe it's prudent to conduct a search with Aspirant."
Former Police Chief Glen Dorney officially resigned from the township in March. He's now corporate security manager for PPL, according to LinkedIn.
Stephen Brown is serving as interim/acting chief of police. He previously was the department’s captain.
Some residents at the meeting were unhappy about the decision, saying the extra funds spent were a waste of taxpayer funds or would significantly exasperate the search timeline for the key position.
Manager Tom Petrucci said it would not take the township over budget, and that even if the invoice for the first search did come, it would not create a tax burden for this year.
According to the township's records, $13,974 is available from the budget's general fund for the item.
New parks ordinance passed
Township officials said that throughout the summer, they received a wide range of complaints at Covered Bridge Park regarding loud music, grilling, and littering along Jordan Creek.
They also list complaints of township and personal property, such as picnic tables and other objects, being taken and put in the same creek.
As a result, the township approved a new ordinance Wednesday amending the Parks and Recreation code to affirm the need for permits for some and prohibitions for other activities at the township's parks.
The ordinance is new, officials say, with the law taking into account feedback received during the July 17 board of commissioners meeting, as well as communications from the police department, public works personnel and the township's Parks and Recreation board.
Permits are required to be obtained to:
- Use buildings, pavilions or athletic fields
- Reserve any space in the park system for use
- Hold an event or activity where 10 or more people are expected to attend, aside from playground facilities
- Use of park property for commercial purposes (athletic contests, courses, sales, seminars, etc.) with admission charges, donations or the sale of items is prohibited.
Permits for special events
A special event permit is required for activities such as organized walks and runs of any distance, birthday parties, company picnics, festivals, weddings/ceremonies, family reunions, workshops or classes.
Any event expecting more than 1,000 attendees must submit an emergency action plan to the township for review and approval by the police department, township manager and township emergency management director.
Special regulations for activities such as fires, fishing, camping, hunting and swimming also are included, as are regulations related to animals and alcoholic beverages.
Speed limits in the park are set at 10 mph and specific natural area protections are listed.
Prohibited activities are clarified to include tampering with water facilities, gambling, waste dumping, golfing, skateboarding and in-line skates outside of designated areas.
Unauthorized camping, use of tobacco or vapes within 50 feed of recreation fields and playgrounds, the release of lanterns or sky lanterns and the pollution of or placement of furniture objects or grills in Township waters also are prohibited.
At Covered Bridge Park to coincide with the action, the township documents say it recently removed rope swings, hired additional staffing and assigned additional police duty to the park, and extended the park parking lot rail fence.
