MINGO JUNCTION - The hiring of an additional patrolman for the Village Police was discussed during Tuesday's Village Council meeting.
In a letter addressed the the mayor and council, police Chief Steve Maguschak recommended the hiring of Russell Hyde Jr. as a patrolman for the force. In the letter, Maguschak said Hyde had served the department until his resignation in 2006. The chief also said Hyde already had passed a physical and was ready to report for duty immediately. Maguschak said officers previously laid off were notified of the position before recommending Hyde for the patrolman's position.
Village Law Director Ernie Wilson told council members they must pass an ordinance to create the position, as council previously abolished the position during the budget crisis of a few years ago.
Council approved employing Hyde.
Maguschak also told council the village had been approved for a $125,000 grant from the Cops Hiring Program to employ an additional, full-time officer for three years. The grant would pay 75 percent of wages and benefits, while the village would have to pick up the remainder.
"This will fund one officer for three years," said the chief. "It took four years (to get the grant), but we finally got the darned thing."
Council members congratulated the chief for the accomplishment.
In other matters:
John Angelica, village clerk, gave council members an update on the village budget so far this year. Angelica also told council the village may not reap its estimated revenue needed for the year's end.
"This is the halfway point in budgetary lines," said Angelica. "We haven't closed out June yet.
"Anything below 50 percent is bad while anything above 50 percent is good," continued Angelica in referring to budgetary line items.
Angelica also said he'd been studying village revenue reaped from taxes and other sources through the Regional Income Tax Authority, and the village was substantially behind in collections so far this year.
"We're running about $127,000 behind (estimated tax revenue)," he said. "I don't think we're going to make our projected revenue unless we have a miracle."
Frank Fuscardo, village administrator, told council a bid for resurfacing a portion of McLister Avenue had come in far above estimates and would have to be re-advertised and rebid.
"We only had one bidder," said Fuscardo, adding the bid submitted was $80,000 to $90,000 over estimates for the project.
Council agreed to allow Fuscardo to rebid the project.
Council agreed to appoint Matthew Miller as a full-time paramedic and firefighter for the village fire department.
There will be a public meeting at noon Friday on village budget matters; a finance committee meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday; and a public hearing 7 p.m. July 5 on proposed water and sewage rate increases. All meetings will be in council chambers.
