Ambridge recently joined Baden in a decision not to proceed with a feasibility study looking at regionalizing four local police departments.
advertisement Council failed to approve action Tuesday on continuing with the second phase of the study, which would have delved deeper into a possible merger of Ambridge, Harmony Township, Baden and Conway's police forces.
Baden voted to last month on a three-year police contract, essentially putting to rest the potential for consolidation.
Ambridge Council President Michael Mikulich said after Baden pulled out, representatives in other communities were not interested.
“That basically kills the whole issue,” Mikulich said.
Representatives from the involved municipalities were recently given the first phase of the study, which gave the financial impact for each town. Officials said phase II of the study would have delved deeper, looking at matters such as police pensions and a governing board. A phase II meeting was to take place at the end of September.
Harmony Commissioners’ Chairman Glenn Angus, said the township has not taken any official action, but will likely do so at next week’s meeting.
Angus said he was willing to listen. But to get his final approval, he said the study would have had to show more than a financial savings for Harmony, which it did not.
“What we have here in Harmony is very good,” Angus said of the police.
Ambridge officials said they didn't think regionalization would benefit the borough either.
“I don’t think we should go with it," Councilman Gerald “Duke” McCoy said. "I just think we’re beating a dead horse.”
Ambridge Councilman Tony Cafarelli said the borough has a good police chief and the police department has been doing a “fine job.” He fears Ambridge would lose that by regionalizing.
“Personally, I don’t think (the study) is going to save us any money,” Cafarelli said. “Ambridge really needs our police force."
Baden voted to last month on a three-year police contract, essentially putting to rest the potential for consolidation.
Ambridge Council President Michael Mikulich said after Baden pulled out, representatives in other communities were not interested.
“That basically kills the whole issue,” Mikulich said.
Representatives from the involved municipalities were recently given the first phase of the study, which gave the financial impact for each town. Officials said phase II of the study would have delved deeper, looking at matters such as police pensions and a governing board. A phase II meeting was to take place at the end of September.
Harmony Commissioners’ Chairman Glenn Angus, said the township has not taken any official action, but will likely do so at next week’s meeting.
Angus said he was willing to listen. But to get his final approval, he said the study would have had to show more than a financial savings for Harmony, which it did not.
“What we have here in Harmony is very good,” Angus said of the police.
Ambridge officials said they didn't think regionalization would benefit the borough either.
“I don’t think we should go with it," Councilman Gerald “Duke” McCoy said. "I just think we’re beating a dead horse.”
Ambridge Councilman Tony Cafarelli said the borough has a good police chief and the police department has been doing a “fine job.” He fears Ambridge would lose that by regionalizing.
“Personally, I don’t think (the study) is going to save us any money,” Cafarelli said. “Ambridge really needs our police force."
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