Milford police study gets pushback from mayor, public
Milford. The borough council discussed forming an Eastern Pike Regional Police Department (EPRPD) Exploratory Committee to study the Milford Borough Police Department. Councilman Joe Dooley said he only wanted to discover ways to cut expenses without cutting services. Mayor Sean Strub said the committee would undermine local officers and lead some to believe the borough department was in danger of abolishment.
| 02 Mar 2022 | 03:25
Milford Borough Council Meeting, Feb. 28, 2022, St. Patrick's Parish Hall (Photo by Frances Ruth Harris)
The Milford Borough Council (from left): George Lutfy, president pro tem; Peter Cooney, councilman; Laurie DiGeso, borough secretary; Jason Ohliger, borough solicitor; Joseph Dooley, president; Maria Farrell, vice president; Gregory Meyer, CPA, borough treasurer; and Dale Thatcher, councilman. Mayor Sean Strub attended virtually. Councilmen Doug Manion and Andrew Jorgenson were absent. (Photo by Frances Ruth Harris)
Eugene Murphy, a retired New York Fire Department paramedic, said it was the first time he’d ever agreed with Milford Mayor Sean Strub.
Strub had issued a statement, read at the borough council’s Feb. 28 meeting by secretary Laurie DiGeso (see full text on page 12), responding to a proposed exploratory committee to study the borough police department.
“Over the past six years, the Milford Police Department has been revitalized, increased its professionalism, training, morale and commitment to the residents, businesses, property owners and visitors we serve,” the statement said, in part. “Chief McCormack and his team deserve our appreciation, not a proposal to investigate abolition of our independent Milford Police Department before even asking Borough residents what they want in local policing.”
The borough council discussed Councilman Joe Dooley’s idea of forming an Eastern Pike Regional Police Department (EPRPD) Exploratory Committee to study the borough department. Dooley said he was neither for nor against Matamoras’ EPRPD, only that he owed it to taxpayers to explore any avenue that might lead to a cut in expenses without compromising services. The council ultimately decided to have the borough’s own Safety Committee look into the matter.
Murphy said Dooley was just as foolish for pushing the police study as he was for pushing the Earned Income Tax, and predicted it would be similarly “ramrodded through.”
Farrell stopped Murphy, telling him that Dooley was not pushing the EPRPD study, but only seeking facts. Murphy made one last retort before walking out.
The meeting first erupted when Councilman Pete Cooney called the exploratory committee “unnecessary,” a “waste of time,” and “a joke.”
Dooley said he only wants to do research and learn, and that he didn’t understand why that was so upsetting to people.
Strub said in his statement that the exploratory committee “will inevitably lead some to believe, correctly or not, that there are members of the Council with an agenda to eliminate our independent department. Why create that shadow of doubt for our officers?”
Dooley said abolishing the borough department would be a non-starter without 24/7 coverage, which, other councilmembers had told him, Matamoras did not have.
Councilman Dale Thatcher said he wanted to examine the facts, such as a sample police contract, not a newspaper clipping provided by Dooley.
At Councilwoman Maria Farrell’s suggestion, the council decided to have the Safety Committee determine if the EPRPD would be a good fit with the structure, culture, and needs of the borough.
IN OTHER BOROUGH BUSINESS
Sewer — The borough will participate in a draft copy of what a sewer would mean to citizens and businesses. Councilman Dale Thatcher said it was okay to do the draft, as long as it didn’t cost the borough any money. Those involved are Milford Borough and Milford Authority, Matamoras Borough and Matamoras Authority, Westfall Township and Westfall Authority.
Paving — A $19,915 bid was awarded for paving the full length of Mott Street. Other streets to be paved, once bidding takes place, are: Catharine Street, Broad to 5th; 8th Street, dead end to Harford; Sarah Street, 209 to Broad; 5th Street, Hartford to Ann Street; 6th Street, John to Elizabeth; James Street, 8th to 9th Streets; Plum Alley at 5th Street; Sarah Street, 5th to Elizabeth; 3rd Street, George to High; 6th Street, Ann to Catharine. The project’s total estimated cost: $214,915.
St. Patrick’s Day — The St. Patrick’s Day celebration at the Jive Bar and Lounge runs from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m., with amplified sound between 12 and 4 p.m.
“Over the past six years, the Milford Police Department has been revitalized, increased its professionalism, training, morale and commitment to the residents, businesses, property owners and visitors we serve. Chief McCormack and his team deserve our appreciation, not a proposal to investigate abolition of our independent Milford Police Department before even asking Borough residents what they want in local policing.” Mayor Sean Strub
