Honesdale Council moving to Park Street Complex

Beginning with their regular monthly public meeting on Tuesday, January 17, 2023, Honesdale Council will be moving out of City Hall and gathering at the Wayne County Park Street Complex.

Greater security was cited as the main motivation for the move to 648 West Park Street, with the ability to rent the services of a sheriff's deputy to be present at meetings.

Council met for the last time in the foreseeable future on the second floor of the historic, 1893 City Hall, Tuesday, December 20.

Council voted 6 to 7 in favor of the move, with council member David Nilsen opposing.

Council President James Hamill proposed the alternative location at the November council meeting in response to a letter from Barbara Kaiser, who performs stenography services at borough hearings.

Kaiser expressed concern over a lack of security in the borough meeting room, City Hall offers limited means of exit, only by one door to reach the staircase and elevator.

Another council member pointed out that the concern is not only about security but safety in the event of a fire.

More room for borough council activities

Hamill noted there will be more space as well at the Park Street Complex being able to accommodate larger crowds, as the location is the annex to the former Stourbridge School. Council can meet in the spacious, former school cafeteria or the old school library room.

The one-story annex opened in 1964.

Purchased by the county in 2002, the Stourbridge School on Park Street, west of the hospital, was used by Wayne Highlands School District until 2004.

Wayne County Children & Youth, Wayne Conservation District, Wayne County Cooperative Extension, Wayne County Behavioral Health & Developmental Programs and Early Intervention have their offices there.

Hamill stated that the county makes the facility available rent-free, but to station a deputy there will cost $35 an hour. He estimated that the borough may be looking at paying $70 to $100 per meeting. The deputy would also lock up the building afterwards.

Questions asked

Council member James Jennings suggested trying the new arrangement on a trial basis.

Council member Michael Augello expressed misgivings that the Park Street Complex is far removed from downtown and harder for residents who may need to walk to the council meeting. Hamill said that council could offer to reach out to those who need help in attending meetings.

Nilsen questioned if the security need could be remedied by having a borough police officer on duty at City Hall during a meeting. Council member William McAllister replied that paying "time and a half" for overtime would cost more. Hamill has stated that with the limited number of officers on the force, keeping one at a meeting wasn't the best use of the officer's time.

Judith Poltanis, Borough Secretary, explained later that overtime would be calculated only if the officer would not have been scheduled for that shift which include the meeting.

Council agreed to keep the regular monthly meeting schedule of the third Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Part-time police officer

Based on a recommendation by the borough's Public Safety Committee, council unanimously agreed to hire a part-time police officer, Robert Bartolomei.

Bartolomei would still need to pass background checks before being hired.

The 2023 budget includes funding to hire another full-time officer. Hamill explained that Council takes action to begin the search for eligible candidate for civil service, which could occur at the January council meeting.

The Civil Service Commission then would advertise for the position, oversee testing of candidates and create an eligibility list to present to council for potential hiring. The borough presently has three full-time officers, which includes the chief.

Mayor Derek Williams said he would continue to serve as liaison between council and Police Chief Richard Southerton and pass on any questions they have to him. Williams said he has a goal for 2023 to facilitate public input on Honesdale police protection, perhaps with a "town hall" meeting or a survey.

Various council members have asked that Southerton regularly attend their meetings, unless there is a good reason why he can't. Councilman Nilsen said that way council can ask the chief questions about the police department and suggested attending 12 meetings a year is not a lot to ask.

The mayor explained later in an interview council can have a discussion with him and he would relay questions to the chief; if there is a specific topic, he can invite the chief to attend in person. The chief has attended to discuss specific issues, Williams said, and has also been present via phone on occasions.

"Because security carries costs and because there aren't always questions, I haven't been inclined to mandate meeting attendance." Williams said in the interview. "Especially when factoring in the extra or redirected hours being asked of our full-time public servants."

Williams said this could be reconsidered when there are more part-time officers on duty.

Jennings called for more detailed monthly police reports, stating the nature of each criminal incident, to better be able to understand what manpower and equipment are needed.

Other borough happenings

Council approved a new fee and fine schedule effective January 1 for parking meters, with council members Nilsen and Augello in opposition.

The new fee to park is 50 cents an hour, up from a quarter. The new schedule for fines is $15 for the initial fine (up from $5); and after 24 hours, $30 (up from $25); and $50 after seven days (unchanged from the previous schedule).

Councilor Jared Newbon submitted his resignation from council, citing plans to move outside the borough.

James Hart was appointed to the Central Wayne Regional Authority sewer board, to succeed Jennings.

Under public comment, Roger Firmstone asked for the police to address the problem of speeding and failing to stop at the stop sign, on the short section of Erie Street connecting Terrace Street and Sunrise Avenue.

This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Honesdale Council cites security concerns in move to Park Street