SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - The borough council voted to supplement the police force at its meeting Wednesday by hiring a full-time officer.
In a unanimous vote, the council hired Matthew Cavallo, 22, of Reading, for the position, which he will assume on July 1.
Cavallo currently is a part-time officer for the borough making $19 an hour. His pay will increase to $20.69 per hour beginning July 1 when he begins full-time duty.
Cavallo has been with the local police department for a year.
With the elevation of Cavallo to full-time status, the police department will have eight full-time officers and two part-time officers. Hiring additional part-time officers is a possibility, police Chief Jeffrey Walcott said.
Mayor Mike Devlin said the civil service commission identified three people for the full-time position for which Cavallo was hired. The other two had not worked on the Haven police force.
It was Devlin who proposed to the council that Cavello be put on full time, saying Cavello achieved the No. 1 ranking in the testing process. He also said Cavallo had proven himself with the department as a part-time officer.
Devlin referred to Cavallo as "very thorough" and "a very good officer."
Regarding another matter, Devlin said the mayor's advisory meeting is set for 7 p.m. March 17 in the council chambers, 340 Haven St.
Councilman Jerry Bowman said the Schuylkill Haven Borough Day Committee asked the Greater Schuylkill Haven Area Business Association to take over the Schuylkill Haven Community Yard Sale set for 7 a.m. to p.m. May 17. Bowman said the association agreed to do it.
"We just want to continue a good program," Bowman said.
Celeste Geschwindt, a member of the Borough Day Committee, said Monday the eight-member group has taken on more responsibility, is planning Borough Day events and wanted to give another organization the opportunity to continue the yard sale.
Carl Berger, the borough's economic development director, said a pamphlet is available for free to learn more about what the borough has to offer.
It includes demographic information, a history of the borough, activities and reasons to locate in the borough and other information.
"We live here, let's be proud of what we have," Berger said.
Ruth Tucci said a recreation committee meeting will be held before the 6:30 p.m. council meeting March 19 to discuss the borough's participation in updating the Blue Mountain Recreation Commission's comprehensive park and recreation plan.
Tucci on Monday said a recommendation will be made and provided to the council for its March 19 meeting.
The Blue Mountain Recreation Commission was awarded a $50,000 grant from the state to update the plan, which was last updated in 1975.
The plan will identify what recreational facilities there are and their condition, and address other issues including a possible recreational trail in the area.
Public participation is part of the process.
All municipalities within the Blue Mountain School District participate in the commission. They include Auburn, Cressona, Deer Lake, New Ringgold and Orwigsburg boroughs and East Brunswick, West Brunswick, North Manheim and Wayne townships. They contribute through earned income taxes.
The school district also contributes money to the recreation commission through its collection of the earned income tax. People also pay to take part in more than 50 programs provided by the commission.
Mark Palerino, the commission's recreation director, said previously $28,320 is the amount available from the recreation budget for the municipalities that are already part of the commission.
Palerino letters were sent previously to other municipalities that had expressed interest in the plan, including Landingville, Port Clinton and Schuylkill Haven boroughs and South Manheim Township. There will be a cost involved, based on population, to update the plan. The municipalities that are already part of the commission will not incur an extra cost as it is already in the recreation budget, Palerino said
He said the cost for Landingville would be $240; Port Clinton, $440; Schuylkill Haven $7,520 and South Manheim, $3,480.
Palerino said the commission might have to come up with additional money, make alternative decisions or not be able to use the entire $50,000 in funding if money from the county or from the four additional municipalities does not materialize.