Morrisville residents pack borough council meeting calling for increased police presence, new chief
21st Century Media News Service
MORRISVILLE--Police protection was the key issue for the more than 60 people attending the Nov. 18 borough council meeting, with a number of them asking when a new police chief would be hired, as well as the three promised full-time police officers.
Corinne Quince of Clymer Avenue, admonished council for dragging its feet, pointing out there have been a number of recent violent crimes, including several gunpoint holdups and a carjacking.
“When are you going to do something,” she shouted, “This is not rocket science, find a new police chief.”
“You’re acting like spoiled children who are not communicating with anyone,” she added, “Start talking about what’s right and start doing what’s right.”
Annie Milionis of West Hendrickson Avenue agreed.
“Make a timely decision about the police department and police chief,” she read in a prepared statement. “This situation should not have reached this state, I’m appalled.”
Joel Stevens of Central Avenue expressed his desire that the new police chief should be someone “who lives in the borough.”
“This way you have a person who cares about more than just a paycheck,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Peter Eisengrein of Hamilton Avenue praised the police presence on the streets during Halloween.
“People felt the difference ... we felt the patrols ... it was quite a difference,” he exclaimed, asking why that level was not available at all times.
Rousing applause erupted after each resident’s remarks.
After the public comment period, borough manager Tom Bates updated council on the police chief search.
According to Bates, Lower Makefield Police Chief Ken Coluzzi’s firm CityBurbs Group already had conducted interviews with seven qualified applicants.
“They’re very good candidates, and it’s hard to narrow them down,” he explained, saying that the names of the three finalists will be given to borough council in December.
“I’m sure you’re going to have very good candidates,” Bates assured council members.
The salary range for the new police chief is reportedly between $85,000 to $90,000, depending on experience.
The police department has been without a chief since last Dec. 31, when Jack Jones retired after nearly 10 years of service.
The new chief will lead a department in which several members are involved in lawsuits filed against each other.
Councilman Cicero, who has also been a long-time Morrisville police chief, noted that the process of choosing a new chief can be “long and tedious.”
Addressing residents’ concerns about the perceived lack of police protection, Cicero maintained that if residents want to double the number of patrol officers, then the police budget would also be twice as high.
After the public comment period, borough manager Tom Bates updated council on the police chief search.
According to Bates, Lower Makefield Police Chief Ken Coluzzi’s firm CityBurbs Group already had conducted interviews with seven qualified applicants.
“They’re very good candidates, and it’s hard to narrow them down,” he explained, saying that the names of the three finalists will be given to borough council in December.
“I’m sure you’re going to have very good candidates,” Bates assured council members.
The salary range for the new police chief is reportedly between $85,000 to $90,000, depending on experience.
The police department has been without a chief since last Dec. 31, when Jack Jones retired after nearly 10 years of service.
The new chief will lead a department in which several members are involved in lawsuits filed against each other.
Councilman Cicero, who has also been a long-time Morrisville police chief, noted that the process of choosing a new chief can be “long and tedious.”
Addressing residents’ concerns about the perceived lack of police protection, Cicero maintained that if residents want to double the number of patrol officers, then the police budget would also be twice as high.
In 2013, Morrisville earmarked $1.6 million for police services.
“Crime is human nature,” he asserted, “It was always here and will be long after I leave.”
The search to hire three additional full-time police officers is also been progressing well, according Councilwoman Eileen Dreisbach.
She said that of the 20 applicants, 11 took the tests administered by the Bucks County Consortium. The non-profit group helps screen police applicants for municipalities, as well as administers written and physical testing of the candidates, therefore saving Morrisville the time and cost of finding qualified applicants.
Dreisbach explained that Morrisville’s Civil Service Commission is now evaluating the applications and test results, and expects to have three candidates for borough council to consider in December.
Currently Morrisville, with a population of roughly 8,700, has nine full-time and four part-time officers. However, manpower levels have recently dropped.
In August, council agreed to hire the additional officers to fill the vacancies created by retirements and sick leave. Several part-timers have also resigned.
In other news, the borough manager announced that the Bucks County Common Pleas Court has approved the transfer of the now-defunct community pool property to the borough, with settlement scheduled for later this month.
The borough, which had assumed ownership of the dilapidated community-run pool on Delmorr Avenue after it closed, was held responsible for the more than $32,000 in unpaid payroll taxes to the IRS.
But last year, the government agreed to settle the case for $2,500, which was paid out of the borough’s pool fund.
“Crime is human nature,” he asserted, “It was always here and will be long after I leave.”
The search to hire three additional full-time police officers is also been progressing well, according Councilwoman Eileen Dreisbach.
She said that of the 20 applicants, 11 took the tests administered by the Bucks County Consortium. The non-profit group helps screen police applicants for municipalities, as well as administers written and physical testing of the candidates, therefore saving Morrisville the time and cost of finding qualified applicants.
Dreisbach explained that Morrisville’s Civil Service Commission is now evaluating the applications and test results, and expects to have three candidates for borough council to consider in December.
Currently Morrisville, with a population of roughly 8,700, has nine full-time and four part-time officers. However, manpower levels have recently dropped.
In August, council agreed to hire the additional officers to fill the vacancies created by retirements and sick leave. Several part-timers have also resigned.
In other news, the borough manager announced that the Bucks County Common Pleas Court has approved the transfer of the now-defunct community pool property to the borough, with settlement scheduled for later this month.
The borough, which had assumed ownership of the dilapidated community-run pool on Delmorr Avenue after it closed, was held responsible for the more than $32,000 in unpaid payroll taxes to the IRS.
But last year, the government agreed to settle the case for $2,500, which was paid out of the borough’s pool fund.
The municipality also had paid the remaining delinquent unemployment insurance bill to the state, as well as more than $1,000 in other liens on the facility.
The next regularly-scheduled council meeting is Dec. 16.
19 comments:
For the record. Mr. Bates IS NOT the borough manager. It clearly states that fact in his contract when we hired his consulting firm. Chief Cicero...this problem with the police department dates back to the time you were the Chief and the Borough Manager. Not only has it not improved, you have seen fit to increase it. Of course, hiring your friend Chief Coluzzi didn't hurt you either. By the way, how is your daughter enjoying her new borough job. Even a blind man can see what is going on and continues to go on inside borough hall and up at the bridge commission.
LOL...this is out of the blue, but I'll bite.
As has been discussed many times at council meetings, according to the borough solicitor, Mr. Bates is the borough manager. If there is a disagreement about this, it may be something the poster would like to discuss with the borough solicitor. If the suggestion is that the borough solicitor is inept, it may be something the poster would like to discuss with council people Eileen D. Todd S. Debbie S. Victor C. and mayor Ledger since they are the ones who voted for him at a higher cost than the solicitor the borough was previously using.
To the first poster, if you didn't like Mr. Cicero being chosen for the hiring committee you certainly did take your time in expressing this. I have believed it was improper from the beginning and I took my concerns to some of council. I wouldn't worry that Coluzzi is in bed with Cicero. I'm pretty sure they are at odds because Cicero expected a favor that Coluzzi would not deliver.
As for Mr. Cicero's daughter working in the office at the police department, you are right, it is improper. She should not have access to her father's old files. The job was not properly advertised/open to the public.
I am not a blind man and I don't paint with the broad brush as you. I do not hold everyone accountable for the actions of one or two.
As for the bridge commission, for those of us who have no idea what you are talking about you will have to enlighten us.
For God's sake, this old thing again. Yes, it clearly says that Mr. Bates is NOT the borough manager because he is a contractor and should not be covered under various borough employee benefits. Now, LISTEN VERY CAREFULLY BECAUSE APPARENTLY YOU ARE MISSING THIS: HE IS *FUNCTIONING* AS THE BOROUGH MANAGER. HE HAS THE POWER TO PERFORM BOROUGH MANAGER TASKS BECAUSE THAT IS THE JOB HE WAS CONTRACTED FOR. If he cannot use the power, then why would we have him contracted for the service?
Rant over.
Produce his long-form business managerial certificate, and I'll still claim it's a clever forgery.
Anyone see Hellman's rant in the BCCT? Wow is that man delusional? It never ceases to amaze me how some people will so eagerly put their idiocy on display. Mr. Hellman, I think your 15 minutes are up.
You are right, Vic Cicero shouldn't have been allowed to be involved in the chief search. Who made he decision to hire his daughter?
I had heard the job was offered to Amanda Rivella but that she turned it down because it hadn't been properly advertised to the public. There's a smart young woman. She knew it was improper and wouldn't accept it.
After the recent attack of two police officers the borough is now to dangerous for our poloce to work safely.
Imagine if this drugged out kid got a hold of one of their guns? Morrisville wouldn't have to worry about bad press in the BCCT anymore, it would be national news.
I seriously hope nobody gets killed because our entire borough council and mayor are completely incompetent.
Isn't Eileen on the public service committee why isn't she taking heat for not working harder and fasters to hire those three new officers.....wait for it..... she is a Pepitone supporter and if we had those officers he wouldn't have anything thing to bitch about in his quest to illegally be made police chief. READ POST #3 if I read it right Mr. Cicero was once again trying to make a backroom deal but who would he want to be had chief through a backroom deal Hmmmmm I wonder..... No I don't think Mr. Cicero would do anything that illegal do you.
The best defense is a good offense.
"After the recent attack of two police officers the borough is now to dangerous for our poloce to work safely"
The police signed up for cushiness? Should they get out of the policing business? Should they start running away from danger?
""""Anonymous said...
After the recent attack of two police officers the borough is now to dangerous for our poloce to work safely.
Imagine if this drugged out kid got a hold of one of their guns? Morrisville wouldn't have to worry about bad press in the BCCT anymore, it would be national news.I seriously hope nobody gets killed because our entire borough council and mayor are completely incompetent. """"
OH YES AND YOU HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS AND THE ABILITY TO RUN THINGS FROM ALL ENDS AND MAKE IT ALL PERFECT AND WHITE PICKET FENCE. KEY WORD BEING WHITE BECAUSE THAT IS ALL THE TW PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT AND INSINUATE IS THAT WE NEED LESS TRENTON OVER HERE. TRENTON BEING BLACK PEOPLE. WHAT A BUNCH OF RACISTS WHO SURELY DRIVE OVER THE BRIDGE TO BUY THEIR BLACK CHEAP GAS.
This young man went to school with my children. He was in trouble with drugs then. I would think the Morrisville Police officers are very familiar with him. They knew what they were walking into when the call came in.
I have read on fb that there is no backup for our officers. This is a lie. Our officers always have backup. We have mutual aide agreements with all of our surrounding communities. Our cops help their cops and their cops help ours. This is regular practice. An ex cop should know this while he's spewing.
"After the recent attack of two police officers the borough is now to dangerous for our poloce to work safely."
Peppy, is that you?
Look at the crime stats. It's business as usual for our officers. This was just another day for them. Because you proclaim it's too dangerous for our officers doesn't make it so. They know what they signed up for and they were doing their jobs. Are you suggesting that our officers are not competent enough to do their jobs?
Don't you know that cops like to work in Morrisville. There is a reason why so many cops apply to the Morrisville Police Force for employment. It's because they like the action. They know what it means to have three bridges connecting us to another state.
To the poster who wrote this, THE SKY IS NOT FALLING just because you are hoping it is.
I'm no genius myself, but I'm continually amazed by peoples' imperviousness to facts, new information, answers, learning, etc that don't fit their already preconceived worldview. Certitude doesn't equal intelligence. Stupid in America is right. Trouble is, the truly stupid think they have all the answers. They just keep right on babbling in their dopey righteousness.
If you would bother to go to borough hall and READ the contract between Mr. Bate's consulting firm and the borough you would see that it clearly states he IS NOT the borough manager. You are correct in wondering why he is there if it clearly states he is not the borough manager. It gets even more interesting when you read that we have an assistant borough manager reporting to an outside consultant. If you decide to enlighten yourself further, read the state codes regarding boroughs in the commonwealth. After reading what is required under the law I am sure you will have a lot of questions to ask the current and former members of the council that approved this contract!
P.S. This is not a rant, it is an attempt to get people to look into what is going on!
The solicitor has repeatedly said that Bates is the borough manager. Is it Bates job title that you have a problem with? I don't understand what you mean.
I'm no genius, but even I know that all contracts have to get an okay from the borough solicitor before they are voted on.
I would think that because Bates is part time, Seward picks up the slack when Bates isn't there at an even lower price than what Bates is getting, which isn't even on level for other borough managers.
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