Macungie Council Turmoil Continues

Macungie Council member Jean Nagle shocked fellow council members at the June 20 meeting by reading from a prepared statement that blasted them and called for the retraction of the police coverage that was granted at the last meeting.

An additional sixth full-time officer and a 30-hour officer were hired, pending the passing of both physical and psychological exams, at the June 6 meeting by a vote of 5-2.  Chris Becker cast the other vote against the hirings.

“This was a fiscally irresponsible decision by those voting in favor of this motion," Nagle said.

Council had discussed the proposed hiring of the officers with Police Chief Edward Harry, she said, who stated he would "work with what he had” if council did not approve the hiring.

With Harry’s cooperation and some overages in budget items, Nagle said, “I reiterate, it is fiscally irresponsible to increase the police staff from what we currently employ.”

Council President Guy Ramsey was visibly disturbed by Nagle’s statement and became a bit red in his face.  Normally calm, he responded in an irritated tone.

“There is a grant that pays for that officer.  To characterize the action as fiscally irresponsible is a matter of personal opinion.  Your opinion was voiced in a vote,” Ramsey said.

Councilwoman Dorothy Kociuba agreed.

“When the council votes, we should work as one and accept the vote. When we make a decision, I would hope we all support it,” she said.

Nagle pointed to several items in a three-year contract with the police union recently approved by council:

• They received a pay increase of 3.25 percent in the first two years, and a 3.5 percent increase in the third year. 
• The police contribute nothing to their pension fund and refuse to increase their medical insurance contribution to 8 percent from 7 percent.
• The borough pays officers for attending grievance hearings, arbitrations or unfair labor practice hearings filed by the union against the borough, even if the borough is found not at fault.
• Payment of unused sick days at the time employment ceases was increased from $50 per day to 50 percent of their rate of hourly pay at the time their employment ends.

“While people are still losing their jobs, taking cuts in pay and many other police departments are cutting back—we are increasing," Nagle said.

These benefits, plus others, were all given to the police, even though in the past 18 months they have sued the borough twice, costing it thousands of dollars in legal fees, Nagle added.

Macungie had four full time officers, including the chief, and several part-time officers when Harry took over as the police chief, she said.  There has been no increase in population, nor in crime, yet the police department has increased.

“These new hires have not begun employment to date.  I implore this council to rescind these offers of employment, and, as the chief stated, work with what we have,” Nagle concluded.

At the end of her statement, council appeared speechless for a brief time and a bit surprised.

“Was there another meeting I didn’t attend?” councilman Davis Boyko asked, raising his voice slightly.  “I don’t remember all that being brought up and discussed. A lot of those points are new.”

Though Mayor Rickie Hoffman and Police Chief Edward Harry attended the meeting at which the approval occurred, neither was present to hear Nagle's plea, upon which council did not act.