Officer Paul Hughes is the “officer in charge” and is taking on a lot of responsibility in Ford City while the Council continues their search for a police chief.
by KP Intern Kyle Predmore
Last night at the Ford City Borough Council workshop, Council President Carol Fenyes updated the public on its search for a new police chief.
“We have reviewed police chief applications. The personnel committee narrowed them down to seven applicants,” Fenyes said. “The mayor has done phone interviews and we’re getting ready to schedule interviews for police chief.”
At the meeting was Officer Paul Hughes, who, according to Fenyes “is our officer-in-charge until we get through this process”. He was named by Ford City Mayor Jeff Cogley.
In other action, a motion passed 5 to 1 to approve and authorize an Oil and gas Lease with Snyder Brothers, Inc. for all oil, gas, and “Drilling and Operating Rights” for 313.972 acres of land in and under real property owned by the Borough, situated in Ford City Borough and Cadogan, Manor, and North Buffalo Townships.
Issues about the vote to approve the lease was addressed by Jerry Miklos which was over several factors, including the fact Ford City Council only sought out council from Parker Law Offices, Inc. in New Bethlehem.
“This is not the first time we’ve talked about this lease,” Fenyes said “It was last fall when we talked about it at a public meeting and there was a lot of comment on it.”
“This is not a sale,” Councilman Tyson Klukan said. “This is a lease. We are going to receive profits around 6 digits with royalties in the future. Look at the future. Look at the amount of oil and gas in the region. I have to make this decision while looking into the future and the money it can bring in.”
During the workshop, several citizens including Vicki Schaub, addressed the issue with previous departments not enforcing landlord-tenant ordinance, in addition to police reports not being written or available for reported offenses. Officer Hughes took no time to address the issues.
“I assure you that from today, the buck stops with me,” he said. “It isn’t that we cannot enforce it. It hasn’t been enforced in the past for whatever reason. That stops now! You come for a police report, that police report will be there. If it is not there, somebody will have to explain why there is no report.”