SEVEN FIELDS — The borough’s council recently appointed a resident to sit on a joint police commission between Evans City and Seven Fields after Mayor Victor Giannotta declined the spot.

Council members Jen Sikora and Bob Messina already sit on the commission, which consists of three representatives from each municipality.

The entity is tasked with organizing and overseeing the new regional police department, which is expected to be up and running by January 2015.

Council earlier this week appointed borough resident Windy Stafford, who serves as the assistant chief of the Slippery Rock University Police Department.

According to her resume, Stafford has been employed by the university’s force since 1997 and recently completed a master’s degree in criminal justice from the school.

Borough manager Tom Smith said earlier this week that Stafford has extensive supervisory and administrative experience, and that she’s a great fit for the fledgling regional police commission and department.

“Windy’s qualifications speak for themselves,” Smith said. “She’s a wonderful addition to the police commission and will provide it with a wealth of knowledge and recommendations on how to proceed.”

Council agreed and unanimously approved appointing her to the commission.

“I feel we’re pretty fortunate to find someone with this background,” council member John White said.

Each commission member will serve a two-year term, as per the organization’s charter, and serves at the discretion of the council it serves.

Giannotta, who only became mayor several months ago after Ed Bayne’s resignation, declined the spot on the police commission because of scheduling conflicts. The new mayor is the head coach of Seneca Valley’s varsity boys basketball team.

Both councils in Seven Fields and Evans City voted to approve the creation of the commission, which is granted significant powers in an effort to get the regional police department up and running.

Those powers include buying and selling real estate or other property, the hiring and firing of members of the police department, overseeing department grievances and salaries, and overseeing the department’s pension fund.

The commission will meet next on Nov. 25 at the Evans City borough building.