Zelie police officer honored for 20 years
ZELIENOPLE — Borough council on Monday honored patrolman Melanie Dodson for two decades of service.
During a meeting of council, Mayor Thomas Oliverio presented Dodson with a certificate, commemorating her 20th year with the department. She began working on the force Aug. 10, 1998, Oliverio said.
According to James Miller, borough police chief, Dodson was born and raised in the borough, and continues to live there. She worked as a dispatcher at the start of her career before taking a job with the Duquesne Police Department. She eventually returned to Zelienople.
“She's been here ever since,” Miller said. “She's well liked in town.”
Miller said the department — which has eight full time officers and one part time — doesn't have much turnover, with recent retirees hitting the 25 year mark with the department. He has 21 years in Zelienople, while others are hovering in the 20-25 year range.
“Once the guys or girls come here to work, they pretty much stay,” he said. “The town and council treats everyone well and fairly.”
In other business Monday, Don Pepe, borough manager, said township employees recently reviewed records and compiled information to be used for the borough's Standard & Poor's bond rating assessment.
The borough has an “A” rating, which Pepe said is the highest rating a town of Zelienople's size can achieve. He said keeping that rating high is a key when projects require borrowing money. He said the process of reviewing records, while rigorous, was beneficial.
“The process and procedure that we went through was really good for us,” he said.
