HARRISVILLE — Borough council, reconvening after an executive session, voted four to two on Monday, June 5, to cap the hours of Harrisville’s police officers to 30 a week.

Will McCoy, budget committee chairman, said Tuesday, June 6, that the restriction ensures that the staff, who all work part time, “would not work above the number of hours they are supposed to,” thus cutting potential costs.

“With the budget deficit, that’s the biggest expense,” McCoy said. “What we can’t afford is to offer benefits. We can’t afford full-time staff.”

The proposed 2023 budget, which is expected to be voted on June 19, includes expenses totaling $321,887 and an income of $228,535.

Many expenses on the budget, like attorney fees, are fixed, McCoy said. Capping police hours would be one way to address budget concerns, he said.

Without taking into consideration leftover COVID-19 funding of $89,948.15, the 2023 budget deficit stands at about $93,352.

The proposed 2023 budget shows that the total expenditures for police in Harrisville rose by 29% in the past year. The projected payroll for police this year is $72,000. In 2022, it was $52,729.

According to McCoy, the increase can be attributed to a “significant raise” given to police officers at the end of last year.

Council member Mary Ann Hughes expressed concern Tuesday that the discussion around police hours was brought on without prior notice on the agenda.

During Monday’s meeting, the public left as council convened for an executive session at about 8:45 p.m., which is the portion of a council meeting closed to the public.

When council reconvened, the public had left, and council members voted on the issue and approved capping police hours in a regular session, according Doug Cook, the borough clerk.

“If you’re a member of the public, you have a right to hear what’s discussed,” Cook said.

Approximately $36,000 is required to cover engineering costs of a stormwater and drains project funded by a Community Development Block Grant and administered by the Butler County Planning Commission. Council discussed the possibility of using funds from the borough’s sewer account to cover the fees. A date has not yet been set for the project, Hughes said. The expense is included in the 2023 budget.

Council members also discussed a potential pay increase for maintenance workers, renting a road pavement machine to seal cracks in Harrisville roads, and the purchase of new shirts in July for maintenance workers. Further discussion is planned.

Hughes noted that she and Harrisville resident Juanita Joseph repainted the Harrisville Skate Park on Wick Avenue with donated paint earlier this month.

“If you want your kids to have respect, respect the places where they play,” Hughes said.