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Seven Fields faces ‘unfortunate obstacles’ to police dissolution

Seven Fields has outlined “unfortunate obstacles” to the dissolution of the Evans City-Seven Fields Regional Police Department.

“Our efforts toward securing cooperation to contract for uncovered patrol shifts are met with unreasonable demands for ‘buyouts’ — demands from the two remaining members of the police department,” according to a statement obtained by the Butler Eagle.

Seven Fields approved a resolution to begin dissolving the department at its Aug. 7 council meeting, as well as a resolution to seek short-term coverage from Cranberry Township Police Department.

Cheri Deener, president of Evans City Borough Council, said the municipality has sent its own requests for proposals for police coverage to Jackson Township, Adams Township, Zelienople and Mars police departments.

Chief Joe McCombs and Sgt. Donald Meyers are the only remaining officers with the department — a level of police coverage Seven Fields’ statement called “unacceptable.”

“The sergeant is represented by a union which negotiates wages and benefits for officers,” the statement continued. “He is the only member of the union.”

It also stated, while McCombs does not have union representation, “he has not hired nor arranged for alternative (police) support, except the Pennsylvania State Police.”

“We expect more from our officers, and for our community,” it read, “but have received no support from the department or Evans City to solve this problem.”

Deener said the claims are unfounded.

“They have had no meetings, so how can Seven Fields make a comment like that?” she said. “There’ve been no commission meetings to find out if there has been any employees that are qualified.”

Deener said the regional department’s commission has not held a meeting since March. According to the department’s charter, commission meetings are to be held monthly.

“(Seven Fields) are the ones who cancel the meetings,” she said. “We’ve asked for a special meeting, and they ignored us.”

‘Unreasonable demands’

The statement further outlined the anticipated demands for any buyouts for the remaining officers, including “full-salary payouts” of more than $410,000 over the next two years.

“The bargaining unit also insists on family health care coverage for the sergeant until 2029,” it read. “All told, the cost of these dead-weight demands approaches $600,000 with Seven Fields covering nearly two-thirds — in addition to paying for our new police partner.”

Deener said the cost of any buyout would likely be split proportionally in accordance with the municipalities’ financial responsibilities to the department — 62% for Seven Fields and 38% for Evans City — percentages determined by population.

“We have to take into consideration those were maybe starting figures but, again, they haven’t had a meeting to discuss anything,” she said. “There’s been no negotiating on it, because we haven’t had the time to negotiate.”

The statement also alleged that Evans City’s council “appears to side with the officers.

“As the Cranberry Eagle noted in its Aug. 9 report, Evans City’s council president is ‘anxious for the issue to be settled’ with a buyout and doesn’t ‘want to stretch it out anymore,’” it read. ”However, her own taxpayers would likely be responsible for more than $200,000 to pay out these demands.“

While Deener agreed that she was eager for the matter to be settled, she reiterated that the commission would need to meet to negotiate the dissolution.

“If we keep wasting time, we’re paying out well over $1,219,857 if we keep the cost out until the end of the agreement,” she said, “which is 2025.”

She additionally said the council saw Tom Smith’s role — borough manager for Seven Fields and police administrator for the regional department — as “a conflict of interest” in negotiations.

According to a 2015 report by the commission’s solicitor, Matthew Racunas, borough code does not prohibit Smith’s involvement with the department.

Smith and Seven Fields council member Jeff Smouse were the only borough officials not included in the statement’s signatures.

Smouse said he “was not comfortable” with the way the situation was being handled and chose not to sign.

“Both communities are at risk due to a lack of overall leadership while the taxpayers of Seven Fields are forced to incur significant additional costs of fees paid to attorneys and public relations agencies employed by the borough to help them navigate an avoidable situation,” he said. “Both communities deserve better.”

The statement concluded that time is of the essence though, as further delaying the separation with the buyout would compromise public safety.

“The short-term solution is clear: The officers need to prioritize public safety and service, as is their oath, and sign to allow supplemental patrols to begin,” the statement read. “Furthermore, Evans City needs to assist in getting this done.”

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