Kidder Township supervisors voted Thursday to increase the hourly rate for the township's part-time police officers.

At the December board of supervisor's meeting police Chief Matt Kuzma requested a pay increase for the township's part-time officers.Kuzma asked for an increase from $15.30 to $15.50 per hour."I know for a fact that other townships in Carbon County are paying officers quite a bit more," Kuzma said.The board asked Kuzma to contact other townships and find out what they are paying their part-time officers before they would take any action on his request."I met with Matt this week and he provided me with the numbers," said supervisor Thomas LaFond."Some of the townships are paying up to $18. He and I discussed the differences in some of these towns. Based on that I would like to make a motion to increase the part-time officers to $16 per hour," LaFond said.The motion passed along with another motion to hire Phil Shedaker as a new part-time officer starting at the same $16 per hour.The board also accepted the resignation of part-time officer Brian Dalesandro."I would like to add," said LaFond, "after spending some time with Matt I think that the chief runs a really, really fine department and that the township is very lucky to have these guys and this manager."LaFond also noted that in the past the township's police officers had dash cameras.He added that he would like to seek a grant to get new dash cameras and eventually would like to see body cameras as well."The technology has come a long way and it is for the protection of the township and the officers," LaFond said.In other township business bills were paid in the amount of $102,191.97 with $14,000 of that being distributed to emergency services.The board also passed a motion to extend payment date on garbage invoices through March 15.The company which mailed out the bills ran into some problems and some of the bills were not mailed in time. Late fees will not be assessed until after that date.The board also agreed to donate $250 to the White Haven Library.