Franklin Township has decided against contracting with Lehighton Borough for police services.

Borough Manager Nicole Beckett informed borough council on Monday that Franklin has withdrawn its request because township residents have expressed their concerns and dissatisfaction with the idea of contracting services.Beckett said she and borough police Chief Brian Biechy had previously met with representatives from Perkasie Borough and State College Borough to discuss their existing contracts, along with cost sharing structure. She said they met with the Perkasie Borough Manager, Perkasie police Chief, and mayor. Perkasie contracts services to Sellersville Borough.Additionally, Beckett said they met with the State College borough assistant manager (former chief), and the State College police chief. State College contracts police services to the townships of College and Harris.Further, Beckett said she has a meeting scheduled with Sewickley Borough in mid-April. Sewickley Borough contracts police services to Glen Osborne Borough.Afterward, council requested completing the research on the contracted police services.Following her meeting with Sewickley, Beckett said she will be able to provide council with the information requested at the special meeting in August 2016.Word that Franklin opted to withdraw its request comes as a surprise.Rod Green, chairman of the township's board of supervisors, told council in January that the township was interested in contracted police services with the borough.Green said at that time he believed the departments' potentially joining forces was a win-win for both Franklin and Lehighton.At a special meeting Aug. 18, council met with Franklin and Mahoning townships concerning contracted police services.Several days later, at its regular council meeting on Aug. 22, council made a motion to continue researching the possibility of a partnership among all three.At that time, Biechy said any contract would likely take at least two years to get in place if things were to move forward.Beckett previously said both townships had agreed to share the costs of the research with the borough.