Lansford Borough Council on Wednesday took action against the councilwoman who started a petition to hire the borough’s officer-in-charge as the next police chief this month.

But council’s action stems from what they termed as a “misconduct incident” on May 19 in the borough office, and not the online petition to hire Sgt. Shawn Nunemacher as police chief which has 149 signatures.

Council placed the “misconduct incident” on the agenda, but discussed it in an executive session at the end of a nearly two-hour council meeting.

Following the closed-door session, council reconvened its meeting, prohibiting Councilwoman Jennifer Staines from accessing the nonpublic portion of the borough office, removed her committee assignments and authorized their solicitor to investigate the incident.

Council would not disclose details of the May 19 incident. Mayor Hugh Vrablic, who remained during council’s executive session, said it was “a personnel-type matter.”

When pressed on Staines not being personnel, Solicitor Robert Yurchak agreed the councilwoman was not borough personnel, but added that there are matters being investigated.

Council President Bruce Markovich said borough officials could not discuss the matter, when asked if anyone was hurt in the incident or if there was any damage.

Targeted?

Staines, who believes she is being targeted due to the police chief petition, said the incident was a prank on one of the borough secretaries. Staines said she “sprinkled” paper dots from a hole punch on the secretary’s desk, calling it “fairy dust.”

Normally, the secretary enjoys Staines’ jokes, but took offense to this one, she said. Additionally, Markovich had paper dots on his desk, Staines said, which he said damaged his keyboard.

Council is also going to see if the copier machine was damaged, she said, pointing out that the incident was more than three weeks ago.

Staines said she doesn’t know what to say after council’s executive session, the pending investigation and council’s action to remove her from the office and committees.

“If it wasn’t for that petition, I would not have been targeted,” Staines said. “I always joke around. No more. A lawyer might be in order.”

Chief

Several people spoke in favor of hiring Nunemacher as police chief during the public comments, and one person spoke against him, citing a bad experience.

The petition, which Staines said she started June 1 on change.org at the request of a resident, gained additional signatures this week.

Staines tried twice during the meeting to go off the meeting agenda to bring a motion to hire Nunemacher as chief – once during the “public courtesy” portion of the meeting, and again at the end of the meeting.

No one would second Staines’ motion to go off the agenda.

The borough has been without a police chief since Jack Soberick retired more than a year ago.

Council did move to contact the state Chiefs of Police Association for assistance in hiring a new chief. Markovich said they would get pricing on a search, as the cost involved is based on what services they provide.

The association does not list costs on its website for a chief search, but does charge $200 to advertise a position or job opportunity on its website.

Police union

The Lansford Police Department’s collective bargaining unit sent the borough a letter regarding the hiring of a constable to enforce borough ordinances. The union requested the borough bargain on this matter.

Nunemacher, who was in attendance, said if council’s action takes work away from a police officer, the matter must be bargained.

Markovich said he disagreed with him.

Council did hire Constable Edward Evans to post water shut-off notices for nonpayment of sewer transmission fees at a cost $15 a notice, which will be added to administrative fees. Council also raised administrative fees from $25 to $40.

Council authorized its solicitor to send a letter to union’s attorney on the matter. Council had also discussed and were considering having the constable do additional enforcement work, such as dealing with quality of life issues.