Lansford Borough Council’s meeting Wednesday opened with a local pastor asking to offer a prayer for them.

“You know my heart has been in the community a long time, and I appreciate everything that you guys are seeking to accomplish,” Jeremy Benack of Grace Community Church in Lansford said during public comment.

“I know there can be a lot of negativity at times, and I just wanted to pray for you,” he said before offering a prayer for protection, guidance and wisdom, and against negativity.

Benack extended his prayer to the borough’s police officers and chief of police, and also to all the borough’s workers.

Councilwoman Jennifer Staines joked that she also had holy water, in case anyone got out of line, and Councilman Jack Soberick asked if the bottle burned her hand.

After the lighthearted comments, praise followed for the borough’s secretaries for their work on the website, minutes and agenda from resident Joe Gentis.

But those lighter moments were quickly tempered by comments from another resident.

Police criticism

Tom Vadyak accused the police of selective enforcement and pointed to cars up on jacks, inspection sticker violations, garage violations and other violations but no action from police.

He also questioned what council was doing to revamp ordinances to remedy some situations in town.

Councilwoman Michele Bartek said council was working on ordinances, but the solicitor is away on vacation this week, and she suggested Vadyak talk to the police chief.

Vadyak said that he had spoken to the chief, and wanted to talk to the mayor, who was absent. Vadyak said that he brought his concerns before council members because they employ the police.

Markovich told Vadyak that while they do employ the officers, they can’t tell them to go and do something.

Police Chief Kyle Woodward said that since being hired at the beginning of the year, police responded to Vadyak’s calls 17 times and issued tickets.

“So my question would be, ‘What do you actually want?’” Woodward asked.

Vadyak replied that he wanted all the laws enforced, at which point the exchange became heated.

Woodward said that Vadyak interacts with his neighbors the same way as he was interacting with him that night.

“I’m not going to take your abuse,” Woodward said, pointing out he didn’t need this job.

At that, Vadyak told him, “Bye.”

Council President Bruce Markovich said that they should arrange to meet with the mayor and work out the differences.

Police matters

Woodward said that the borough’s police force just lost another officer, who was hired in Jim Thorpe.

Woodward said that in addition to him, Lansford has three officers.

Council authorized the Civil Service Commission, which reorganized last week, to begin the testing process to prepare a current eligibility list for new police hires.

Without discussion, council also tabled establishing a policy prohibiting officers from leaving the borough except on official business. Council had discussed officers not being in town while on duty during a committee meeting last week.

Also, council took action on resolutions regarding contributions to the police pension plan.

During a recent audit, the borough was told that a resolution was needed each year for the contributions to ensure they are in compliance, borough secretary Maria Ahner said.

Council authorized resolutions for 2022, 2023 and 2024, establishing contributions to the police pension plan at a 3.5% rate and authorizing the deductions of the same from the police officers’ average monthly compensation.

In addition, council authorized allowing retired police officers to purchase their duty weapons.

The move comes after a discussion about allowing former police chief Jack Soberick, a member of council, to purchase his weapon as the borough trades in old guns, or gifting it to him.

Council also voted to give Soberick his police badge, which he turned in along with his gun when he retired in May 2022.

Soberick abstained for votes on the police pension, duty weapons and badge return.