A vote to appoint Coaldale police Officer Michael Sniscak as the borough’s chief of police failed during Tuesday’s council meeting.

A request by borough Mayor Eric Ramirez to name Sniscak as the police chief also won’t be put into play.

Sniscak, however, will perform the duties of an officer-in-charge as council plans to further discuss the matter.

The borough has been without a police chief since Joseph Krebs resigned from the position last month.

An item on the meeting agenda read, “Chief of Police — Appoint.”

Councilwoman Kim Gavornik, who chairs the police committee, read the agenda item and began to say, “I don’t feel we should do that …” when Councilman Wayne Figner motioned to appoint Sniscak.

Council President Claire Remington seconded the motion, after saying that his salary wouldn’t be increased until the new budget is put in place in January.

The motion died on a 2-4 vote with only Figner and Remington in favor. Councilman Francis Hutta was absent.

Ramirez said that as mayor, he has been in charge of the department since Krebs resigned.

“So if you guys don’t vote on it, I’ll just take it into my hands,” he said.

Ramirez cited a section of Pennsylvania Borough Code and a 1976 commonwealth court case that he said would allow him to appoint a police chief.

“So we need a leader here and I believe that Officer Sniscak is capable, responsible and he has the experience to lead the Coaldale Police Department. So I will appoint the chief of police tonight,” Ramirez said.

Ramirez was told that he couldn’t make the promotion, but could give someone the duties of an officer-in-charge.

Sniscak was hired part-time in September and full-time in July.

Councilwoman Angela Krapf noted that he was still on a probationary period, as all new full-time hires are.

“I just think that you are trying to jump into something instead of waiting to just see how things play out, and how things are going to go,” Krapf said of trying to appoint someone as chief.

After some discussion, borough Solicitor Robert Yurchak reminded council that Ramirez had indicated that he wanted to assign the duties of an officer-in-charge to Sniscak.

“Why can’t we just let him do the duties, and then talk about the chief at another time?” Yurchak suggested.

The police committee, he said, could talk about appointing a chief, or discuss about police regionalization, which was suggested by Councilman Mike Radocha.

“For now, he’s assigned him the duties, but not necessarily the title. How’s that?” Yurchak asked.

Council will revisit the issue.

Krebs is working full-time for the Tamaqua Police Department.