Lansford Borough Council continues to work on increasing its police force, hiring another part-time officer at a special meeting last week.

Council approved the hire of Danilo Garcia, pending clearance and background check. Councilwoman Michele Bartek said some of the checks and tests have been complete.

Bartek also noted that Garcia is fluent in Spanish, which is a plus with the changing demographics in the community.

Council also purchased seven body cameras for its police officers, including one for its code officer, Shane Monk.

The seven cameras will cost $23,290 from Digital-Ally, which includes the cameras, chargers, mounts, and five-year subscription fee, Bartek said.

Council was considering purchasing five cameras for police, but wanted another one for its code officer and will have one additional camera for any new hires.

“You can’t put a price on a life,” Councilman Joseph Butrie said, regarding the purchase.

Other business

In other business, council:

• Paid off its loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for a police vehicle purchased several years ago. The amount was $26,577.86.

• Awarded a contract for heating oil to the lone bidder, Kattner Coal and Oil of Nesquehoning at $2.63 a gallon.

• Tabled salt shed bids, as council did not have the bids in front of them for the meeting. Council President Bruce Markovich said they would have tabled the bids regardless, because they came up much higher than anticipated.

• Approved the purchase of two tires for the loader from Good Tire Service at a cost of $1,695 a tire. Council members did get quotes from other businesses, and the cost will come from state Liquid Fuel funds.

• Approved the purchase of 3,000 winter parking signs at a cost $3,950. The signs will be white with black lettering and specify that fines start at $75 per borough ordinance, and vehicles can be towed, Butrie said.

• Advertised for bids for the first phase of the Train Station Project.

• Approved replacing missing stop signs on Front Street at Pardee Street going east and west; on Oak Street headed west on Edgemont Road; and on Edgemont Road south to Dock Street. Butrie said the signs are in the borough’s ordinances.