Walnutport has substantially bumped its pay rate for part-time police officers to entice more candidates to apply.

On a 5-0 vote, borough council at a special meeting Thursday agreed to raise the part-time police officer rate of pay by $7 an hour, from $22 to $29.

The new rate goes into effect as of the next pay period, said Councilwoman Jen Wentz. Council members Patrice Hunsicker and David Wentling were absent.

Council’s decision came after it accepted the resignation of two part-time police officers earlier this month.

In December, council agreed to raise the part-time police officer rate by $2 an hour, from $20 to $22 an hour, effective the start of this year.

Last month, council hired Matthew Hutchins as a part-time officer.

Immediately afterward, council agreed to advertise for a full-time police officer.

That action came following a series of moves approved in June.

At the time, borough Mayor Wayne Weidner announced that police Chief Pete Wayda would be leaving the borough as of June 28.

As a result, Weidner said at that meeting he would like council to designate an officer-in-charge until the borough gets a regular police chief, and suggested Sgt. Jason Nothstein, effective June 29.

Nothstein’s rate change is now in effect. Nothstein was earning $32.10 per hour but the pay compensation for the officer-in-charge position was not available as of press time.

Wayda, who said after June’s meeting that he isn’t planning to retire until March 2025, will use accumulated time after June 28.

In September, council approved a new four-year contract with its police department.

The contract spans from Jan. 1, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2027, and calls for salary increases in each of the four years for full-time officers.

Full-time officers got a $2 per hour bump this year, and will receive a $1 an hour raise in 2025, 2026 and 2027.

Vacation of alley

Also on Thursday, council agreed to move forward with the vacating of a paper alley located on Washington Street.

Wentz said the action was more of a formality.