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Council to vote next week on Act 49 police buyback; chiefs seek continued hiring MOU and fleet replacement planning
Summary
Council heard a briefing about Act 49 buyback for police pensions (allowing officers to buy prior service), was told a vote adopting Act 49 would be scheduled next week, and discussed a hiring memorandum of understanding and plans to order new patrol cars and public-works vehicles to restore the borough fleet.
Council reviewed a proposal to adopt Act 49 — the municipal buyback provision that allows officers to purchase prior service credit toward pensions — and staff said council will vote on adoption at the next meeting.
The nut graf: Borough speakers explained that Act 49 affects the pension plan and not the borough’s general fund directly; the buyback allows officers to buy up to specified years (speakers cited 3–5 years depending on the context) of prior service into the pension calculation. Staff said only one officer had expressed interest so far but others might be eligible in the future.
Separately, Chief and staff reported that recruitment lists and a hiring MOU with neighboring municipalities had previously increased applicant numbers (one past MOU produced a larger candidate pool and five hires). Council supported renewing such an MOU and bringing a draft to the next meeting.
Council also discussed the borough fleet: staff reported multiple patrol and public-works vehicles are aging or in frequent repair, that a new marked police vehicle costs about $60,000 fully equipped and that staff proposed ordering police cars and public-works vehicles now (delivery lead times of roughly a year were cited). Council members agreed to place authorizations to order vehicles on a future agenda and to explore financing options so replacements can be phased in without immediate full-year budget impacts.
Ending: Council scheduled a formal vote next week on Act 49 and asked staff to prepare MOU language for recruitment and a procurement schedule and budget plan for vehicle orders.
