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Lansdale council votes 7-2 to activate civil service process for police eligibility list
Summary
After hours of debate about timing and budget, Lansdale Borough Council approved a motion to activate the Civil Service Commission to begin testing and create a two‑year eligibility list for hiring police officers.
Lansdale Borough Council voted 7-2 on July 16 to activate the Civil Service Commission and begin the exam process to establish an eligibility list for candidates to appoint to the Lansdale Police Department. Vice President May Curritio moved the motion during the business meeting, and council members debated whether to start the process now or delay until the borough's financial picture is clearer.
The measure's supporters said the civil service process is lengthy and producing a certified list now preserves the borough's ability to hire quickly if multiple vacancies arise. “Because the list lasts two years, having one in place is the most responsible thing to do in the event that two guys walk in tomorrow and say, guess what, chief? We’re gone,” Chief Trail said, explaining the department's staffing concerns and the timing pressures created by retirements.
Opponents urged caution because the borough is in the middle of budget work and said the roughly $5,000–$6,000 cost and long-term fiscal commitments tied to added personnel deserved fuller financial review. One council member said delaying activation a few months would allow the new finance director to complete initial audits and provide clearer guidance on 2026 budget impacts.
Council members and the chief clarified several procedural points: the certified civil service list is valid for two years and does not obligate the borough to hire immediately; hiring from the list can occur at any time while the list is active. Chief Trail said the department currently counts 29 sworn officers and that failing to replace a retiring sergeant on March 1, 2026, would reduce patrol strength to 28. He added that the exam-and-list process typically costs about $5,000–$6,000 and takes several months to complete.
The motion to table the activation failed on a preliminary voice vote, and the council then approved the activation, 7-2. The chief and multiple council members emphasized that activation preserves the borough's ability to respond quickly if multiple vacancies occur at once.
The council's action authorizes the borough to work with the civil service entity to schedule testing and produce a certified eligibility list; it does not automatically add positions to the budget or place new hires on payroll. Finance and staffing considerations, including pension costs and long-term salary commitments, were cited repeatedly during debate but not changed by tonight's vote.
