Spring Garden approves ordinance to join York County Regional Police Department

Spring Garden Township commissioners voted to approve an ordinance to join the York County Regional Police Department and adopted related agreements to manage the transition.

The board approved the ordinance (referenced in packet materials as Ordinance 20251/2501) by roll call, then approved a memorandum of understanding intended to protect current officers’ benefits and seniority during the shift to the regional force. Commissioners also approved a lease allowing the York County Regional Police Commission to use the police wing of the township administration building.

Officials said the memorandum is designed to preserve employees’ accrued benefits and seniority when they transfer to the regional department. "They’ll be treated as though their initial date of employment with the new Regional was the same as their initial date of employment with us," the presiding commissioner said while explaining the MOU’s employee protections. The ordinance vote was taken by roll call and carried. The board approved the MOU and lease in subsequent votes.

The commissioners said the transition will take several months and involve additional ordinances and procedural steps to finalize the shift. No formal layoffs or immediate staffing changes were announced at the meeting; the board described the action as a structural change that will require further administrative steps and coordination with the regional commission.

Next steps identified by the board include follow-up ordinances and implementation tasks to complete the transfer; commissioners said they will return to the board with the remaining items as the transition timetable firms up.