Union City mayor, residents and council spar over decision not to hire new officer amid stormwater cost concerns

Mayor Robert Wolf pressed the council on July 23 to explain why a motion to hire a new full-time police officer failed and said the borough owed the candidate an explanation after the candidate completed testing and evaluations.

"We owe the candidate an explanation for having him go through all this testing and evaluations," Mayor Robert Wolf said in the discussion recorded in the minutes. Wolf also told council the candidate preferred a smaller department over a large one.

Councilor Melissa Winkler told colleagues she was not aware the borough was pursuing another officer and raised concern about the costs associated with recent stormwater issues. Councilor James Kerns expressed similar concern that recent and pending stormwater repairs and unexpected costs influenced the decision, saying the hesitation was not about the candidate personally but fiscal timing.

Visitor Jeremy Sterling of Centerville asked council about the decision and what the outcome would be; the minutes record Sterling was told the council would discuss the matter later in the meeting. The minutes do not record a subsequent formal motion to hire or a vote to reject the candidate, and no hiring action appears among the meeting’s approved motions.

The minutes also note the Police Chief provided the June 2024 report; no questions were recorded about that report. The council later entered an executive session to discuss personnel and contracts, but the minutes state no action was taken following that session.