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Police union, officers warn of staffing crisis as council meets on contract
Summary
Sgt. Anthony Tirelli and three officers told the Stone Harbor Borough Council on July 15 that four officers left in recent months and that a police contract has been unsettled since 2022, creating staffing pressures; the council went into closed session on contract negotiations.
Sgt. Anthony Tirelli, speaking as a union representative, told the Borough Council on July 15 that the department has lacked a settled police contract since the end of 2022 and that members are "frustrated with the length of time it is taking to settle the contract." He said four officers left for other police forces in recent months and said the departures have strained the department.
Officer John VanEtten described the situation as an "organizational crisis," saying the turnover has made staffing difficult. Officer Tyler Landells said patrol staffing recently fell from eight officers to four, calling that a 50% reduction in patrol capacity.
Public Safety Director and Councilmember Frank Dallahan invited a response from Business Administrator Joe Clark. Clark, who the meeting record identifies as the borough's business administrator, said he is new to the particular contract but not to labor negotiations, noted he expedited his arrival to Stone Harbor to address the issue, and said he is reviewing proposals that have exchanged during bargaining. He told the council he "takes union negotiations very seriously." The transcript does not record a detailed timeline for continued negotiations or a settlement date.
The council passed two resolutions appointing officers (Ryan M. McClellan and Jonathan J. Ricciardi) as full-time police officers effective Aug. 17, 2025; votes to adopt Resolutions 2025-S-194 and 2025-S-195 were recorded as Yes by Councilmembers present, and Mayor Carney administered the oaths. The swearing-in was presented during the meeting but does not resolve the broader staffing or contract issues raised by the union.
Council later voted to enter a closed session under Resolution 2025-S-197 for "matters related to litigation [and] contract negotiations." The meeting entered closed session at 6:12 p.m. and returned at 6:45 p.m.; the public record does not show a public vote or settlement on the contract at the meeting's close. The meeting adjourned at 7:08 p.m.
What happens next: The transcript records the council's closed-session authorization and the administrator's pledge to address negotiations but does not document a settlement or follow-up date. The union and officers said the contract has been unsettled since 2022 and that attrition is ongoing; the borough said it is reviewing proposals and has new staff engaged in negotiations.
