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Union City Council hires part-time officer to bolster coverage amid rising calls
Summary
The Borough of Union City voted unanimously Aug. 13 to hire Kenneth Fye as a part-time police officer from the certified civil service list; council cited staffing needs and budget flexibility as reasons. The police chief reported 269 calls from June 1–Aug. 13 and said the department secured foundation grants for tasers and security cameras.
The Borough of Union City Council voted unanimously Aug. 13 to hire Kenneth Fye from the certified civil service list as a part-time police officer, moving to expand coverage while containing costs. The motion was made by Councilor Matt Joyce and seconded by Councilor Osborn.
Mayor Robert Wolf told the council it is important to maintain a local police department and recommended adding part-time staff. Borough Manager Cindy Wells said the 2024 budget had allowed at least $33,560 for wages and benefits and that hiring part-time would reduce total payroll expense depending on hours worked.
Police Chief David Pernice reported the department handled 269 calls between June 1 and Aug. 13, an average of about 3.63 calls per day, noting some incidents can occupy an entire shift. He also told council that he and Officer Shelly attended Alert Active Shooter training July 24–25 and that the UC Community Foundation awarded funding for four tasers and for security cameras to extend coverage on North Main Street.
The council’s action is an administrative hiring decision; no vote counts beyond unanimous approval were recorded. The hiring motion was taken from the certified civil service list and carried at the Aug. 13 meeting.
