Coaldale council held a special personnel committee meeting Monday to discuss the terms of employment for the borough's secretary, Andrea Davis.

Davis was hired in October 2013 as secretary/treasurer at a rate of $12 per hour. Prior to that time, the borough had two secretaries. In 2012, the secretary salaries for the year were $37,000 and $10,100; in 2013 the secretary salaries were $24,500 and $10,000, up until October when Davis was hired.Council President Angela Krapf called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. and the board immediately went into executive session. Council members Linda Miller, Brenda Hosler, Michael Doerr and Thomas Keerans were present. The discussion lasted until 7:50, when citizens were allowed back into the meeting room."We got down some ideas regarding the secretary's salary, which will be voted on at the next council meeting," Krapf said when the meeting reconvened for the public."Michael Greek (the borough's soliciter) put together a contract for her; she had been working without a contract."The next meeting is 6 p.m. April 8.Krapf said that the council members present were in agreement on the terms of the contract. Davis did not want to comment after the meeting. Before the meeting, speaking to a group of citizens outside, she said, "I worry about this borough and I care about this borough, that's why I'm here."Dave Yelito, a former Coaldale council member, said that Davis' work has been a benefit to the borough."She is a skilled secretary and treasurer who proved herself in the first two months," Yelito said. "The savings she's brought to this community is more than she makes if we lose her we're in trouble."The salary considerations come at a time when borough council continues to wrestle with an ongoing issue, which is whether or not to restore its police force with full-time positions, including health benefits. In 2012, borough council voted to furlough three full-time officers, Charles Blesse, Todd Weiss and Keith Krapf, who is the husband of the council president.Since then, the borough has continued 24-7 police coverage using part-time officers, including the furloughed officers.The borough's police chief, Tim Delaney, is on worker's compensation.The furloughed officers have filed a lawsuit in Schuylkill County Court which seeks back pay and challenges the furlough, stating that the action was a violation of their contract. That case has yet to be resolved, although reportedly lawyers representing the officers and council are discussing the matter.