Lehighton's police department will take over the old Engine Company No. 2 bay, with work and the move to be done gradually.

That was the decisionby borough council following a lengthy discussionat a special meeting on Thursday.Borough Manager Nicole Beckett, as part of her review of next year's budget with council, asked how much money should be set aside for a new or expanded police station.Councilman Scott Rehrigsaid the police, fire and safety committee determined the police department is plagued by cramped offices, limited parking and an increase in crime.Rehrig said the borough has an "excellent fire department and an excellent police department."However, Rehrig said it's been determined that the police department needs more room to expand.Councilman Joe Flickinger said he disagreed."We should be looking to the north," Flickinger said. "We should be planning effectively."Rehrig said that the fireand police departments are of equal value, and the committee's recommendation is to take the bay.Flickinger said, "I recommend that we allocate for property to the north," and that "we need to be looking down the road 30 years."Rehrig said he was "opposed to building a new station," and that not everything in the borough has to be brand-new.Police Chief Brian Biechy said, "Nobody is disagreeing with the fact that we need to grow."Biechy said the police department needs to use the full bay for its police vehicles, equipment and supplies.Afterward, Flickinger made a motion for proper planning and expansion to the north for planning down the road, which would have meant the borough would have obtained the building north of the current station.However, that vote was rejected4-3, with Councilmen Darryl Arner, McEvoy, Rehrig and council President Grant Hunsicker opposed, and council members Lisa Perry, Helen Torok and Flickinger in favor.After the meeting, Beckett said the property next to the police station is a home/apartment building.The borough had attempted to work with the property owner to have an appraisal completed on the property, which would be an initial step in acquisition, Beckett said.The discussion with the property owner started in August 2015, but to date, the appraisal has not been completed.A motion was then made for the police department to take over the old Engine Company No. 2 bay, with Arner, McEvoy, Rehrig and Hunsicker in favor, and Perry, Torok and Flickinger opposed.As a result, Beckett said the borough will need to plan the relocation of the fire equipment and supplies, and determine phasing of the police station expansion.She said the process will take time and planning. A $25,000 figure was decided onto plug into next year's proposed budget.In May, about 30 members of the fire department attended the council meeting with concerns that the police department wants to use the entire bay.Biechy said at that time the police department uses half the bay, which it shares with the fire department. The bay is used for parking.Council previously turned the matter over to the borough's police, fire and safety committee.Michael Mriss, assistant fire chief, told council at that time the fire department "received word secondhand concerning the front portion of the bay of station 2."Mriss said the area is currently used to store apparatus, hose, wash and dry hose, complete equipment and apparatus maintenance and repair, store the inventory of Personal Protective Equipment among other things.Biechy said at that time the police department continues to grow, but lacks the proper spaceto do so.The police department consists of 13 officers, 10 of which are full-time.There are three to four officers per every cubicle, and only three usable cubicles, as the fourth is used by detectives, Biechy said.He also said the parking lot is too small, as parking is limited for vehicles and staff; and the slopes cause safety hazards in bad weather.Biechy said at that time the police department is not functioning efficiently, and believes that the police department has been placed on the back burner.In 2011, the police department moved into the former Lehighton Fire Company building at 124 S. Third St.The building bears the name of former Lehighton Borough Mayor William "Cap" Bauchspies.