Tamaqua Borough Council dealt with several police-related issues Tuesday night, so it was perfect timing when they hired a new police chief at the start of the meeting.

Cpl. Henry Woods, a 27-year veteran of the department, was unanimously approved as the department’s new top cop, with a 6-0 vote. Councilman Brian Connely was absent from the meeting.

Woods has served as the department’s criminal investigator since his promotion to corporal in 2007.

Woods’ road to the chief’s spot was a bit bumpy after the retirement of Chief Rick Weaver in March.

Initially, council wanted to change the top spot from a full-time to a part-time position, a move the public vocally opposed at an April 3 meeting. Residents pleaded with council to keep the position as full-time and to look within the department for a new chief.

Council then opened the position and interviewed four candidates.

Councilman Ron Bowman made the motion to hire Woods, saying, “We have some very intelligent people in our police department.”

Council President Dave Mace added “This was a difficult decision, We interviewed four, fine, highly qualified candidates. Cpl. Woods is one of them and stands out just a bit above the rest.”

The son of Henry I. Woods of Hometown, he is married to the former Lisa Edmonds and has two sons, Dylan and Lee, and a stepdaughter, Liz Garris.

Woods thanked council for its support.

“I’m looking forward to working with council and honored they feel confidence in my ability to run the department. I’m going to do my best to prepare the department for the future.”

Parking issue

Minutes later, council turned to the new chief for his opinion on a motion to eliminate parking in the 200 block of Washington Street, a temporary measure to deal with a high volume of traffic created by the bridge replacement project on West Broad Street.

Councilman Ritchie Linkhorst made the motion after hearing numerous complaints and concerns about the traffic.

While not part of the official PennDOT detour, Linkhorst said, “Washington Street is being used as a shortcut by more and more motorists. People familiar with the route know that part of the street is narrow and are usually courteous, taking turns pulling to the side a bit. But there are more and more people using the street who don’t know the situation and courtesy isn’t being used.”

He made a motion to initiate the ban and have it in effect until the bridge project is completed.

Woods was asked for his opinion and agreed the situation was tricky.

“Taking away parking spaces will create a hardship, but it will be temporary and public safety should come first.”

Council deadlocked on the issue, with yes votes from Linkhorst and Councilmen Dan Evans and Tom Cara. Negative votes were cast by Mace and council members Mary Linkevich and Bowman. That left it up to Mayor Nathan Gerace to break the tie vote.

“I will have to go with public safety on this one and vote yes,” he said.

Gerace then immediately offered to speak with officials at Trinity United Church of Christ to see if there was a way to use the church lot to ease the parking situation.

Children playing in street

The new chief was also asked to look into a hazardous situation on Elm Street, created by youth playing ball in the street.

Area residents Dave Schuetrumpf and Jean Morrison brought the issue to council’s attention after Schuetrumpf felt the police department wasn’t taking the matter seriously.

Schuetrumpf referred to a report he made on May 20, when the children were damaging cars and property, in some cases seemingly throwing the balls deliberately rather than them just bouncing wrong. He wanted the children or their parents cited that night and the police officers who responded declined to issue citations.

Gerace said it was a complicated issue, with kids just being kids versus property being damaged.

“We have to meet somewhere in the middle,” he said, noting he totally backed the officers’ refusal to issue citations.

Woods said officers issue citations “at their own discretion according to each individual situation. By not citing, we could possibly gain the trust of the youth, but if it’s a parenting issue, citations may be necessary.”

Woods added he would speak to the officers involved in the May case.

The speed limit throughout the borough, with the exception of Owl Creek Road and the portions of Routes 209 and 309 controlled by the state, is now 25 mph. Council gave final approval to the ordinance governing the speed limit Tuesday night. Speed limit signs will be installed shortly.