Nesquehoning officials are looking at adding a police department secretary next year.

During borough council’s monthly meeting on Wednesday, Councilwoman Rosemary Porembo reported that the personnel and public safety committees have been discussing the possibility of adding a part-time secretary in the police department to handle paperwork.

“We sat with police and see how much time it takes to write up all of their reports,” Porembo said, adding that council’s hope is to have the officers out in the borough more instead of being stuck at a desk filing reports.

The borough had been having problems with having a fully staffed police department for the past two years as a result of health issues, she said, which means officers were stretched between being out patrolling and being in the office.

A full complement in the police department includes five full-time officers, including the chief, and two part-time officers.

If the position is created, it wouldn’t occur until the 2019 budget is passed.

The borough budget committee now plans to look at the numbers before any formal action is taken.