West Penn Township has added a part-time police officer, but abolished an administrative position from its police department, effective immediately.

After a brief executive session, township supervisors Monday morning unanimously agreed to hire Shawn Kistler as a part-time police officer at the rate of $21 an hour.

Township police Chief Jim Bonner noted that Kistler’s hiring is contingent on him passing his required tests, and that Kistler needs to be certified.

Immediately afterward, the board agreed to abolish the administrative position from the police department. That position’s hours had previously been cut from 40 to 20.

After the meeting, board Chairman Tony Prudenti said the position was eliminated due to “budgetary matters.”

Prudenti then said that while the administrative position that was abolished won’t return, another position could be made up to help the police department down the road.

Concerned resident

Earlier in the meeting, the board heard concerns from resident Jackie Selitto of Andreas, who said she was concerned about the state of the department.

Selitto told the board she has family in the township, and wanted to be sure the township was looking out for the long-term well-being of the department.

Board Chairman Tony Prudenti said he understood, and that the safety of children remains at the forefront of the township’s concerns.

“As far as the children’s sake, they are our top priority,” Prudenti said.

Supervisor Glenn Hummell told Selitto she could help the township by spreading the word that it is not closing the police department down.

“That stigma of us closing the police department needs to go away,” Hummell said.

However, Selitto said the department was down two officers and also mentioned the administrative position.

“You should be giving our officers the most resources, not taking resources away,” Selitto said. (With) the upcoming budget, let’s make sure we don’t do what we did last year.”

Resident Delroy Haas said he heard the township didn’t have police coverage overnight at one point recently.

However, Supervisor Tim Houser said the township was back up to 24/7 coverage.

Prudenti said the township always had police coverage 24/7, but that every now and then with scheduling, they do ask state police to assist.

Selitto said she heard there was a time where the township didn’t have police coverage for about a week.

Bonner said that even during that time, the township did have coverage by state police.

The dialogue came after township officials restated earlier this month that the police department after fielding concerns from several residents.

At that time, the board reiterated that the department will remain in operation.

It was the same last month as well, when supervisors said the department, along with its highly successful programs - aren’t going anywhere.

Prudenti said at that time the department will continue to remain a viable asset to the community.

Prudenti added at that time the township isn’t shutting down the police department, nor is it giving up on its D.A.R.E. program or its CSI camp.

Supervisors have said the department, which has a budget of just over $400,000, was about $25,000 over projected figures in July.

In order to turn the deficit around by year’s end, they asked Bonner to reduce his staff’s hours, get some coverage from Pennsylvania State Police, and cut the administrator’s hours from 40 to 20.

Since August, the department is down one full-time officer due to the resignation of Kai Appel.

Earlier this month, the board accepted the resignation of part-time officer Richard Clink, who left the job due to personal reasons.

The cuts and resignations are helping the department get back to its projected budget, supervisors said.