Lansford Borough Council did not hire any police officers last week, despite listing two potential hires on the agenda.

Council instead tabled motions to hire James Bonner as a full-time officer and Christopher Cordes as a part-time officer.

Bonner is the police chief in West Penn Township, and Cordes is an officer in Tamaqua Borough.

No explanation was given for the move during the meeting.

Last week, Councilwoman Michele Bartek, who heads the public safety committee, told council members that they received four applications, and background checks on at least two should be completed by council’s regular meeting.

At the time, a few people questioned hiring without going through the civil service commission, as the borough does not have an active commission. Bartek explained that they can hire existing police officers without the commission.

Police Chief Kyle Woodward, who attended Wednesday’s meeting, did not say anything publicly about the potential hires or lack of action.

Following the meeting, Council President Bruce Markovich said that the background checks were not completed.

On Thursday, Woodward said the background checks were completed on both Bonner and Cordes, because he did them.

He did not know why the officers were not hired, when the borough needs more officers, especially if council wants to achieve 24/7 coverage, he said.

He explained that he isn’t allowed to disclose any information that he finds in a background check to council, only if the candidate passed or didn’t. If they passed, council should hire them, and if they didn’t, they shouldn’t, Woodward said.

There may be things found in a background check, such as a misdemeanor offense, that would not preclude a candidate from being hired as an officer, he said. It is dependent on the hiring department’s standards, Woodward said.

Both potential hires agreed to undergo polygraph testing, just as he did before coming on board as chief, he said.

Bonner and West Penn Township are subjects of a federal lawsuit alleging excessive force, misconduct and violation of constitutional rights, according to published accounts. The complaint was filed in September.

Cordes was cited for careless driving and other summary violations in Mahoning Township last year. He was found guilty during a summary trial before District Judge Casimir Kosciolek, according to court papers.