A Palmerton councilman has been asked to resign his seat following his remarks at a public meeting about possibly reducing the number of the borough’s full-time police officers.

The Palmerton Police Benevolent Association sent a letter Friday to Councilman Andrew Hollywood.

The letter was signed by Brian White, president, and Shawn Leadbetter, vice president, of the union.

At the meeting, Hollywood responded to an inquiry from resident Raberta Hans who asked council about plans to attract more part-time police officers.

Hollywood suggested that the department could run with fewer officers, or the cost is going to go up.

Those remarks prompted the letter from the Palmerton Police Benevolent Association.

“Your suggestion to reduce overtime by decreasing the number of full-time police officers raises significant concerns,” the letter states. “Firstly, it is important to note that the borough must demonstrate financial hardship to the Commonwealth to consider such measures.”

The letter states that over the past two years, the police department has operated within the budget allocated by the borough manager and council.

“This reflects our commitment to fiscal responsibility while ensuring public safety,” the letter states. “Additionally, we believe that your comments reflect a misunderstanding of the operations and needs of public safety in our community.

“It is crucial for those overseeing public safety to have a comprehensive understanding of its complexities, which is why we urge you to collaborate with the Public Safety Committee, who are better equipped to address these matters. We are also very concerned that not one member of council condemned these comments as they were mentioned in an open forum.”

The letter continues: “Your past statements about potentially eliminating the police department altogether further exacerbate our concerns. Such actions threaten the safety and security of our residents, as continuous and comprehensive police coverage is essential for maintaining public order.

“We believe if you continue to represent citizens of Palmerton Borough you stick to naming dog parks as you are the head of the park/recreation committee for the borough. In light of these issues, we respectfully request that you reconsider your position on these matters.

“Furthermore, given the apparent personal vendetta against the police department, we believe it is in the best interest of the borough and its residents for you to resign from your position. We urge you to prioritize the safety and well-being of our community and allow those with the requisite expertise to manage public safety operations effectively.”

Contacted Friday afternoon, Hollywood responded to the concerns expressed by the Palmerton Police Benevolent Association.

“I regret that the P.P.B.A. took issue with my hypothetical comments that were made during a discussion regarding police budgeting at (Thursday night’s) borough council meeting,” Hollywood said. “It is the opinion of many in this town, including me, that speeding and running of stop signs has become commonplace in our borough.

“I am always willing to work with the public safety committee and the police department to ensure the safety of our residents while walking, driving and living in our community.

“I feel that our residents have many safety concerns that are not being addressed by our police department. The voters elected me to be their representative. I will continue to voice their concerns during meetings.”