Retired Lansford Police Chief Jack Soberick could soon be getting his pension from the borough.

Soberick, now a Carbon County detective and Lansford Borough councilman, retired as Lansford’s police chief in May 2022.

He has not received his pension.

Soberick disputed the amount of the pension, believing the calculation should have included overtime, which would have given him another $550 a month.

Soberick grieved the matter, which went to final and binding arbitration. The arbitrator denied the grievance.

The borough never amended its pension ordinance to allow for overtime to be considered in pension calculations even though it agreed to give this benefit to the union. Soberick’s contract gave him the same benefits as union members, but this benefit had not been granted to the union, the arbitrator said in April 2023.

Soberick then asked Carbon County Court to review the arbitration award, and President Judge Roger N. Nanovic in April 2024 concluded that the former chief had no right to the higher calculation and could not change the arbitrator’s award.

In August, an appeal to Commonwealth Court upheld the lower court’s decision, denying a review of the arbitrator’s decision.

Lansford Borough Council on Wednesday authorized payment of $2,854.47 a month starting June 1, 2022, and continuing forward, 5-1. Councilman Bruce Markovich was the lone no vote, and Soberick abstained.

Markovich questioned the numbers, and Councilman Joe Genits, who made the motion, said that pension fund will correct the numbers if they’re wrong.

Genits pointed out that Soberick needs the borough to act in order for the pension fund to process payments.

Councilwoman Gwyneth Collevechio also questioned why the council needed to take the action before voting yes.

Soberick explained that he’s the employee in this situation and the borough needs to tell the pension fund that this employee applied for and is expecting a pension.

“You have to make the first contact,” he said.

Genits also had a second motion regarding cost of living increases, which council must approve under its ordinance, but Solicitor Bob Yurchak said the actuary would have to determine the amounts.