Weissport will keep its one-man police department.

Borough council answered the long awaited question of keeping or disbanding the town's one-man police department at its meeting Monday.Following a brief executive session, which council President Gene Kershner convened citing "personnel matters," Councilwoman Paulette Watson made a motion to hire Richton Penn in the position of part-time police officer. The rate of pay was set at $15 per hour.This was contingent upon completion of the customary background investigation and testing used when hiring police officers.After months of discussions about the amount of time officer Trevor Flexer was working or not working there seemed to be many moments of frustration.Councilman Arland Moyer said in October, "Either he's going to put more time in or we're going to get somebody else."Councilwoman Brenda Leiby said during the same meeting, "I don't know what to say when people ask if we have a police officer or not."When asked about the employment status ofFlexer, borough solicitor Michael Greek said,"Officer Flexer remains an employee of the borough, he has not beenterminated."The amount of hours worked will be set by the borough," Greek said. "Officer Flexer is simply not working."Additionally, after a brief discussion, Councilwoman Brenda Leiby made a motion to follow through with joining the Carbon County Council of Governments.COG has been in existence for a year, so the borough council felt it was a good choice to proceed.Greek told council, "It is a nice pooling of resources."Borough Secretary Jillian Sterling said, "The only possible drawback would be a waiting list for the use of a piece of equipment or the necessary training on the operation of the equipment."Council appointed Kershner and Moyer as the representatives to the council.