A motion to have Coaldale Police Chief Tim Delaney evaluated by a doctor before Delaney could be approved for early retirement passed four to two at Wednesday night's meeting.

While President Thomas Keerans, Micheal Doerr, Yvonne Stoffey and Francis Hutta all favored the motion. Council members Brenda Hosler and Angela Krapf were against the motion. Harry Hontz Jr. was absent.Holser and Krapf dissented on the matter of which doctor Delaney should see.The board's motion named Dr. William Kirkpatrick, a hand surgeon from Newton Square, one of the same three doctors who had previously examined Delaney.Kirkpatrick was one of two doctors who said Delaney could return to work.According to the borough ordinance, in order for Delaney to receive his early retirement pension he must be evaluated by a borough-approved doctor.Since Kirkpatrick had previously examined Delaney and said he could return to work, Holser suggested to the board that Delaney see a new doctor for a fresh evaluation."The problem with that is, once a doctor hears anything about litigation, they back away," Hutta said.This is just the first in many steps for Delaney. Once he is evaluated by a doctor, the evaluation goes to the pension board. Then if he disagrees with the decision, he can appeal."At least this doctor knows the background," Hutta said.In 2013 Delaney became disabled due to an incident involving a stun gun.According to Delaney, when he picked up the stun gun, it malfunctioned and injured his dominant (shooting) hand. Since then, the borough had been paying about one-third of Delaney's $53,000 salary, with the remaining two-thirds paid by workers' compensation.Once the motion was made, it was several quiet minutes before anyone would second it. A few of the members were reluctant to discuss the matter in front of the public.Other businessCoaldale is on the verge of having a new borough secretary.At Wednesday night's special council meeting, a new name was submitted to the board for the 25-hour position in the borough hall office. Pending a clear local and state police background check, the job will no longer be vacant.