Nesquehoning is moving forward with the creation of a detective position within its police department.

Last week, during borough council’s voting meeting, the board in a 6-1 vote accepted the job description for the detective on a three-month trial basis pending the signing of the memorandum of understanding and all paperwork with the borough and Fraternal Order of Police.

Councilman Frank Jacobs cast the sole no vote.

After a lengthy discussion, that deviated into overtime within the department and fine costs going into the general fund, the board decided to follow the recommendation of the public safety committee with the trial.

To date, council has not officially announced which officer within the department will be named to the detective position.

According to the job description, the detective will support the Nesquehoning officers.

The person will work on follow-up investigations and attend trials; as well as collect evidence, respond to emergencies when immediate investigation is needed and determine if assistance from state or federal agencies is necessary during investigations.

In other police related matters, two residents complained about neighbors burning that was causing a nuisance.

One resident said their neighbor was being belligerent toward them after they called police; while the other said police were not following the burning ordinance as they should be.

Chief Sean Smith, who was present at the meeting, addressed both complaints, saying that in the case involving the belligerent neighbor, officers were working with the homeowner to try to address the problem.

As far as the other resident’s complaints, he said officers have been in touch with the property owner on a number of times after a complaint was filed and that the issue, which has been occurring for over a year, has turned into a neighbor dispute.

Smith noted that the resident filing the complaint has begun yelling at officers and was recently charged with harassment for photographing the neighbors in their yard.