From equipment to funding to training, Palmerton Borough Council fielded various questions about its police department last week.

Residents Raberta Hans and Ellen Colangelo peppered council with concerns over whether the department has adequate resources at its disposal.

Councilman Bill Gallagher attempted to squelch their concerns.

“We’re not doing anything with our police,” Gallagher said. “We’re here to protect our community.”

Colangelo told council it’s important that the department has everything it needs to be successful.

“We want to be sure the police department has all the equipment and resources that they need,” Colangelo said.

Gallagher said the police department has what it needs to be successful.

“Our police are fully funded,” he said. “Our police have all the equipment they need.”

Councilman Richard Nothstein discussed funding, saying 10 years ago a large sum of money was distributed but the borough didn’t see any of it.

Nothstein was referring to the distribution of funds in relation to the Palmerton Zinc Pile Superfund Site Natural Resource Damage Assessment in 2010.

“It irritates me to no end that the citizens of Palmerton don’t get one blasted penny,” Nothstein said at a council meeting in November 2010. “If there’s no damage or inconvenience to Palmerton, then why should (someone) have to pay the $10 million if there’s no apparent harm to the community.”

In 2009, a $20 million settlement was reached between the Environmental Protection Agency and CBS Operations Inc., in which over 95 percent of the natural resource damage assessment funds were earmarked to be expended on projects well outside the Palmerton area.

Nothstein told the women that he appreciated their comments.

Councilwoman Holly Hausman-Sell said that borough Manager Donna McGarry has been active in procuring any type of COVID-19 related funding for the borough police and fire departments in an effort to keep everyone safe.

Colangelo asked if Palmerton is too small of a borough to consider having a K-9 unit for its police department.

“At the present time, we have not seen the need for that,” Gallagher said.

Colangelo then asked about whether the police department has pursued ongoing training.

Gallagher said they have. “Trust me, you’re being protected,” he said.

Contacted after the meeting, borough police Chief Randy Smith declined to comment on the matter.