A Franklin Township man has advocated for a stronger police presence, along with a new police department building.

Resident Stephen DeLello said at last week’s board of supervisors meeting that an increase in police officers was a necessary change considering the construction of the new St. Luke’s hospital taking place in the area.

DeLello then asked for a copy of the township budget so that he could determine if funds were available.

“I want to know what the budget is for increasing our police department,” DeLello said. “An actual police department with more cops. We have a hospital in this location now, so I think it’s time we seriously increase the police force here.”

Aside from the hospital, DeLello also explained that a stronger police presence could have a positive impact with controlling the overcrowding of Beltzville State Park during the summertime.

Resident Cara Serfass noted an instance where local police were not present to assist her.

Serfass said that two weeks ago while riding her bike, two of her neighbor’s dogs chased her down the street.

“I called the nonemergency 911 number,” Serfass said. “We had no police on duty Saturday morning. They forwarded the call to the state police. The state police would not come unless I was injured, or the dog was injured.”

Currently, the township has four full-time police officers and one part-time officer.

With construction of the hospital in motion, the supervisors said that they were looking to hire one more full-time officer.

DeLello suggested that the force should have at least seven or eight officers, and that the new hospital would essentially require a police force of its own.

Chairman Jason Frey explained that $662,000 was currently allocated to the police force in the township’s budget.

Frey added that in order to hire more than just one officer, taxes would have to increase, which he said he did not want to do considering the impact that the increased school taxes had recently had on senior citizens who rely on fixed incomes.

Supervisor Barbara Beltz also noted that the township was having a difficult time just finding part-time officers.

DeLello cited the police department building itself as the reason why officers did not want to work for the township.

“Nobody wants to come work in this town because you got them in a little shack,” he said.

The board explained that the township has been saving money in its building fund for over 30 years to construct a new police department as well as a new municipal building, and added the current fund has about $1 million.

“It takes a lot more than a $1 million to build a new building,” said Beltz.

Frey explained that a building project such as this requires time, and that it is not something that would happen overnight.

DeLello agreed, but noted that the township could at least start making progress on these plans.

“I just think we should be able to move forward, especially since you say you have $1 million sitting in an account for it,” he said.

Upon filling out a Right-to-Know form, the supervisors said they would accept DeLello’s request for a copy of the township’s budget.

“I think it’s time we upgrade this town a little bit,” DeLello said.

Terry Ahner contributed to this report.