Radios that were used by the former Coaldale Police Department will be split between the Tamaqua Police Department and the Coaldale Fire Department.

Council also voted to offer a Coaldale police vehicle to the Coaldale fire company during Tuesday’s council meeting.

Councilwoman Kim Gavornik noted that the Tamaqua department had recently requested two of the radios.

The Motorola devices had been used by Coaldale police until the department disbanded last year. But since September, Tamaqua police have been patrolling Coaldale through a shared services agreement.

Gavornik suggested turning over two radios to Tamaqua for free since the borough provides street sweeping and other services to Coaldale at no cost.

Council President Claire Remington agreed, saying that Tamaqua has assisted Coaldale with free street sweeping and other help for at least 15 years.

Council voted unanimously to turn the radios over to Tamaqua.

Also during the meeting, Gavornik read a letter from Coaldale Fire Chief Steven Polischak, who asked the borough to consider donating the police radios, along with a 2021 police sport utility vehicle to the department.

The radios, he noted, could be used by firefighters on emergency calls, and could also be used at the fire station.

And the SUV, Polischak noted, would be used for a number of functions and would help save wear-and-tear on fire company vehicles.

“The Coaldale Fire Department believes that the transfer of these resources represents a reasonable and effective use of the borough assets, ensuring their continued contribution to public safety and community service,” Polischak wrote.

Remington said that the borough had originally planned to sell police department vehicles and use proceeds for the police fund.

Gavornik said a neighboring department had expressed an interest in the 2021 vehicle, but hadn’t offered to purchase it.

After some discussion, Councilman Michael Radocha said he’d like to see the radios given to the department.

“Give them the older car, and let’s market the newer one to keep us afloat,” Radocha said. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it. They were both being used.”

The “older” vehicle is a 2019 SUV.

“If they’re willing to take the older one and the radios, I don’t see any reason why this shouldn’t happen,” Radocha said as he made a motion to grant the fire company the radios and the 2019 SUV.

His motion was seconded by Councilman Wayne Figner and passed unanimously. Councilmen Jacob Adamitis and Francis Hutta were absent.

Council will contact the fire department to see if it is interested in the vehicle.