Lansford Borough Council took no action on hiring a police chief, despite the item being on its agenda Wednesday night.

Council President Joe Genits said the item was placed on the agenda at the request of Councilman Jack Soberick, who was unable to attend the meeting due to work obligations.

Councilman John Zym made a motion to hire a police chief but did not state a name; Councilman Bruce Markovich said they were violating the state’s Sunshine Act by not having the name on the agenda.

A media law attorney for the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association, Melissa Melewsky, said that the Sunshine Law doesn’t require a name to appear on the agenda.

The goal of the agenda provision is to allow people the opportunity to see what is being proposed by an agency so they can attend the meeting, if they feel it necessary, she said.

“There’s no question the name would have to be announced before the vote to enable meaningful public comment, and it would be helpful if it also appeared on the agenda to help folks plan in advance,” Melewsky said, “But I can’t tell you it is expressly required by law to appear on the agenda.”

Agencies, such as council, can interview prospective employees in executive sessions for personnel, and agencies generally do not release the names of prospective employees who aren’t hired to reduce the risk of the person losing a current position, she said.

“It is important to remember that public release is permitted and may be appropriate in many circumstances such as a high-ranking public employee or those entrusted with the use of a deadly force,” Melewsky said.

There were other objections to the motion on a police chief.

Councilwoman Gwyneth Collevechio asked why the motion was even on the agenda under committee reports.

“They didn’t even have a meeting,” she said, referring to the Public Safety Committee, which chose to cancel its July and August summer meetings.

Genits said that very little got done at the general workshop meeting held the week prior and these Public Safety Committee items were added to the regular agenda.

Council members continued to push back, even after previously acting on another motion that came up under the Parks and Recreation Committee Report the same way.

Collevechio, who raised the latter objection to actions under committee reports, voted to approve advertising for proposals or bids to rehabilitate the borough’s basketball and other courts under Parks and Recreation, a committee she serves on.

Other public safety matters, including a letter regarding police regionalization, and the possible use of state constables for posting properties, serving notices or dog law issues, were not discussed.

A resident did ask council what was being done regarding a dog that attacked and killed two other dogs in town, because he continues to see the dog out on the streets.

Mayor Denise Leibensperger said that the matter was before the courts, and a district judge would have to deem the dog dangerous.

Lansford police charged Brianna Koschak with failing to keep a dog quarantined, failing to control a dangerous dog and other charges in April related to the attacks.

She appeared before District Judge Beth Dodson in May and waived the charges to Carbon County Court of Common Pleas. She is awaiting formal arraignment in August.

Police hires

Council did get an update on Civil Service testing of candidates for full-time police officer positions.

Civil Service Chair Joseph Seavers told council that two candidates successfully completed the physical and written examinations. Oral exams will be administered July 29 at the Carbon County Courthouse, he said.

A list of potential hires will be forwarded to council following the oral exams, Seavers said.

Council will then have to decide whether to offer full-time employment to one or both candidates, Genits said.

The matter could appear on council’s August agenda.