Mahoning Township has agreed to pay $31,516 to its former chief of police.

The township has 30 days from the date of the settlement agreement with Audie Mertz to pay him, according to the terms of settlement approved by the board of supervisors earlier this month.

The agreement, obtained through a right-to-know request, says the township is to issue Mertz a check in that amount, less statutory deductions. The check represents: 123 accrued and unused vacation days times based on Mertz’s hourly rate of $47.95 an hour, which equals $23,589, plus accrued and unused 62 sick days, which equals $7,927.

Earlier this month, supervisors on a 3-0 vote, with two abstentions, ratified the agreement with Mertz, and formally accepted his tender of retirement, effective immediately.

Board Chair Deb McGowan, along with supervisors Ron Reeser and Carol Etheridge voted in favor. Supervisors Mark Schwalm and Matt Wentz abstained.

Mertz was hired in May 2001, and had been police chief since March 2014.

In September 2023, the supervisors on a 3-2 vote approved a new three-year contract for Mertz.

As per the terms of that contract, Mertz was scheduled to make $94,038 in 2023; $96,820 in 2024; and $99,725 in 2025. His salary for this year, effective Jan. 1, 2026, was $102,218.

It was noted that Mertz was in the Fraternal Order of Police.

Last month, supervisors approved officer Tyler Meek as officer in charge for the position, effective Aug. 12.

Meek had been a full-time officer with the township since August 2010.

McGowan noted at the meeting earlier this month that the board is also working on a new contract for its police department.

In July 2023, supervisors approved a new three-year contract for the township’s police department.

After a 20-minute executive session, supervisors at that time approved the agreement between the township and the township’s police department.

The three-year agreement was from Jan. 1, 2023, through Dec. 31, 2025.

It called for an average increase of 3% in each of the years of the agreement.

As part of that contract, patrolmen made $38.90 an hour in 2023; $40.07 in 2024; and $41.26 in 2025.

The police department’s previous contract expired on Dec. 31, 2022.

Also at this month’s meeting, McGowan said the township was working on getting some new police officers, adding that they need to hire, and that’s what they planned to do.