Despite a heated debate, Mahoning Township has sought out help to find a new chief of police.

On a narrow 3-2 measure, the township’s board of supervisors on Wednesday approved the proposal of the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association to provide executive search and selection services for its next chief of police, at a cost of $9,995, with the condition the association don’t bill the township until after the start of the new year.

Supervisors Ron Reeser, Carol Etheridge and board chair Deb McGowan voted in favor, with supervisors Mark Schwalm and Matthew Wentz opposed.

Schwalm questioned why the board would want to spend $10,000 of public taxpayers’ money to aide in it search for a new chief of police.

Reeser said he doesn’t believe that he is qualified in police work to make such a decision without the assistance of the organization.

McGowan explained to Schwalm that it’s a legal issue.

“The public voted us in here to do this job; if you can’t feel you can do your job, why don’t you resign from (the board),” Schwalm said. “We are qualified to hire; that’s why the public voted us in.”

Resident Crystal Otto responded to Schwalm’s remarks.

“You just think you know everything,” Otto said. “I see what you do.”

McGowan said the board will move forward with the matter.

The township recently agreed to pay $31,516 to former township chief of police Audie Mertz, and had 30 days from the date of the settlement agreement with him, according to the terms of settlement approved by the board last month.

The agreement, obtained through a right-to-know request, says the township was 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 last month, supervisors on a 3-0 vote, with two abstentions, ratified the agreement with Mertz, and formally accepted his tender of retirement, effective immediately.

McGowan, along with Reeser and Etheridge, voted in favor. Schwalm and Wentz abstained.

Mertz, who was hired in May 2001, 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.

In August, 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.

Police agreement

Also on Wednesday, supervisors approved an agreement between the township and the township’s police department.

The agreement is from Jan. 1, 2026 through Dec. 31, 2026.

McGowan noted at last month’s meeting that the board was 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 last 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.

Separation agreement

On a 3-0 vote, with two abstentions, the board on Wednesday also approved the general release and separation agreement between the township and officer Jeffrey Frace, and formally accepted his tender of retirement.

Schwalm and Wentz abstained from the vote.

The Times News has filed a right-to-know request concerning the separation agreement.

In August 2024, supervisors accepted the retirement of Frace with the Deferred Retirement Option Plan, meaning his pension froze on Oct. 31, but he would continue to work full time for at least one year, but not more than three; and he will not have to contribute to his pension.

Frace was hired as a part-time officer in December 1997, and was full time since October 1999.

In May 2024, supervisors abolished the detective position after an executive session.

Residents have complained about police coverage, particularly about hours when the department is not working.