The Waymart Police Department had to discontinue using one of their cruisers, reported Waymart Police Chief Nicole Brandt at the monthly borough council meeting Tuesday. The cruiser, a 1998 Ford Crown Victoria, was taken off the road due to bad tires, transmission problems and body rust. “It won’t pass inspection,” said Chief Brandt. “It’s a hazard for police purposes.”
“We would have to look into purchasing a used cruiser, but we just don’t have the money.” said Councilwoman Jane Varcoe.
The borough applied for a grant from the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) in July 2008, through state Sen. Lisa Baker’s office, said Chief Brandt. The total for the grant was $32,823 and it was for a 2009 Ford Explorer, which would be used as a new police cruiser. As the budget crisis of 2009 became more extreme, Gov. Ed Rendell froze all grant monies issued for distribution through the DCED, which in turn, put the grant for the cruiser on hold.
“I have been on the phone with Lisa Baker’s office and there still isn’t any money for grants,” said John Millard, mayor of Waymart.
A representative of the DCED in Harrisburg said that no money was issued for grants to the DCED for the 2009 fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2010.
Chief Brandt, Mayor Millard and other officers have mulled around the idea of donating the old cruiser to the Waymart Volunteer Fire Company to be used as a command vehicle, if someone in the fire department can fix it up, said Chief Brandt.
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The Waymart Police Department had to discontinue using one of their cruisers, reported Waymart Police Chief Nicole Brandt at the monthly borough council meeting Tuesday. The cruiser, a 1998 Ford Crown Victoria, was taken off the road due to bad tires, transmission problems and body rust. “It won’t pass inspection,” said Chief Brandt. “It’s a hazard for police purposes.”
“We would have to look into purchasing a used cruiser, but we just don’t have the money.” said Councilwoman Jane Varcoe.
The borough applied for a grant from the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) in July 2008, through state Sen. Lisa Baker’s office, said Chief Brandt. The total for the grant was $32,823 and it was for a 2009 Ford Explorer, which would be used as a new police cruiser. As the budget crisis of 2009 became more extreme, Gov. Ed Rendell froze all grant monies issued for distribution through the DCED, which in turn, put the grant for the cruiser on hold.
“I have been on the phone with Lisa Baker’s office and there still isn’t any money for grants,” said John Millard, mayor of Waymart.
A representative of the DCED in Harrisburg said that no money was issued for grants to the DCED for the 2009 fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2010.
Chief Brandt, Mayor Millard and other officers have mulled around the idea of donating the old cruiser to the Waymart Volunteer Fire Company to be used as a command vehicle, if someone in the fire department can fix it up, said Chief Brandt.
