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The Easton Police Commission will ask the Board of Finance on Tuesday night to restore one of the records clerk's positions as a part-time job.
The elimination of the records positions would "take valuable time away from patrol," Chairman Robert Nicola said at Monday night's meeting.
Joanne Benson and Bonnie Protsko are the current records clerks at the Easton Police Department. Benson said the elimination of both positions would "cause a lot of problems." She said the two clerks are responsible for court paperwork, checking records, processing dispositions of the courts, alarm registrations and more.
"There are a lot of jobs that are not going to get the attention they need," said Benson, who has been a full-time employee in Easton for 15 years and has been with the department for 22. "My biggest concern is the liability."
The Board of Finance took $70,000 from the patrol officers line of the budget, which will be covered by the recent retirement of Chief John Solomon and Capt. James Candee's promotion to chief as well as Officer Gary Csanadi's retirement. "It would be a crime to see these officers removed," Solomon said of the two newest officers who would have been eliminated had he not retired.
The Police Commission budget will have a surplus of more than $21,400, which the commission hopes to use to restore one of the records clerk's positions. At a meeting Monday night, the commission voted to propose to the Board of Finance to fund one position at a maximum of 18 hours per week at an hourly rate of $21.82.
In an effort to reduce town spending, the Board of Finance voted to take away both records clerks' positions March 30. In total, the Board of Finance cut the Police Commission's budget by more than $170,000.
Do you think the Board of Finance should restore the records clerk's position? Leave your comments below.
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