Peck Hired as Clarion Borough Police Chief

CLARION, Pa. (EYT) — Clarion Borough Council hired William Peck IV as borough police chief at its monthly meeting Tuesday at the Clarion Free Library.

Peck had been the acting police chief since November when then-borough mayor Dave “Dude” Walters suspended police chief Mark Hall, who was later fired by council for allegedly paying himself money that he was not contracted to earn.

“Chief Peck has served us many years with distinction,” mayor Daniel Parker said.

Council president Carol Lapinto beamed that she was like a proud mother.

“I remember when we hired you,” Lapinto said.

Peck, who has been with the department for 25 years, views his appointment as a great honor.

“I look forward to serving the citizens and businesses of Clarion Borough,” Peck said. “I am up for the challenge.”

Peck will be officially sworn in as police chief Wednesday, Feb. 8.

GABLER FIRED

Council also fired Janice Gabler as a part-time meter enforcement officer effective immediately.

Gabler was arraigned on Jan. 30 on charges of Theft By Unlawful Taking — Movable Property, Misdemeanor 1 and Receiving Stolen Property, Misdemeanor 1.

She has been accused of stealing approximately $1,450.65 from the borough’s parking meters.

CLARION LITTLE LEAGUE PRESIDENT ADDRESSES COUNCIL

Also at the meeting, Clarion Little League president Brian Smail addressed council about a few items.

Prior to Smail speaking, council member Ben Aaron asked for a clarification in the minutes from the January Park and Recreation Committee report that stated that Little League had gone over its budget when it made a request for reimbursement of $4,500 for safety improvements to the fields at Paul A. Weaver Park after the work had already been completed. After a lengthy discussion, council approved the money at its January meeting.

Aaron said there was no mention of a budget nor was there any comment on the Little League being over budget and that should be stricken from the minutes. Council agreed with Aaron and took that part out of the minutes.

Smail thanked council for clarifying the matter and then addressed the governing body about the need for a new contract between the Clarion Little League and the borough. The previous three-year contract expired in May 2016 without either side seeming to notice the expiration.

“We have some suggestions to some things we would like to see changed from the previous contract,” Smail told exploreClarion.com prior to the meeting. “Some of those changes, we think, would be to the borough’s benefit. Things that they are contracted to do but we are doing ourselves.”

One of those items Smail mentioned was the Little League officially taking over fertilizing the fields from the borough.

A meeting between Little League and the Parks and Recreation Committee will take place later this month to discuss the new contract.

The previous, five-page contract, signed May 1, 2013, expired May 1, 2016.

Smail also invited council to Little League Opening Day at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 29. This year marks the 65th anniversary of the Clarion Little League. A ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. followed by a Little League triple-header with the first game set for Noon.

“We are going to make some presentations to our sponsors and some other people,” Smail said.

In other business:

• Approved Todd Colosimo to attend the 2017 CDBG Conference in State College, Pa., March 20-21 at an approximate cost of $550. Approval was also given to mail the registration fee of $150 for the conference to the Pennsylvania Association of Housing and Redevelopment Agencies (PAHRA).
• Approved The EADS Group as the Borough’s CDBG Consulting Engineer for 2017 through 2019.
• Authorized the Civil Service Commission to advertise to develop a police officer eligibility list.
• Approved Justin O’Neil to attend rifle instructor class in September in Bethlehem, Pa. The original request was for O’Neil to attend the class in Danville, Pa. May 8-12, but Peck said that class has since filled up. According to Peck, if O’Neil gets certified at the class he will then be able to train all of Clarion’s other officers on the use of the three weapons the borough outfits its police with — the glock .40 handgun, the 12-gauge shotgun and the AR-15 semiautomatic rifle. Peck said it would save the borough money in the long run if it could have one of its own officers train the other officers in the use of the weapons.

Related Story: