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AVOCA — The Avoca Police Department is operating with two full-time officers, but a third one soon will be added.
Council members voted to have Police Chief Dave Homeschek accept applications from part-time borough officers for the third full-time position. The chosen applicant will replace Sgt. Jerome Kudajeski, who resigned earlier this year.
There are six applicants, Homeschek said, and he hopes to have a new officer hired within the next month.
Also during the meeting, council members announced that the grand opening of the new borough building will be held Jan. 7. Ceremonies will begin at 11 a.m., and Council President John Boone noted that there is no makeup date in the event of inclement weather.
The building passed final inspections, and council will have a certificate of occupancy any day now, Boone said.
He concluded the meeting by telling everyone to “say your goodbyes on your way out the door” in regard to the current borough building.
“One hundred and six years years ago we moved into this building, 50 years ago it was remodeled, and then a couple years ago we put some new carpet in,” said Boone. “It’s been a long time since we dedicated a new borough building, and I’m looking forward to it, and I’m anxious for it.”
In other business, council members voted to:
• Apply for a Local Share Account (LSA) Grant for $400,499 for recreational improvements that include a new roof and new scoreboard for the basketball court in the community center, a fence for the tee-ball field at West Avoca Park, and wall repairs and tennis court reconstruction at Plane Street Park.
• Apply for a $422,750 LSA Grant on behalf of the Avoca Fire Hose Co. toward a new fire engine.
• Donate $100 to the Pittston Memorial Library.