Palmyra considers selling gun to retiring police officer

Nov. 29--PALMYRA -- Members of council have shot down a proposal to give a borough police officer his service revolver as a retirement gift.

Borough manager Roger Powl said Officer Vincent Stankovich, who will retire from the department at the end of the year, asked if he could purchase his gun when he retires.

Under the borough code, council can sell items it owns valued belowr $1,000 without having to solicit bids. Powl said the gun is valued at "significantly" less than $1,000, estimating it's value at $300.

Powl said it had been suggested that council could present the revolved to Stankovich as his retirement gift, instead of the typical gold watch given to employees with 25 years of service. He said the borough already has bought a new gun for the new officer and doesn't need this gun.

"The pistols will soon be at the end of their useful life and will need replaced anyway," he said.

Several council members said they liked the idea, but Councilman Travis Finkenbinder opposed it.

"Keep in mind that there is no such thing as a free lunch, and if we're giving money to someone else, that's money that's not going to public service, public works," he said.

Councilman Robert Dailey said it would be a "cleaner" situation if the borough allowed the officer to simply purchase his gun at fair market value.

"I am concerned a bit with the gift of a firearm," he said. "The gesture is there, but it just doesn't sit well in the heart."

Council President Jane Quaroli said she had no problem with presenting the gun to the officer as a retirement gift.

"I think it would be nice to give it to him," she said. "He's retiring after 25 years as an officer with this borough, and he is also in the military."

"It's your neighbor's money," Finkenbinder countered. "I'm not spending my neighbor's money on giving somebody a gun."

Council took no action on the request but is expected to vote on the issue Dec. 17.

In other business, Powl said construction on the new municipal building is progressing well. Borough employees are expected to move into the structure the week of Jan. 20.

Also, council approved removing the traffic signal at Main and Grant streets, following a study that determined the light, installed eight years ago, is not needed. The signal, the property of PennDOT, could be designated for the intersection at Clear Spring Road and Route 422 in front of Pennsy Supply in North Annville Township.

In other business, Powl told council it would cost about $12,000 to fix a stormwater issue on South Avenue, an alley between South Railroad and North Chestnut streets and a block north of Main Street.

About four years ago, the borough closed a storm drain in the area. Since then, several residents have complained the borough's action caused excess flooding in the alley. Resident Angela Reiner, 52 E. Main St., asked council what it was doing to repair the problem, which she said has caused $20,000 in damage to her basement.

Powl said the borough's insurance carrier investigated her claim and determined the borough is not responsible for the damage to her property.

Borough crews will install standard stormwater inlets in South Avenue and on South Chestnut Street with connecting with pipes, he said. Water will then be collected from South Avenue and will discharge onto South Chestnut near Main Street.

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