City manager: Johnstown Police Department can hire two officers

May 25--City Manager Arch Liston expects the Johnstown Police Department to be able to hire two new officers within the next 20 days or so.

Recently, all hiring in the city was temporarily halted after Liston learned about tax lien sales running about $100,000 less than expected. After working with department heads to examine revenue and expenses, he informed City Council on Wednesday that the JPD can bring on new members.

"I wanted to make sure that nobody went out and hired anybody until we had a chance to review the budget and project the numbers out through the end of the year," Liston said during council's regular monthly meeting.

There are currently 36 members in the department, which is budgeted for 41.

A plan was in place to fill the ranks, while naming a full-time chief, by the middle of summer.

It appears the process will now be done more incrementally.

"I would rather see us hire at a controlled pace, rather than hiring four immediately. Hire at a controlled pace and, at the end of the year, be in a good position versus perhaps we hire four right now (and need layoffs later)," interim Chief Jeff Janciga said.

Janciga "applauded" what he called Liston's sound financial planning.

----For five minutes, John DeBartola, president of the Keystone Alliance/Gaylife Newsletter, stood in silence during his allotted time for courtesy of the floor toward the end of council's meeting.

He was responding to council's rejection of an anti-discrimination ordinance for sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, dealing with employment, housing, public accommodations and other areas of intergroup relations in the city's economic, cultural and social life.

A few seconds into the protest, Councilman Jack Williams suggested the possibility of adjourning the meeting.

"If I wish to stay here in silence -- to show the silence of the gay community for Bill 5 being voted down after being used as a weapon against us, innuendos of sexual predators and pedophiles -- you can pay respect to the gay community and listen to my silence," DeBartola responded. "If it's too deafening, you can leave as you usually do."

DeBartola called the decision a "shame" and a "disgrace" and suggested some City Council members used the issue as an "election ploy" for their recent primary candidacies and against his bid for mayor.

The bill originally passed a first read with support from Mayor Frank Janakovic, Nunzio Johncola, David Vitovich and Marie Mock, who were all running for re-election, and Pete Vizza. It was then tabled on March 8.

On Wednesday, Williams, Janakovic, Johncola, Vitovich, Vizza and Charlene Stanton voted against it on final read. Mock supported the bill.

"I'm a compromiser," Mock said. "I'll hold out until I can't, I guess, anymore. I believe that there is compromise in everything. That's what I was gearing to."

Council also voted 5-2 -- with Williams and Stanton opposing -- in favor of the first read for a hate offenses bill based on an individual's sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.

DeBartola did not express optimism council would eventually adopt it on last read, since the members similarly originally passed the anti-discrimination act on first read, too.

Dave Sutor is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at (814) 532-5056. Follow him on Twitter @Dave_Sutor.

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