Ron, I really wish you were aware of the details concerning that whole fiasco. The mayors lawsuit was ridiculous since, at no time, did anyone say he had no oversight of the police department. Everyone agrees that the mayor oversees the department and has no problem with that. NO ONE challenged that authority. This power hungry mayor took it way too far by attempting to make foolish and totally uninformed decisions on how the police should do their jobs. He also took unwarranted and unsubstantiated "shots" at the police accusing them of being "out of control" and needing to be "reined In". He has yet to provide ANY examples or incidents and has done nothing regarding these accusations since there is no action to take.

As for 24/7 coverage, we can agree to disagree. This boro, as well as every municipality, deserves 24/7 police protection. It can be accomplished by none better than their own department.

Ya 24/7 mandate. You do or you don't think it's crucial agree to disagree. I don't.

I feel completely and totally safe in the borough. I feel completely and totally safe having equipment stored at my studio here. An random unadvertised open shift here and there to avoid overtime wouldn't change this.

The PD takes up a massive chunk of a small borough's budget. Council and Mayor's job should constantly be scrutinizing ways to lower that dollar amount without compromising service. (as they should with any dept and any decision).

There are things I feel very strongly about that are being ignored or seems like some on this current crop of officials have zero interest in. I've written about the 2010 Main St. revitalization plan. This plan is a huge reason my partners and I CHOSE Macungie to setup shop it. And it was a choice. We considered many locations. I want to be in a vibrant small town-downtown. I love that I walk to lunch everyday. That today at 5pm I am going to walk over to the farmers market. That I could take a break and check out the band-shell rededication the other day...

http://lowermacungie.patch.com/blog_posts/what-happened-to-macungies-downtown-master-plan

I feel strongly about streetscape improvements that take the communities strengths and capitalize on them. More retail/restaurant, another pub perhaps, more office space and encouraging mixed use buildings downtown are tax base winners. I get discouraged that this one issue dominates so much.

Actually, he had access to the schedules from the beginning. The police department did not want him taking them home, for obvious reasons. From the very beginning, Chief Harry offered to sit down with him and go over the schedules and answer any questions he had or listen to any suggestions. The chief explained this many times in public at council meetings to make sure everyone was clear on the issue. Unfortunately for the boro and the PD, that simply wasn't good enough for him. I'm sure you would agree that the police schedules leaving the building and going to someone's home would definitely jeopardize the officers and residents safety. What security over the documents would exist in his home? Who would see them? Who else would have access? All legitimate concerns brought up at the time by the police. But when dealing with an uncompromising individual, avoidable problems then arise.

You may feel safe. Most of the citizens do. We can thank the Macungie PD for that. It is easy to say that you don't have a problem with an occasional opened shift. You haven't needed them and they were not there. Would you feel the same way if someone called in the middle of the night to report someone breaking into your business and they were told no one is on duty? Sure, the call would then be given to PSP. Would they be in the area or would they be tied up on a call at the other end of the county? Don't forget that they may only have one or two cars on during the night to cover a large part of the county. That includes 22 and 78. Good luck getting a quick response. Or how about a drunk driver that just plowed into another car causing injuries and no one is nereby to respond. These are some examples of what just might happen during that "rolling uncovered shift" to save some money. Would you only get insurance for 10 months out of the year and go uninsured for the other two months to save money? I don't think so. Same thing IMO.

Ron Beitler...it is obvious you are not as informed as you think you are. I echo Another Voice. And if you would have attended all or most of the council meetings, your comments would be more accurate and you wou would be better informed. If you plan on becoming a borough resident in the future, it is advisable you DO inform yourself or you will become one of the many uninformed voters here which got us into this mess in the first place!

The MPD costs 605,000 per year
Of which approximately 400,000 is salary and benefits of which 51,000 is PT wages and 10,000 is OT.

It's my opinion a rolling open shift on a random basis (criminals don't know when) would not effect the quality of police protection we receive in the borough.

How is that uninformed?

PSP will not respond to any local ordinance violations. Do your zoning and code officers work after 4 PM? Who responds to those types of complaints when they are not available. In Macungie, the police do. When PSP is busy they also will not respond to minor accidents or any not considered serious. As for the accident you referred to. The immediate and impressive response was due to the time of day. PSP has many more troopers on during the day than during evening and night time hours. Chief Harry has explained many times at council meetings that PSP has asked them to respond on many occasions to emergency calls in the township because they were busy or to far away to respond expeditiously.

No problem, I'm never one to play grammar police on comments... I make a lot of typos!

So the question is.. Do I think it's worth spending X amount of money to have a police dept available to deal with ordinance violations immediately (vs. the next day or Monday) or a minor fender bender or say noise complaint.

In the borough it's approx (these could be wrong just quick figures off top of my head) MPD coverage costs over 200 dollars per person per year.

Do I think that kind of bill is worth the extra service?

No.

Again... just my opinion.

To answer your question, yes I do feel it is worth every penny. And, apparently, so do the majority of Macungie's residents and business owners judging by the two surveys, remarks at council meetings, and comments online.

I said I may be in minority. Wonderful thing about America is the minority can still speak up! :) This is the kind of item I wish we'd see more referendums on. Public meetings I am completely jaded with. Very few usually with the loudest opinions show up. Surveys, again those same people vote and vote and vote. Comments.. ditto.

Now, I wouldnt be surprised at all if I am in the minority but no way to know.

Sadly, most people are completely clueless. I polled informally 3 friends who live in the borough. All 3 (college grads, not dummies by any means) have no clue about anything going on. THIS is the main reason I blog and do what I do.

In LMT we see articles about the % of masters degrees people have. Still same thing. BOC meetings you have dozen people. Maybe. No one has a clue. It's not that people can't contribute or aren't intelligent enough. It's they don't care.

sad. sad. sad.

Mr. Beiler,
Based on past surverys of Macungie residents regarding quality of life in our community, the general consensus is residents are willing to pay extra money for the "comfort" level you spoke about regarding police coverage as well as fire and medical services. Isn't that really what this is about....what the residents want? That's one of the benefits of municipal government, we can have the services we desire in our own communities.

Ron Beitler, i have been reading your many rambling comments dealing with the Macungie mayor and police department. Your statements appear to be more than just opinion. They actually sound like attempts to promote the agenda of a certain Macungie clique. I'm curious, why have i never heard of your business in Macungie? What taxes do you pay in Macungie? Come on Ron, get real!

@Get real www.barnoneweddings.com
Stop by the studio anytime. Here 9-6pm Mon-Thur. Next to the Subway. I love talking about local issues. But if you see it as just rambling... then your prob uninterested.

Have no clue what clique your referring to. There are basically two groups of people who show up sparsely at council meetings. If I'm in a "clique" which is ridiculous to say, its the one (whoever/whatever it is) that hopes we get at least 3 new councilman and a Mayor on 12/31/13. The one that wants to move past the police issue. Is tired if seeing Macungie in the newspapers for all the wrong reasons.

Have a great weekend!

You mr. Bitler are like all the rest who whine over "taxes" when it comes toeducationinthis country too! You and all the rest who share your sentiments need to realize there are no free lunches! Education, police protection, healthcare services and the like all cost money! You have expressed yourself on and on about YOUR priority which is the Beautification project in Macungie because it benefits YOUR business. Well...there are a majority of us who possess different priorities which involve the safety, well being, education etc.....of everyone!

How much tax revenue does your business contribute to the Borough Budget? I believe, unless you live in the borough, the only tax revenue comes from property tax. There are no municipal business taxes. So, high end retail, restaurants, offices, might not broaden the tax base. Unless the owner lives in the borough, the employees live in the borough, or the business substantially increases the value of the property, a business does not generate much revenue and that revenue is offset by cost of fire, police, and medical emergency services.

I know is sounds like blasphmeny, and is counter to the current pro business mantra often chanted. Pro business thinking must focus on quality of life, and fit in the master plan, a vision for the future of the borough.
BTW, I supported the proposed streetscape plan because I thought it would improve the quality of live. It would have changed the town substantially, It would have inconvieniened those rushing through the Borough. But, it would have made the downtown safer, more walkable and opened doors for other kinds of business.
Perhaps, specialty retail and restaurants.

@Guy right now.. DIRECTLY - 40.00 (4 employees x 10.00 local services tax)
Near future we're hiring 3 more employees so that number will be 70.00

As you know it adds up total Local services tax revenue is 11,300.00 in grand scheme, not that much. .06 % of total budget.

I can tell you this. I would be more then willing to pay more and would lobby for an increase in the local services tax if it funded a streetscape improvement plan.

INDIRECTLY - We rent office space in the borough. Our landlord pays real estate taxes. I have no idea what his bill is. But I do know that 551,198.000 is the 2012 real estate tax number. Now that is about 30% of total borough revenue, the largest single source.

Can't discount this cause it's indirect. You can bet taxes are passed on to us as a part of our rent.

Also I assume when my landlord added a new suite in his building the value/assessment went up and the tax bill went up which I help defray as part of my rent.

Correct?

I am in agreement with Get Real....RBeitler, you just "ramble" on and on and on and on........................................................

History generally repeats itself so guess the answer is NO!!!!