With a 2-person, part-time police force in wake of the Linesville Police of Chief retirement at the end of June, and at least two others not taking the role of an officer in charge at the Linesville Police Department, the Linesville Borough Council voted to ask what it would cost for the Conneaut Lake Regional Police Department to provide 24 hour, 7 days a week coverage to Linesville.

Council was meeting in regular September session on Tuesday, Sept. 14, and began the meeting by appointing two ladies to fill vacant positions on the council.

Three persons were trying for the positions, two brought forth by recommendation of the town’s vacancy board and one stepping forward that night.

Positions were open due to the resignations of Tom McGrath and Matt Gillette.

Appointed first was Laura Deal, a Franklin Street resident, who has lived in Linesville for 16 years, is married with 3 children, and works as a nurse at Stairways Behavioral. She said she had been approached by councilwoman Susan Lewandoski about serving.

Vickie Harper was introduced as the next candidate with vacancy board chairman David Williams then indicating interest from a third candidate - Rhonda Hershelmann, who works at Allegheny college. Harper has been involved with the fire department for 25 years.

Hershelmann was elected on Lewandoski’s motion.

Mayor Ron Harper then swore both Deal and Hershelmann in. Both will serve until the end of 2011.

Harper was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Municipal Authority.

After much discussion, council voted to seek a cost from the Conneaut Lake Regional Police Department, a combined effort of Conneaut Lake Borough and Sadsbury Township.

Kevin McGrath offered the motion to find out the cost of the CL police department providing 24 hour, 7-day a week coverage with Linesville having representation on the police board that oversees the police department, and determining if the department has interest in the Linesville police cruiser and use for the Linesville police building.

The effort would be to to determine how many hours police would be in town.

It was made clear that Linesville would not just give the police cruiser to Lake.

  The vote to seek the information was 5-2 with Ron Vennare and Hershelmann voting no. Vennare said his interest was getting them to use the police cruiser, to have someone around when schools leave out, someone in town to rattle the doors.

If costs run too high, Linesville would look to re-establish its own police department.