By ERIC SLAGLE Daily News Staff Writer

eslagle@dailynewsemail.com

A dispute between police and supervisors in Forward Township that has been going on for several months appears to be settling down as the date for a new union contract for officers nears.

At a regular township meeting Thursday, board of supervisors chairman Tom DeRosa said relations between the township and its police department have improved since the supervisors last met. At the August meeting, DeRosa lost his cool and began shouting when the subject of police came up. DeRosa has accused the police of not writing traffic tickets, losing and breaking equipment, abusing workers’ compensation and not showing up for court appearances.

On Thursday, however, DeRosa said, “I think we’ve made a step in the right direction with the police.” DeRosa said he has met with police since the meeting to discuss the issues.

“Hopefully, we can get that situation resolved,” said DeRosa. “I think police have turned a corner.” DeRosa

said his main gripe with police hasn’t been that they’re not writing enough traffic tickets, though it was noted at the meeting that 37 motor vehicle citations were issued last month. That’s up from just eight citations in July but still below the approximately 100 tickets per month police used to write.

Police Officer-in-Charge Robert Curdie, who attended the meeting, said afterward that things are going well between the department and supervisors.

“I’m confident we’ll have an agreement,” said Curdie, referring to the union contract officers hope to renew with the township by the end of the year.

In July, supervisors told the police department’s union, Teamsters Local 205, it would disband the force if their complaints against the behavior of some officers were not met.

One of the officers DeRosa had complained about for being on workers’ compensation since February returned to work two months ago, according to the township.

DeRosa said he has not discussed the renewal of the contract with police since the August meeting.

In other business, township officials said paving work on seven local roads hopefully will get under

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By ERIC SLAGLE Daily News Staff Writer

eslagle@dailynewsemail.com

A dispute between police and supervisors in Forward Township that has been going on for several months appears to be settling down as the date for a new union contract for officers nears.

At a regular township meeting Thursday, board of supervisors chairman Tom DeRosa said relations between the township and its police department have improved since the supervisors last met. At the August meeting, DeRosa lost his cool and began shouting when the subject of police came up. DeRosa has accused the police of not writing traffic tickets, losing and breaking equipment, abusing workers’ compensation and not showing up for court appearances.

On Thursday, however, DeRosa said, “I think we’ve made a step in the right direction with the police.” DeRosa said he has met with police since the meeting to discuss the issues.

“Hopefully, we can get that situation resolved,” said DeRosa. “I think police have turned a corner.” DeRosa

said his main gripe with police hasn’t been that they’re not writing enough traffic tickets, though it was noted at the meeting that 37 motor vehicle citations were issued last month. That’s up from just eight citations in July but still below the approximately 100 tickets per month police used to write.

Police Officer-in-Charge Robert Curdie, who attended the meeting, said afterward that things are going well between the department and supervisors.

“I’m confident we’ll have an agreement,” said Curdie, referring to the union contract officers hope to renew with the township by the end of the year.

In July, supervisors told the police department’s union, Teamsters Local 205, it would disband the force if their complaints against the behavior of some officers were not met.

One of the officers DeRosa had complained about for being on workers’ compensation since February returned to work two months ago, according to the township.

DeRosa said he has not discussed the renewal of the contract with police since the August meeting.

In other business, township officials said paving work on seven local roads hopefully will get under

See FORWARD , Page 4

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way soon and be completed by Oct. 31.

The roads to be paved under a $78,570 project awarded to low bidder Tresco Paving Corp. are Ashley Lane, Cherry Lane, Forward Street, Grant Street,

Guthrie Lane, Hutchison Road and Prospect Street.

Supervisor Dave Magiske noted that work is approximately 80 percent complete on a project to build flood control walls along Kelly Hollow Road after flash flooding occurred in late July.

Crews working on the project have removed debris from Beckets Run that includes railroad ties and an 80-gallon water tank, Magiske said.

The $49,750 contract for the work on Kelly Hollow Road was awarded to Sam Vasquez and Frank DeRosa, who is Tom DeRosa’s brother.