DUNMORE - Borough council members may agree that the borough's website needs improvements, but they disagree on committing more than $12,000 to it this year.
Councilman Michael Hayes calls the website an "embarrassment," with outdated information and limited activity and maintenance of the site. The most recent tax information dates to 2011, and the last update to the website was made in September.
After Mr. Hayes' requested agenda item to discuss a website proposal by Scranton-based JVW Inc. was brought before the full council, Councilman Paul Nardozzi withdrew his second to the motion after a long discussion questioning how the service would be funded.
Council President Sal Verrastro and Councilmen Michael McHale and Vito Ruggiero said they didn't feel comfortable approving the expenditure until council found specific funding for it in the borough's budget.
The proposal would have cost the borough from $12,387 to $15,774 for the first year and would have included a website redesign and ongoing website services.
"I won't do anything that we don't have available cash to do," Mr. Verrastro said.
He and other council members said paying for website upgrades would require fiscal planning.
Mr. Hayes said he didn't anticipate the opposition to the website.
"I don't know what the hiccup was," he said after the meeting. "I thought it was something that everyone supported."
Chief resigns
Also at the meeting, council members formally accepted the resignation of Police Chief Patrick Reese, who recently accepted a security position with the office of newly elected state Attorney General Kathleen Kane.
The job change will move Mr. Reese from an annual salary of $65,744 with the borough to about $95,000 with the state.
With Capt. Sal Marchese having assumed duties of the chief, about a half-dozen employees in the borough have shown interest in the position. Mr. Verrastro said the search will be limited to internal candidates unless none is considered qualified.
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