(3/18) A mental health professional is now available to respond to emergencies in Carroll Valley and Fairfield boroughs.
At their March meeting, the Carroll Valley Borough Council approved an agreement with WellSpan that permits McKenzie Johnson to be a co-responder with the borough’s police department. Johnson is a trained crisis intervention specialist with degrees in psychology, criminal justice, and criminology.
Johnson’s salary and other related costs will be provided by the County of Adams, according to the resolution Carroll Valley Borough Council approved. Johnson will be shared with other municipal police departments, including Cumberland Township and Gettysburg Borough. Her office will be located in the Gettysburg Borough Police Department but she can use space in the Carroll Valley Borough Office if needed, Police Chief Cliff Weikert said.
Weikert said having a mental health professional available will lessen the burden on his officers and better serve the residents.
"They are obviously more trained than we are to handle some of these situations," Weikert said.
Weikert said some residents in need of mental health services often unnecessarily land in jail because the police department does not have another option. Police will be responsible for transporting anyone with mental health needs who Johnson determines is best served outside of their home, Weikert said.
Radar
Mayor Ron Harris reported he and other local leaders continue to advocate for a bill that would permit municipal police to control vehicle speed with radar guns.
Harris said Senate Bill 459 states municipalities that use radar must post signs informing residents and officers must be in a clearly-marked vehicle in plain sight.
"No hiding behind trees," Harris said.
Harris said those who oppose municipal police using radar often claim officers will heavily enforce speeding laws to benefit their department budgets. Harris noted Carroll Valley receives about 10 percent of fines courts impose.
"Imagine how many tickets would have to be given for it to be a revenue stream for a municipality," Harris said.
Trailer ordinance
A proposed ordinance that limits the number of items not regulated by the motor vehicle code - such as boats, trailers, and four-wheelers - continues to linger in discussion.
In January, the borough council rejected a planning commission proposal that limits residents to two items, one in the front of the property and one elsewhere in the land. Hazlett said the consensus now seems to be three pieces max, but the planning commission has not approved a formal recommendation.
Hazlett said he will draft an ordinance for the commission to review in April. If the planning commission approves Hazlett’s draft, the proposal could be presented to the borough council in May.
Easter Egg Hunt
Assistant Borough Manager Gayle Marthers reported the borough’s annual Easter Egg Hunt will be held at 11 a.m., April 8. The borough will hide 5,000 eggs for children to find. Volunteers who would like to help stuff eggs can contact Marthers at 717-642-8269.
